#95-Critical Thinking and the Nature of Human Consciousness-with guest Anil Seth
Jun 25, 2024
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Professor Anil Seth discusses the nature of human consciousness, the brain as a prediction machine, controlled hallucination, belief formation, and the intersection of critical thinking, consciousness, and artificial intelligence in a thought-provoking exploration of the mind on Thinking Clearly podcast.
Consciousness is defined by subjective experience, distinct from anesthesia-induced unconsciousness.
The 'hard problem' of consciousness challenges the brain-consciousness link, posing a scientific enigma.
Beliefs are shaped by predictive error minimization, highlighting cognitive interactions between perceptions and reasoning.
Deep dives
Understanding Consciousness as Defined by General Anesthetic States
Consciousness is defined as what disappears under general anesthesia and reappears upon waking. This distinction highlights an absence of subjective experience during anesthesia compared to sleep, where some awareness remains. Philosopher Thomas Nagel's idea further emphasizes consciousness, suggesting that for conscious systems, there is a subjective 'something it is like to be that system.' Dr. Seth also delves into his personal intrigue with consciousness, tying it to questions about the self, free will, and the brain's role in generating conscious experiences.
Exploring the Easy and Hard Problems of Consciousness
Philosopher David Chalmers' classification of the easy and hard problems of consciousness sparks discussion. The hard problem questions the intimate yet unexplained link between the brain and consciousness—a perplexing puzzle that stumps conventional scientific reasoning. By contrast, the relatively easier problems focus on understanding brain functions and behaviors without accessing the core enigma of consciousness itself. Dr. Seth further introduces the concept of the 'real problem of consciousness' as a middle ground perspective aimed at demystifying consciousness through the exploration of distinct conscious aspects.
Predictive Processing and Controlled Hallucination in Brain Function
Dr. Seth highlights predictive processing and controlled hallucination as essential concepts in understanding brain functionality. Predictive processing suggests that the brain operates by making inward predictions about the external world, actively constructing subjective experiences based on these predictions. Controlled hallucination denotes the brain's role in forming conscious perceptions of the world and the body, emphasizing the dynamic and interpretive nature of human consciousness. These mechanisms underscore the brain's capacity to interpret and shape sensory input, enabling coherent conscious experiences.
Implications of Predictive Error Minimization in Belief Formation
At a higher level, beliefs can be viewed as abstract perceptions informed by predictive error minimization. Belief formation emulates perceptual processes by constructing probability distributions about the world. Dr. Seth elaborates on the cognitive interaction between perceptions and beliefs, suggesting that updating beliefs through reasoning involves a dual process that harmonizes perceptual experiences with reasoned judgments. He explores the potential cognitive penetrability between beliefs and perceptions, hinting at a nuanced interplay in shaping individual thought processes.
Critical Thinking and Consciousness Interplay in Understanding Belief Systems
The interaction between critical thinking and consciousness reflects a delicate balance in belief formation and cognitive processes. Dr. Seth scrutinizes the cognitive landscape postulating an interconnected relationship between conscious and unconscious mental activities, influencing critical thinking mechanisms. This interconnectedness underscores a dynamic interplay wherein consciousness serves as a pivotal component in fostering effective critical thinking. The examination of confirmation bias and belief formation unveils a complex tapestry of cognitive operations potentially impacted by conscious and unconscious cognitive realms.
Research and current theories about the nature of human consciousness are explored with guest Anil Seth, Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex. Topics include: how human consciousness can be thought of as controlled hallucination, the relationship of human consciousness to critical thinking, how thinking of the brain as a "prediction machine" affects how we form beliefs, and a number of other topics from Professor Seth’s international best selling book: Being You-a New Science of Consciousness. Dr. Seth has co-authored close to 200 journal publications, and is a regular contributor to the New Scientist, The Guardian, and BBC.
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