Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal Anil Seth on The Neuroscience of Consciousness, Sapir Whorf, and Daniel Dennett's ideas
Nov 23, 2020
Anil Seth, a neuroscientist from the University of Sussex, dives deep into the mysteries of consciousness. He discusses the captivating interplay between perception and reality, examining how our brains interpret sensory information. The conversation touches on the influential Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, questioning how language shapes our experiences. Seth also explores the notion of time perception during intense emotions and challenges conventional beliefs about brain hemispheres. Additionally, he examines the complexities of consciousness in the context of quantum mechanics and psychedelics.
02:49:01
Bayesian Brain Model
- The Bayesian brain model suggests perception combines prior expectations with sensory data.
- It offers a standard of optimality, but doesn't explain all brain processes.
Bayesian Model and Mental Disorders
- The Bayesian model helps understand mental disorders as mismatches between priors and sensory data, like in psychosis.
- This framework can lead to better diagnoses and treatments.
Godel's Theorem and the Brain
- Anil Seth questions Godel's theorem's relevance to the brain and the idea of the brain as a computer.
- He's open to information processing but questions the assumption of universality.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Exploring Consciousness: Neuroscience and Phenomenology
02:09 • 25min
The Perception-Reality Paradox
26:55 • 16min
Exploring Time Perception in Thrilling Experiences
42:25 • 3min
The Intricacies of Human Perception
45:31 • 15min
Consciousness, Language, and Perception
01:00:03 • 23min
Navigating Uncertainty: The Brain's Problem-Solving Mechanics
01:23:26 • 6min
Perception, Prediction, and Mental Health
01:29:31 • 13min
Gödel, Consciousness, and the Brain
01:43:00 • 14min
Influence of Suggestibility in Experiments
01:56:54 • 9min
Exploring Perception and Suggestion through Innovative Experiments
02:05:31 • 4min
Exploring Consciousness through Psychedelics
02:09:30 • 21min
Unraveling Consciousness and AI
02:30:10 • 9min
Reflections on Consciousness and Connection
02:38:49 • 4min
#5161
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
Surfaces and Essences
Analogy as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking
Douglas Hofstadter
Emmanuel Sander
This book, written by Douglas Hofstadter and Emmanuel Sander, delves into the cognitive mechanisms that underpin human thought.
It posits that analogy-making is the fundamental process by which our brains make sense of the world, constantly seeking strong analogical links to past experiences.
The authors use a variety of colorful situations involving language, thought, and memory to illustrate how analogy is essential for thinking, from everyday experiences to the highest achievements of the human mind.
#1531
• Mentioned in 27 episodes
Consciousness explained
Daniel Dennett
In *Consciousness Explained*, Daniel Dennett undertakes a full-scale exploration of human consciousness.
He challenges the traditional, commonsense theory of consciousness and introduces the 'Multiple Drafts' model as an alternative to the 'Cartesian Theater' concept.
Dennett draws on a wealth of information from neuroscience, psychology, and artificial intelligence to transform current theories about conscious life in humans, animals, and even robots.
The book is praised for its accessible and engaging style, making complex scientific and philosophical concepts highly digestible for both experts and general readers.
#788
• Mentioned in 44 episodes
Being You
A New Science of Consciousness
Anil Seth
In 'Being You: A New Science of Consciousness,' Anil Seth presents a radical new theory of consciousness, arguing that we are 'prediction machines' constantly inventing and correcting our perception of the world.
The book delves into the biological mechanisms of the brain, exploring how billions of neurons create our conscious experience.
Seth discusses the 'controlled hallucination' viewpoint, active inference, and the 'beast machine' theory, which views consciousness as a process of regulating the body's essential variables through interoceptive signals.
The book is a synthesis of philosophy, science, literature, and personal experience, making complex science accessible and engaging.
#1638
• Mentioned in 26 episodes
My Stroke of Insight
A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey
Jill Bolte Taylor
On December 10, 1996, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist, suffered a rare form of stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain.
This event led to a complete deterioration of her cognitive functions within four hours, yet she alternated between the logical left brain and the intuitive right brain, experiencing euphoria and a sense of complete well-being.
The book chronicles her eight-year recovery and the profound insights she gained into the brain's functioning and the potential for inner peace.
Taylor's experience has been widely acclaimed, including a viral TED talk and recognition as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2008.
#1655
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The Emperor's New Mind
Concerning Computers, Minds, and the Laws of Physics
Roger Penrose
In this book, Roger Penrose challenges the idea that human consciousness can be replicated by computers.
He delves into various subjects including algorithms, Turing machines, complexity theory, quantum mechanics, and the basics of modern physics to support his argument that human cognition is fundamentally non-computable.
Penrose discusses the limitations of Turing machines, the incompleteness of formal systems as shown by Godel's proof, and the necessity of a unified theory of quantum gravity to explain human consciousness.
The book is a detailed and thought-provoking journey through mathematics, computer science, philosophy, and physics, making it a must-read for those interested in the nature of mind and the relationship between physics and consciousness.
#2011
• Mentioned in 22 episodes
I Am a Strange Loop
Douglas Hofstadter
#295
• Mentioned in 89 episodes
Gödel, Escher, Bach
An Eternal Golden Braid
Douglas Hofstadter
This book by Douglas Hofstadter is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary work that explores the interrelated ideas of Kurt Gödel, M.C.
Escher, and Johann Sebastian Bach.
It delves into concepts such as self-reference, recursion, and the limits of formal systems, particularly through Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem.
The book uses dialogues between fictional characters, including Achilles and the Tortoise, to intuitively present complex ideas before they are formally explained.
It covers a wide range of topics including cognitive science, artificial intelligence, number theory, and the philosophy of mind, aiming to understand how consciousness and intelligence emerge from formal systems.
#
Minds, Machines and Gödel
J.R. Lucas
In 'Minds, Machines and Gödel', J.R.
Lucas presents a philosophical argument against mechanism, the idea that human minds can be fully explained as machines.
He uses Gödel's incompleteness theorem to argue that no machine can be a complete model of the mind, as there will always be mathematical truths that a machine cannot prove but a human can see as true.
This work challenges the notion of strong artificial intelligence and has been influential in debates about the nature of mind and machine.
In this episode Curt Jaimungal talks with neuroscientist Anil Seth about the nature of consciousness, the Bayesian brain model, and the implications of language and philosophy from Sapir‑Whorf to Daniel Dennett. They explore perception, illusion, free will, and even the prospects of mind uploading, weaving together neuroscience, philosophy, and AI.
- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:01:08 - What's alluring about "consciousness" research?
- 01:03:51 - Defining "phenomenology"
- 02:05:56 - What does it mean to "explain" consciousness?
- 03:14:52 - Difference between illusion and hallucination
- 04:18:16 - If perception is tuned for fitness, why care about objective reality?
- 05:24:44 - Applying Donald Hoffman's ideas to Anil Seth's
- 06:33:39 - Does time actually slow down, during high valence emotions
- 07:36:31 - Details on the Bayesian model of consciousness
- 08:41:50 - Can you be wrong about your own perceptions?
- 09:46:29 - Myth of left brain vs. right brain
- 10:54:31 - The role of the "ego" and the loss of it
- 11:56:45 - Consciousness and quantum mechanics
- 13:00:37 - Sapir Whorf hypothesis and Curt's polemics
- 14:10:24 - Language and conscious experience
- 15:13:33 - Can I "see" without noticing? What's the difference?
- 16:17:27 - The Bayesian model of consciousness (and its limitations)
- 17:25:16 - How does the Bayesian model deal with mental disorders
- 18:36:26 - Gödel's incompleteness theorem's implications on the computational nature of the brain
- 19:42:23 - Can we upload our minds? (a neuroscientific perspective)
- 20:45:48 - Integrated Information Theory and measuring Phi
- 21:50:21 - Peter Lush's recent paper and undermining the rubber hand illusion
- 22:55:09 - Placebo effect and hypnosis
- 24:01:25 - Experiments involving psychedelics (LSD and microdosing)
- 25:04:01 - Anil's personal insights from psychedelics
- 26:06:18 - Anil's views on Daniel Dennett's "Explaining Consciousness"
- 27:12:26 - Compatibilism, free will, and Douglas Hofstadter
- 28:15:21 - Global Workspace Theory
- 29:19:45 - Anil Seth and Pragmatism
- 30:22:39 - Curt's list of final questions, repudiated
- 31:23:35 - How do the various AI architectures relate to the brain? (GAN / Convultional / etc.)
- 32:32:17 - How does Anil stay so fit?
- 33:33:44 - Comporting rationalism with irrational behaviors
RESOURCES:
- Patreon for conversations on Theories of Everything, Consciousness, Free Will, and God: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Help support conversations like this via PayPal: https://bit.ly/2EOR0M4
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802
- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Id3k7k7mfzahfx2fjqmw3vufb44
- Anil Seth's Links WEBSITE: https://anilseth.com
- TWITTER: https://twitter.com/anilkseth
- TED TALK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyu7v7nWzfo
- http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com
- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:01:08 - What's alluring about "consciousness" research?
- 01:03:51 - Defining "phenomenology"
- 02:05:56 - What does it mean to "explain" consciousness?
- 03:14:52 - Difference between illusion and hallucination
- 04:18:16 - If perception is tuned for fitness, why care about objective reality?
- 05:24:44 - Applying Donald Hoffman's ideas to Anil Seth's
- 06:33:39 - Does time actually slow down, during high valence emotions
- 07:36:31 - Details on the Bayesian model of consciousness
- 08:41:50 - Can you be wrong about your own perceptions?
- 09:46:29 - Myth of left brain vs. right brain
- 10:54:31 - The role of the "ego" and the loss of it
- 11:56:45 - Consciousness and quantum mechanics
- 13:00:37 - Sapir Whorf hypothesis and Curt's polemics
- 14:10:24 - Language and conscious experience
- 15:13:33 - Can I "see" without noticing? What's the difference?
- 16:17:27 - The Bayesian model of consciousness (and its limitations)
- 17:25:16 - How does the Bayesian model deal with mental disorders
- 18:36:26 - Gödel's incompleteness theorem's implications on the computational nature of the brain
- 19:42:23 - Can we upload our minds? (a neuroscientific perspective)
- 20:45:48 - Integrated Information Theory and measuring Phi
- 21:50:21 - Peter Lush's recent paper and undermining the rubber hand illusion
- 22:55:09 - Placebo effect and hypnosis
- 24:01:25 - Experiments involving psychedelics (LSD and microdosing)
- 25:04:01 - Anil's personal insights from psychedelics
- 26:06:18 - Anil's views on Daniel Dennett's "Explaining Consciousness"
- 27:12:26 - Compatibilism, free will, and Douglas Hofstadter
- 28:15:21 - Global Workspace Theory
- 29:19:45 - Anil Seth and Pragmatism
- 30:22:39 - Curt's list of final questions, repudiated
- 31:23:35 - How do the various AI architectures relate to the brain? (GAN / Convultional / etc.)
- 32:32:17 - How does Anil stay so fit?
- 33:33:44 - Comporting rationalism with irrational behaviors
RESOURCES:
- Patreon for conversations on Theories of Everything, Consciousness, Free Will, and God: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Help support conversations like this via PayPal: https://bit.ly/2EOR0M4
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802
- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Id3k7k7mfzahfx2fjqmw3vufb44
- Anil Seth's Links WEBSITE: https://anilseth.com
- TWITTER: https://twitter.com/anilkseth
- TED TALK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyu7v7nWzfo
- http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com
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