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Sam Harris: Breaking the spell of propaganda | Full Interview ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T4dr_YQxrQ
Consciousness feels like the most familiar thing in the world, and yet science still can’t say what it is, where it begins, or why it exists at all.
Annaka Harris examines the assumptions shaping consciousness research, from the belief that awareness requires complex brains to the intuition that thought drives behavior.
0:00 Defining consciousness
0:20 What does your work in consciousness entail?
1:29 Why did you write your book?
3:23 How do you define consciousness?
6:16 What is the hard problem of consciousness?
7:33 Is consciousness different from thought?
8:44 What is your biggest unanswered question?
9:59 Could consciousness be fundamental?
13:53 What are intuitions?
16:08 How do intuitions impact our grasp of consciousness?
21:53 How do we challenge our intuition on consciousness?
24:01 Can consciousness exist without physical signs?
26:10 Is consciousness necessary for behavior?
28:18 What might be revealed if we’re wrong about consciousness?
33:16 What is the illusion of self?
38:53 What brain processes create the illusion of self?
42:47 Is it useful to recognize the illusion of self?
48:13 How can the illusion of free will be challenged?
50:09 Is recognizing the illusion of free will beneficial?
Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/full-interview/hard-problem-consciousness/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description
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About Annaka Harris:
Annaka Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind and writer and producer of the forthcoming audio documentary series, LIGHTS ON. 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.
📝 Transcript
Transcribing... This may take a few minutes.
Top Comments
@CedarSpringWolf
Annaka and Sam must have some wild conversations.
18 likes
@benmoeau7130
It's like the eye's asking itself how they see.
3 likes
@dantayne2558
Iits not just that we're aware but that we're aware that we're aware
23 likes
@ScottDincorn
This was wonderful and such a fascinating topic. Special props to whoever came up with the questions
6 likes
@rryanmanning
You’re my touchstone for this stuff lately
@Overthinkless1
These are amazing! Keep on going with the great guests and great topics!
1 likes
@dziobak101
I wish she would have gone into more depth about the evidence from neuroscience she kept alluding to.
5 likes
@HaveAGreatDay54
I have been developing a thought experiment that explains consciousness in a simplified and beautiful way. I call it the "Equal Universe Hypothesis". It basically goes like this: Imagine a 'nested neural universe'. Our perceived universe is the neural network of the host being's brain. Inside our brains exists another neural universe. As above, so below. This is an infinite process in both directions. Every life that exists within the universe exists to live out the thought processes of the host. The more complex the brain, the more complex the process or answer that the life is part of. Each life's experience adds trajectory to the answer itself or helps run the process that is needed to gain the answer. The question never really matters. This very hypothesis proves why most of you could not perform the thought experiment itself. Your path exists (in small part) to provide resistance to this hypothesis which is also a trajectory to the answer. I have been focusing on disproving the hypothesis with no luck. There are real mathematical proofs to be had here. Even the elusive 'dark matter' could mathematically be described as the 'gray matter' of a brain holding the neural network of the universe together. If thought has mass, that mass is... you.
3 likes
@OMGjessey
what a brilliant mind. Thank you for sharing!
@calebdrew5684
Love Annaka, she's a good communicator and a dedicated thinker!
@tadmorrison
Also, the process that results in consciousness is not the same as the process that rises toward conscious awareness.
2 likes
@郑权明-t5g
非常感谢您们的视频和提醒！请放心！
@AmericanGuts97
I have no schooling beyond high school but I have documentation of me coming to the same conclusions as she has. I’m 100% bragging but to be fair, I am surprised that I have been able to learn so much just from experience & YouTube.