Big Think

Is consciousness an illusion? 5 experts explain

8 snips
Aug 19, 2025
Join Christof Koch, a neuroscientist delving into how the brain shapes consciousness, Swami Sarvapriyananda, a spiritual leader exploring profound knowledge limits, and Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder pondering AI's impact on awareness. They discuss whether consciousness is an illusion, panpsychism's relevance, and how AI might redefine self-awareness. The conversation intricately weaves science, philosophy, and spirituality, questioning the essence of existence in a universe that's increasingly interconnected.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Consciousness As Subjective Experience

  • Christof Koch defines consciousness as subjective experience: feelings, qualia, and awareness.
  • He frames consciousness as the foundational fact science must explain to make sense of reality.
ANECDOTE

Toothache Sparked A Research Path

  • Christof Koch recounts a toothache sparking his curiosity about why pain feels like something.
  • That personal curiosity led him to study neuronal correlates of consciousness with Francis Crick.
INSIGHT

Panpsychism As An Alternative

  • Panpsychism proposes matter has both inner and outer aspects, making consciousness ubiquitous.
  • Complex systems host richer consciousness while simple systems have minimal inner experience.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app