Lex Fridman Podcast

#326 – Annaka Harris: Free Will, Consciousness, and the Nature of Reality

Oct 5, 2022

Annaka Harris, author of "Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind," explores the mysteries of consciousness and the nature of reality. She delves into whether free will is an illusion and discusses the intriguing behavior of pea tendrils, which may challenge our views on consciousness in non-human organisms. Harris also reflects on the complex relationship between memory, self-identity, and mental health, emphasizing the transformative effects of meditation and the interconnectedness of all consciousness.

02:46:15

Creator website

Episode guests

Annaka Harris

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Sense of Self and Suffering

02:15

Taking Psilocybin

00:51

Challenging Perception of Reality

01:26

Consciousness gives feeling to our (human) uniqueness, not vise versa

01:30

Intro

2min

Exploring Financial Savings and Mental Well-being

3min

Enhancing Focus and Building Excellence in Team Dynamics

3min

Challenging Intuition: Free Will and Consciousness

14min

The Consciousness of Pea Tendrils

15min

Exploring Consciousness and Identity

18min

Exploring Consciousness and Free Will

26min

The Illusion of Self and Conscious Experience

17min

The Balance of Acceptance and Perspective in Life

4min

10.

Navigating Mental Health and Psychedelics

11min

11.

The Art of Meditation

8min

12.

Consciousness and the Nature of Reality

20min

13.

Consciousness, AI, and the Nature of Suffering

13min

14.

The Transformative Power of Love and Connection

2min

15.

The Interconnectedness of Consciousness and Reality

2min

16.

The Lobster in the Pot: Suffering and Existence

4min

17.

Exploring the Depths of Life, Purpose, and Passion

5min

Annaka Harris is the author of Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Annaka’s Twitter: http://twitter.com/annakaharris
Annaka’s Website: http://annakaharris.com
Annaka’s Facebook: http://facebook.com/annakaharrisprojects
Annaka’s Books:
1. Conscious: https://amzn.to/3SFLLPE
2. I Wonder: https://amzn.to/3UPQTTm
Annaka’s Articles:
1. What Is Time?: http://nautil.us/what-is-time-238478
2. A Solution to the Combination Problem: http://annakaharris.com/the-future-of-panpsychism
3. Consciousness Isn’t Self-Centered: http://nautil.us/consciousness-isnt-self_centered-237720
Books:
1. The Case Against Reality: https://amzn.to/3MhW4Wt
2. Being You: https://amzn.to/3RsxdBQ
3. Livewired: https://amzn.to/3Cn9BKS
4. Spooky Action at a Distance: https://amzn.to/3y27N7a
5. The Order of Time: https://amzn.to/3Stqn0u

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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:20) – Free will
(1:00:37) – Consciousness
(1:31:09) – Depression
(1:44:26) – Psychedelics
(1:52:25) – Meditation
(1:56:49) – Ideas
(2:20:35) – AI sentience
(2:37:56) – Suffering
(2:40:53) – Meaning of life

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