Unraveling science’s greatest modern mystery | Annaka Harris: Full Interview

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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?

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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.