The Dissenter

#1236 Paul Thagard - Dreams, Jokes, and Songs: How Brains Build Consciousness

Apr 3, 2026
Paul Thagard, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and cognitive scientist, discusses how brains build consciousness. He outlines the NBC theory and compares consciousness theories. He explores dreams, jokes, songs, social influences on awareness, consciousness in animals, and whether AI can be conscious. The conversation also touches on solving the mind-body problem and new scientific approaches.
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ANECDOTE

Trump's False Claims Example Of Dangerous Political Misinformation

  • High-stakes political misinformation can enable dangerous leaders; Thagard cites Donald Trump’s persistent false claim that the 2020 election was stolen.
  • He mentions a Washington Post tally of roughly 15,000 false statements during Trump's presidency.
INSIGHT

Motivated Reasoning Drives Many False Beliefs

  • Motivated reasoning drives many misinformation beliefs: people accept claims because they want them true rather than because of evidence.
  • Thagard credits Ziva Kunda's work and gives examples from conspiracy and political lies.
INSIGHT

Social Media Removed Gatekeepers And Multiplied Misinformation

  • Social media changed the spread mechanism by removing gatekeepers, enabling anyone to reach millions and dramatically increasing misinformation.
  • Thagard contrasts curated newsrooms with platforms like TikTok, whose owners prioritize engagement over truth.
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