Modern Wisdom #649 - Anil Seth - Does Your Brain Hallucinate Conscious Reality?
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Jul 3, 2023 
Anil Seth, a cognitive and computational neuroscientist at the University of Sussex, tackles the mysteries of consciousness. He delves into questions about self-identity, exploring how we perceive reality and whether our memories can be trusted. Seth discusses how the brain creates our experiences, including the illusion of color. He challenges conventional notions of identity, suggesting that we are dynamic beings shaped by interactions. The conversation also touches on the evolution of consciousness and fascinating insights into neurodiversity.
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The Real Problem of Consciousness
- The real problem of consciousness is explaining its properties, like the difference between vision and emotion, in terms of the brain and body.
- This differs from the "hard problem," which tries to explain how matter creates experience.
Self and Consciousness
- The self is not a separate entity but an aspect of conscious experience requiring explanation.
- Experiences of the world and self are intertwined and central to the study of consciousness.
The Nature of Self
- The self is a process, not a thing, encompassing various perceptual experiences.
- These experiences include basic existence, emotions, body image, first-person perspective, agency, and personal identity.
