Listen & Learn: Understanding Reality Through Cognitive Neuroscience
“Evolution by natural selection does not favor true perceptions.” – Don Hoffman
For some of us, our intro to philosophy class in college was the last time we thought deeply about epistemology (how we know the nature of reality). Dust off your thinking cap. You're going to need it for this episode of NEURONFIRE as Dr. David Bach explores big questions in cognitive science. Questions like, "what happens when philosophy meets computer science?" Let's find out.
Cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman joins Dr. David Bach in NEURONFIRE for a conversation that explores our scientific understanding of reality through cognitive neuroscience. Don is a Professor in the Department of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, with joint appointments in the Department of Philosophy, the Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, and the School of Computer Science. Together, the two discuss consciousness, how consciousness relates to the brain, and how behavior and perception are functions of evolution.
Tune-in to NEURONFIRE to learn about human perception of reality, the difference between people and machines, and what evolutionary psychology can tell us about human nature. Listen to Don describe his computer analogy -- that physical space is like a desktop, and objects in it, are like desktop icons. Hear Don discuss evolutionary game theory and the evolutionary advantages of lying. Hungry for more? To learn more, be sure to subscribe to the NEURONFIRE podcast on iTunes.
Additional Reading
Scientific American: Did Humans Evolve to See Things as They Really Are?
The Atlantic: The Case Against Reality
Videos
Donald Hoffman: Do we see reality as it is? | TED Talk | TED.com
ABOUT NEURONFIRE
NEURONFIRE is hosted by Dr. David Bach, a Harvard-trained neuroscientist, physician, and entrepreneur. In NEURONFIRE, Dr. Bach interviews world-renowned scientists, best-selling authors, elite performers, and world-class athletes in an impassioned search to provide listeners with actionable, scientifically sound solutions to optimize their performance.