Annaka Harris dives deep into some of the most profound and perplexing questions about the nature of consciousness, perception, free will, AI, and the underlying meaning of love and existence.

Annaka begins by defining consciousness and exploring the "hard problem". She discusses neuroscientific insights into how the brain processes conscious experiences, and how our intuitions about the nature of the self and decision-making can often mislead us.

The conversation then ventures into the realms of plant consciousness, the criteria for discerning whether something is truly conscious and capable of suffering, and the idea that consciousness may be a fundamental feature of the universe. She shares her personal experience with using meditation to transcend the illusory nature of the self.

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Timecodes:

0:00 Intro

2:20 Defining Consciousness

6:25 Why the 'Hard Problem' is Hard

14:48 How the Brain Processes Conscious Experiences

19:30 You’re Not Crazy, You’re Waking Up

25:37 How Your Intuitions May Lead You Astray

29:12 Are Plants Conscious?

39:28 Discerning What Makes Something Conscious or Able to Suffer

47:51 Boncharge: Red Lights 15% Off

49:01 Pan-psychism & Consciousness as Fundamental

1:02:27 Consciousness at a Molecular Level

1:15:35 Illusory Nature of Self

1:21:57 Transcending the Self Through Meditation

1:32:31 Decision Making & The Readiness potential

1:43:10 Free Will vs Conscious Will

1:44:52 The Love Underneath it All

1:50:46 Experimental Science & the Language Barrier to Describing This

1:53:58 Annaka's Personal Path to Studying Consciousness

2:01:40 Life's Inherent Intelligence & Meaning

2:08:51 Artificial Intelligence

2:14:16 Do Aliens Exist?

2:18:40 Seeing the Bigger Picture

2:23:05 Conclusion

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Annaka Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Nautilus Magazine, the Journal of Consciousness Studies, and IAI Magazine. She is also an editor and consultant for science writers, specializing in neuroscience and physics. Annaka is the author of the children’s book I Wonder, coauthor of the Mindful Games Activity Cards, and a volunteer mindfulness teacher for the organization Inner Kids.

Website: https://annakaharris.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annakaharrisprojects/

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Know Thyself

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André Duqum

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Episode 369: Anthony Cerrato, Owner of Strada Italiano / Social Lounge / Gemelli, Asheville, N.C.