Is consciousness an illusion? 5 experts explain

“If science aims to describe everything, how can it not describe the simple fact of our existence?” On this episode of Dispatches, Kmele speaks with the scientists, mathematicians, and spiritual leaders trying to do just that:

This video is an episode from @The-Well, our publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the @JohnTempletonFoundation.

In the newest episode of Dispatches from The Well, we’re diving deep into the “hard problem of consciousness.” Here, Kmele combines the perspectives of five different scientists, philosophers, and spiritual leaders to approach one of humanity’s most pressing questions: what is consciousness?

In the AI age, the question of consciousness is more prevalent than ever. Is every single thing in the universe self-aware? What does it actually mean to be conscious? Are our bodies really just a vessel for our thoughts? Kmele asks these questions, and many more, in the most thought-provoking episode yet. This is Dispatches from The Well.

Featuring: Sir Roger Penrose, Christof Koch, Melanie Mitchell, Reid Hoffman, Swami Sarvapriyananda

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About Kmele Foster:

Kmele Foster is a media entrepreneur, commentator, and regular contributor to various national publications. He is the co-founder and co-host of The Fifth Column, a popular media criticism podcast.

He is the head of content at Founders Fund, a San Francisco based venture capital firm investing in companies building revolutionary technologies, and a partner at Freethink, a digital media company focused on the people and ideas changing our world.

Kmele also serves on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

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Read more from The Well:
Actually, neuroscience suggests “the self” is real
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein can illuminate the debate over generative AI
Few of us desire true equality. It’s time to own up to it

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About The Well
Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life’s biggest questions, and that’s why they’re the questions occupying the world’s brightest minds.

Together, let's learn from them.

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Join The Well on your favorite platforms:

[MatrixCoder]

"Am I thinking, or am I just thinking that I'm thinking "
*Hits blunt*
-Bill Nye

[gregbouc]

If it is an illusion, what is being illuded?

[John-xswh]

I like how no one answered honestly when asked what is consciousness. They couldn’t just say I don’t know, they had to throw a wall of sentences and even confused themselves at times.

[Shervin]

You know a program is good when you watch the whole thing and only realize 40+ minutes have passed after the fact.

Grade A content as always!

Thanks

[jeremyses]

Hats off to the host, Kmele Foster. He was thoroughly engaged with each of the interviewees and asked intelligent and insightful questions. I love content like this. Keep it up!

[bulongomukkuli]

What Swami Sarvapriyananda said is intriguing. Consciousness is the light of lights.

[HawthorneHillNaturePreserve]

Wow, this was one of the best documentaries about consciousness that I have seen. The host Kmele Foster did an amazing job with each interview and kept me thinking the whole time.

[rahul]

I sometimes randomly think of in the middle of something i usually think ohh i am alive and i can move my hands and fingers so fast after thinking, observing my thoughts its beautiful a creation which needs to be explored further

[azhuransmx]

Consciousness is so basic, simple, ephemeral, fragile, and at the same time so powerfully meaningful and important that people simply can not imagine it has not a special structure or clear place in the physical world or bodies.

[new_criticiser]

Even if all that I perceive as external reality is an illusion, the illusion exists

[Bluesclone]

Man, this was just plain beautiful. This was the first video of yours that I've ever seen and I can't get enough. Bravo! Beautifully produced and presented, I don't have enough superlatives for this thoughtful, insightful and fascinating look at this subject matter. I really hope you make this a continuing series!

[culturebreath]

The monk gentleman was very well spoken, and the way he worded things was just pure joy to listen to. 😮❤

[dancxjo]

I love the diversity of thinkers collected here! So many delightful angles!

[tommylachanceiii]

This has to be one of, the best Videos Ive ever seen.
To the Host, Outstanding! Engagement and Questioning. I felt as if it were I, myself asking these questions.
PLEASE CONTINUE This kind of thought and production!!!

[dxc]

I thought this would be one of those videos that i watch for 5 minutes and move on. However, it was so interesting that i watched the entire thing.

[fatefulbrawl]

0:00 Introduction to hard Consciousness problem
4:55 Christof Koch's view: Neuroscientist
12:17 Swami Sarvapriyanada view: Spiritual view
19:06 Reid Hoffman view: Tech entrepreneur Co started ChatGPT
27:00 Melanie Mitchell view: Artificial intelligence
30:27 Sir Roger Penrose view: Nobel prize Physhist
35:57 Final insights
🧘

[kariannecrysler]

More of this please. I love this kind of open exploration of life & living it. The more we learn the better we become and I am 💯 on board for this!

[BlueNeahno]

People step aside as I walk down the street … therefore I am.

[kotogray]

Absolutely spellbinding in it's content. We are surrely much morre than just a pile of atoms. I reached a point of complete awareness in this video's attempt to define it's purpose right at the end when I saw the dog being loved and the woman shedding a tear. It moved me...

[existantf]

'it is light of light' i think is the most comprehensive phrase for consciousness