Breaking beliefism Anil Seth
Oct 3, 2025
Professor Anil Seth, a cognitive and computational neuroscience expert from the University of Sussex and author of "Being You," dives into the complexities of consciousness. He breaks down how our perception shapes our experiences, exploring everything from the consciousness of different species to the construction of the self by the brain. Seth challenges the conventional notions of free will and highlights how perceptual differences can lead to belief echo chambers, suggesting that understanding perception can foster humility and dialogue.
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Consciousness Defined By Experience
- Consciousness is what you lose under general anesthesia and what it feels like to have experiences.
- It is the experiential dimension of life: the redness of red and the paininess of pain.
Consciousness Extends Beyond Humans
- Many non-human animals almost certainly have conscious experiences because they share brain structures linked to consciousness.
- Seth estimates it's 99.999% likely all mammals have some form of conscious experience.
An Unplanned Path To Consciousness
- Anil Seth traced his path to consciousness research through physics, psychology and AI due to lack of formal courses.
- He calls his journey one of obstinacy and serendipity that made intellectual sense in hindsight.
