LIGHTS ON AUDIO DOCUMENTARY TEASER

Anil Seth, a neuroscientist and author of "Being You," alongside fellow neuroscientist David Eagleman, dive deep into the nature of self and consciousness. They discuss the illusion of self, emphasizing how our brain constructs reality based on sensory inputs. Personal anecdotes from a silent meditation retreat illustrate the transformative experience of dropping the illusion. The conversation challenges listeners to rethink identity, perception, and the philosophical implications of consciousness, merging science with profound personal insights.

At the heart of science, we face an utterly perplexing question: What is physics describing? What is it fundamentally about? What are the natural laws, laws of? From the perspective of physics, the fundamental stuff of the universe still eludes us, especially if we try to fit the findings of quantum mechanics into a traditional conception of matter and energy. From the perspective of neuroscience, we’ve learned that the world “out there” is not a direct perception, and our perceptions may have even evolved to hide the truth from us, as Donald Hoffman argues. And then from the perspective of the philosophy of mind, Annaka’s own research, reading, and further thinking leads her to believe that consciousness is more likely a fundamental property than an emergent one. Could this different approach help us answer the age-old question? And how would the sciences even attempt to move forward with the hypothesis that consciousness is fundamental? How might we conceivably acquire evidence or validate it experimentally?

Sasha Fink, a Professor of neurophilosophy, explores the intricate relationship between consciousness and sensory perception. She delves into groundbreaking studies involving sensory substitution, such as the feel space belt that enhances awareness of imperceptible phenomena. The conversation challenges conventional understandings of reality and examines how future tools might expand our sensory capabilities, touching on the fascinating ways technology can reshape our perception of the world around us.

Join Patrick House, a neuroscientist studying the mind-bending effects of Toxoplasma gondii, Daniel Chamovitz, a plant geneticist and president of Ben Gurion University, and Zoë Schlanger, a science writer delving into plant sound perception. They explore whether plants experience consciousness through their behaviors, question the necessity of consciousness in both plants and animals, and reveal surprising insights about parasitic plants' decision-making. Tune in for a captivating discussion that challenges perceptions of life and awareness!

In a thought-provoking discussion, renowned physicist Brian Greene, known for his work on string theory, and astrophysicist Janna Levin, an expert on black holes, explore the intricate dance between philosophy and science. They tackle the complexities of quantum mechanics, particularly the many-worlds interpretation, and its connection to consciousness. The conversation delves into how consciousness shapes our understanding of reality and challenges conventional beliefs, while introducing the fascinating dimensions of string theory and its implications for existence.

This captivating discussion dives into the neuroscience and philosophy of consciousness. It unpacks intriguing concepts like intuition versus logical reasoning and explores the complexities of the split-brain phenomenon. The narrative challenges our notions of free will and the nature of self, suggesting that many actions stem from unconscious processes. Listeners are invited to reflect on their existence and how personal experiences shape consciousness, all while considering the interconnectedness of individual and universal experiences.

Philip Goff, a philosopher of mind and panpsychism advocate, and Adam Frank, an astrophysicist known for bridging science and consciousness, delve into whether consciousness might be a fundamental property of the universe. They discuss the philosophical dilemmas surrounding this idea, the challenges of integrating subjective experiences with scientific paradigms, and the interplay between gravity and consciousness. The conversation sparks thoughts on how redefining consciousness could reshape our understanding of reality and individual identity.

Susan Blackmore, a psychologist and author known for her insights on consciousness, joins the discussion to explore the layers of self in the context of neuroscience and meditation. They delve into how memory influences our perception of consciousness, and share personal anecdotes illustrating meditation's impact on the experience of time. Thought-provoking questions arise about the nature of consciousness and self-representation, encouraging listeners to reconsider their understanding of reality and existence.

In this explosive episode, Annaka explores her curiosity about space, how it's constructed, and what the experiences of space might represent in reality. Annaka—initially skeptical about the significance of subjective experiences in meditation—was surprised to find these experiences can potentially reveal deeper insights into reality and scientific truth. Through her collaboration with neuroscientists, she learned our reality is largely indirect, often described as "controlled hallucinations," according to Anil Seth. However, disciplined attention to our immediate experiences can sometimes alter our perceptions of space, time, and self, offering a potentially clearer view of reality. Annaka's interest in quantum physics, especially theories proposing that space and time are emergent rather than fundamental, paralleled her meditation experiences where consciousness transcends these constructs. This leads her down a path of jaw-dropping exploration about the true nature of space, time, and reality.

In this concluding chapter, we drop in on a talk Annaka gave at a 2023 conference organized by Philip Goff and Andrei Buckareff at Marist College titled “Treating Consciousness as Fundamental,” in which she presents alongside other Lights On guests: Lee Smolin, Donald Hoffman, Sean Carroll, and Philip Goff. Annaka describes the evolution of her thinking over the course of working on this documentary series, and illustrates her most current view of a universe in which consciousness is fundamental. Annaka elaborates further on ways we might expand our methods of scientific experiment, while laying out her prediction about a scientific paradigm shift that is possibly underway.