387. What You See and Feel is Not Reality | Dr. Donald Hoffman
Oct 12, 2023
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Dr. Donald Hoffman, a cognitive neuroscientist and professor at UC Irvine, challenges the traditional understanding of reality and perception. He asserts that our senses are not windows to the truth but rather evolved tools serving fitness payoffs. The discussion dives into how consciousness might transcend space-time, advocating for a revolutionary view where perception acts as a simplified interface to reality. Hoffman also explores the intersection of mathematics and evolution, suggesting that understanding consciousness is key to unraveling greater existential mysteries.
Evolution shapes our perception of reality to serve as a simplified user interface for efficient interaction.
Consciousness is the fundamental reality, and our conscious experiences shape the essence of reality.
Scientific theories have limitations, and recognizing these limitations is crucial for a deeper understanding of reality.
Deep dives
Evolution shapes sensory systems to serve as a user interface
In Dr. Donald Hoffman's theory, evolution shapes sensory systems to serve as a user interface, similar to a virtual reality headset. This interface hides the true nature of reality and simplifies it to allow for efficient interaction. The space-time framework and physical objects are considered an artifact of this interface rather than a fundamental reality.
The probability space of conscious agents
According to the theory of conscious agents, each conscious agent has a probability space that defines the potential outcomes of their conscious experiences. The range and complexity of these experiences can vary among different agents. The dynamics within this probability space can be modeled with Markovian dynamics, with some projections leading to the illusion of an arrow of time.
Consciousness as the fundamental reality
In this theory, consciousness is considered the fundamental reality, and the conscious experiences of observers are the essence of reality. The experience of space and time is seen as a projection that loses some information, leading to the perception of separateness and limited resources. The theory suggests a deeper reality beyond space-time, where consciousness is intrinsic and space-time is merely a virtual reality headset.
The nature of scientific theories and their assumptions
Scientific theories are based on specific assumptions or axioms that serve as starting points for understanding and interpreting the world. Different scientific theories have different sets of assumptions, and they provide explanations and predictions within the scope of those assumptions. The limitations and boundaries of scientific theories are acknowledged, and new theories are sought when the existing assumptions reach their limits.
Theories and Truth
The podcast explores the limitations of scientific theories, highlighting that while theories like Einstein's theory of relativity and quantum theory have provided us with technological advancements, they do not uncover the ultimate truth. The speaker discusses the importance of recognizing that scientific theories can only predict a small fraction of the truth, and that even the most sophisticated theories have limitations.
Consciousness and Reality
The podcast delves into the concept of consciousness and its relationship with reality. The speaker argues that consciousness is primary and that our perception of reality is shaped by our projections. They challenge the idea of a single theory of everything, stating that we must recognize the limitations of scientific theories and embrace the idea of consciousness as an ever-expanding exploration of perspectives. The speaker also discusses their research on consciousness and its potential applications in fields like quantum physics and neuroscience.
Dr. Jordan B Peterson and cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Donald Hoffman discuss what we know as reality, why space time is now being considered a “doomed” framework, and how consciousness can be understood as a vast probability space within which we orient ourselves.
Hoffman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in quantitative psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles, and then his Doctorate of Philosophy in computational psychology at MIT. He briefly worked as a research scientist at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab, before taking on the role of assistant professor at the University of California at Irvine. He is now a professor in the department of Cognitive Sciences. He has written four books (below), on the topics of human vision, perception, consciousness, and the effects of/reasons for evolution on each. He is also a key proponent of MUI (Multimodal User Interface) theory, which states that "perceptual experiences do not match or approximate properties of the objective world, but instead provide a simplified, species-specific, user interface to that world." Hoffman argues that conscious beings have not evolved to perceive the world as it actually is but have evolved to perceive the world in a way that maximizes "fitness payoffs.”
- Links -
For Dr. Donald Hoffman:
"The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes" (Book) https://www.amazon.com/Case-Against-Reality-Evolution-Truth-ebook/dp/B07JR1FDXH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1OMOD0ZGPHCT9&keywords=the+case+against+reality&qid=1697060197&s=digital-text&sprefix=the+case+against%2Cdigital-text%2C189&sr=1-1
"Visual Intelligence: How We Create What We See" (Book) https://www.amazon.com/Visual-Intelligence-How-Create-What/dp/0393319679/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QZBIXXULF7VC&keywords=Visual+intelligence+hoffman&qid=1697060273&s=digital-text&sprefix=visual+intelligence+hoffman%2Cdigital-text%2C138&sr=1-1-catcorr
Dr. Hoffman on X https://twitter.com/donalddhoffman?lang=en
Dr. Hoffman's Ted Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/donald_hoffman_do_we_see_reality_as_it_is?language=en
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