Comment by dwd

6 days ago

Anil Seth calls the "hard problem" at best a distraction, or hand-waving to avoid answering what he calls the real problem: linking what we experience to the physical brain mechanisms.

In his theory, consciousness is a "controlled hallucination" about what is outside of us. Our senses serve to reinforce or correct the predictions our brains are making. (we have a serious latency issue)

You'll find he's saying a lot of the same things you just wrote.

Sounds also like Daniel Dennett.

  • Sadly he passed away. I enjoyed listening to him on Michael Shermer and Sean Carroll's podcasts back in the day.

    What you may like are the debates on the 2014 Greenland Cruise. Dennett, Chalmers, Goff, Churchland, Prinz and other luminaries debating the "hard problem". The "roast" sessions where they dive into each others work is priceless and highly worth listening to.

    Here's Dennett on Chalmers (standing next to him)

    https://youtu.be/QX1MxkR3rtk?si=Scp2wrH3epK0figC&t=1674