S03E06 Donald Hoffman: What is Reality?

Donald Hoffman is a cognitive scientist at UC Irvine and author of 'The Case Against Reality.' He believes that the world we experience is an illusion, whilst ultimate reality is composed of networks of conscious agents. Keith and Philip will probe Professor Hoffman's view from their very different perspectives on the nature of consciousness.

Here's the paper we discussed at length which argues that Donald's argument from evolution is self-defeating: https://link.springer.com/article/10....

Here's Donald's recent co-written paper in which the authors attempt to ground physics in networks of conscious agents: https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/1/129

0:00 - Intros
2:36 - The Case Against Reality
24:52 - Consciousness as Fundamental
30:46 - Philip's Objection to Hoffman's Argument from Physics
44:28 - Integrated Information Theory
50:48 - What Philip Stole from Hoffman
52:32 - Is Hoffman's Evolution Argument Self-Defeating?
1:04:43 - Keith Probes into the Details
1:21:24 - Buddhism
1:25:35 - Panpsychism vs. Hoffman's View
1:32:41 - Is Hoffman an Illusionist?
1:35:41 - Ockham's Razor
1:37:47 - Why Hoffman Doesn't Believe in Evolution
1:44:09 - Alvin Plantinga's Evolutionary Argument
1:47:56 - Q&A
1:56:26 - Find Out More About Hoffman
1:58:15 - Philip's Conference
1:58:42 - Mind Chat Catchphrase