On this episode of Conversations with Tom, Donald Hoffman and Tom Bilyeu discuss the fascinating possibilities that stem from the theory that evolution gave us the equivalent of a desktop interface that hides the real truth from us so that we can take effective action. They discuss the nature of consciousness, free will, space-time, causality and the self.

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SHOW NOTES: 

Most of us believe that we see reality as it is. But we don’t. [1:14]

Donald describes how mathematical game theory explains natural selection [3:42]

Donald talks about a game he created to simulate evolution [9:33]

Seeing the truth and seeing what you need to survive are very different things [13:51]

Evolution gave us the equivalent of a desktop interface, not the truth [18:11]

Every creature has a different user interface and perceives a different reality [24:57]

If we let go of logic and reasoning, then we have nothing left [32:10]

There will always be unprovable truths. You can never know it all. [35:14]

Donald describes the process by which you “see” an apple [42:05]

Evolution tells us that the language of space and time does not describe reality [47:53]

Donald proposes that reality is a vast social network of conscious agents [49:39]

A conscious agent creates their interpretation from their experiences [53:32]

What is consciousness? [57:12] What does a conscious agent need to do? [1:00:49]

Donald and Tom discuss fascinating cases of split-brain patients [1:08:13]

If space-time is doomed then is causality doomed as well? [1:22:17]

Donald discusses free will and its relationship to cause and effect [1:28:01]

The self is a construction just like space and time [1:30:27]

You can never experience yourself choosing [1:39:15]

Donald describes the experience of realizing that he is just inside a VR headset [1:40:01]

What’s the difference between math all the way down and turtles all the way down? [1:50:25]

Tom and Donald discuss the double-slit experiment in physics [1:56:18]

Donald talks about his wife and his marriage [2:01:49]

Donald and Tom discuss the possibility of taking off the headset [2:03:10]

Donald and Tom discuss why they haven’t used psychedelics [2:07:10]

Since space-time is doomed, what’s next? [2:13:27] 

FOLLOW DONALD:

WEBSITE: https://bit.ly/2WLu47l 

TWITTER: https://bit.ly/2WKJ0SX 

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