How to Be a Better Human What makes you… you? (w/ Anil Seth)
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Jun 30, 2025 
In this discussion, Anil Seth, a Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, dives deep into the nature of consciousness and identity. He critiques the idea of the brain as a 'supercomputer' and emphasizes a more holistic view of human experience. Seth explores how our perceptions of reality, including color, are influenced by emotions and biological processes. He also addresses the ethical dilemmas of technology and AI in shaping our identities, making the complex science of self-accessible to everyone.
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Anesthesia and Consciousness Loss
- Anil Seth shares how he ‘‘ceased to exist’’ during anesthesia and then returned to consciousness.
- This illustrates the mystery and significance of consciousness as the basis of personal identity and experience.
Color Is Brain's Creation
- Color perception is a brain-created experience, not an objective property in the world.
- The visible spectrum is a tiny slice of reality, and what we see depends on brain interpretation.
Colorblindness Shows Subjectivity
- Chris Duffy shares his red-green colorblindness and how others react to his color perception.
- This highlights how subjective and varied individual conscious experience is.
