Philosophy For Our Times Do we really experience reality? | Graham Harman, Donald Hoffman & Mazviita Chirimuuta
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May 25, 2021 
Graham Harman, a philosopher of object-oriented ontology, joins cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman, known for his work on perception, and philosopher Mazviita Chirimuuta, who specializes in the philosophy of mind. They dive into the captivating question of whether our perceptions truly reflect reality or are merely evolutionary adaptations. Topics include the perception paradox influenced by synesthesia, the indirect nature of accessing reality, and the limitations of human cognition. They also discuss the diverse perceptions of non-human entities, inviting a reevaluation of consciousness.
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Test Theories To Find Their Limits
- Treat scientific theories as tools you should test and try to break to find their limits.
- Use failures and unusual predictions as opportunities for new understanding.
Spacetime May Be Emergent
- Hoffman highlights physics suggesting spacetime may be emergent, pushing inquiry toward deeper non-spatiotemporal structures.
- He remains open to individuated entities beyond spacetime that differ from our perceived objects.
Perception As A Survival Interface
- Hoffman compares perception to a video game interface: you must take it seriously to survive but not literally as the underlying code.
- He argues evolution produces a user interface that conceals objective structure yet guides adaptive behaviour.