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#927 - Annaka Harris - Unpacking The Mystery Of Consciousness

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Apr 12, 2025

Guest

Annaka Harris

In a captivating discussion, Annaka Harris, an author and expert on neuroscience and consciousness, dives deep into the mysteries of awareness. She shares unsettling ideas that haunt her about the nature of consciousness and whether love is merely a 3D construct. The conversation questions if consciousness could just be a brain malfunction, or if AI could be genuinely conscious. Harris also explores the intriguing concept of philosophical zombies and the potential for shared memories, challenging our views and understanding of existence.

01:07:34

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Episode notes

00:00 / 00:00

The Mystery of Consciousness

Consciousness arises from non-conscious matter, a mystery puzzling Annaka Harris.
She's intrigued by how this transition occurs and remains a scientific enigma.

00:00 / 00:00

Science's Struggle with Consciousness

Science struggles to study consciousness because it's an internal experience, unlike external behaviors.
Philip Goff's book, "Galileo's Error," explains this challenge well.

00:00 / 00:00

Inferring Consciousness

We infer others' consciousness by relating their expressions to our own experiences.
Direct evidence of consciousness is only accessible internally.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Unraveling the Mysteries of Consciousness

01:57 • 16min

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Exploring the Nature of Consciousness

18:07 • 2min

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Rethinking Consciousness

20:18 • 14min

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Exploring AI's Role in Understanding Consciousness

34:17 • 3min

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Neuroscience of Perception and Consciousness

37:41 • 11min

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Exploring the Nature of Consciousness: Fundamental or Emergent?

49:10 • 3min

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Meditation and the Mysteries of Consciousness

52:11 • 11min

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Exploring the Future of Consciousness Research

01:03:03 • 5min

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In 'Being You: A New Science of Consciousness,' Anil Seth presents a radical new theory of consciousness, arguing that we are 'prediction machines' constantly inventing and correcting our perception of the world. The book delves into the biological mechanisms of the brain, exploring how billions of neurons create our conscious experience. Seth discusses the 'controlled hallucination' viewpoint, active inference, and the 'beast machine' theory, which views consciousness as a process of regulating the body's essential variables through interoceptive signals. The book is a synthesis of philosophy, science, literature, and personal experience, making complex science accessible and engaging.

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A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind

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Galileo's Error

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None

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Cixin Liu's 'The Three-Body Problem' is a critically acclaimed science fiction novel that blends hard science with compelling storytelling. The story follows a group of scientists who make contact with an alien civilization, leading to unforeseen consequences for humanity. Liu's intricate world-building and exploration of complex scientific and philosophical themes have earned him widespread recognition. The novel is known for its ambitious scope and its exploration of the potential challenges and dangers of encountering extraterrestrial life. It's a thought-provoking work that has captivated readers worldwide.

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The Case Against Reality

Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes

Donald Hoffman

In this book, Donald Hoffman challenges the notion that our senses report back objective reality. He argues that evolution has sculpted our minds for fitness, not to accurately represent reality, leading to a mismatch between our perceptions and the true nature of the world. Hoffman introduces the concept of 'Fitness Beats Truth' and uses analogies like the computer desktop to explain how our consciousness interacts with the world in a way that is useful but not necessarily reflective of underlying reality. He also proposes 'Conscious Realism,' suggesting that conscious agents create the perception of an objective reality, rather than the other way around.

Annaka Harris is an author, editor, and speaker focused on neuroscience and consciousness.

What does it mean to be conscious? What is consciousness? These questions have puzzled humanity for millennia. Despite our greatest scientific breakthroughs and philosophical efforts, are we any closer to understanding the origins and true nature of consciousness?

Expect to learn the most unsettling idea about consciousness that keeps Annaka up at night, if consciousness is behind our eyes, if love is a 3-dimensional construct, if consciousness is just a malfunction of the brain, rather than an essential feature, if AI is conscious or not, if neuroscience has been useful in unraveling the deep questions of consciousness, the illusions that dominate our brains, If we are living in a world where 99% of people are philosophical zombies and we just don’t know and much more…

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