Is reality real? These neuroscientists don’t think so | Big Think

Big Think September 12, 2021
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Big Think exists to make you smarter, faster. Through conversations with the world’s brightest thinkers, we bring you the ideas shaping the future of science, philosophy, culture, and the human mind. Our library of thousands of videos distills complex insight into clear, actionable wisdom for how to think, work, and live in a changing world. Meet legendary teachers like philosopher Daniel Dennett, physicist Brian Cox, classicist Mary Beard, psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, political scientist Ian Bremmer, anthropologist Helen Fisher, and hundreds more — all sharing the ideas that define our time and the questions that will shape our future.

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Become a Big Think member to unlock expert classes, premium print issues, exclusive events and more: https://bigthink.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=yt_desc Is reality real? These neuroscientists don’t think so, with Richard Dawkins, Heather Heying, Donald Hoffman & more Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvQECJukTDE2i6aCoMnS-Vg Up next ►► Navigating reality: It’s all about perspective | Daniel Schmachtenberger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNcyc_sEtpU Is there an external reality? Is reality objective? Is the information your senses are feeding you an accurate depiction of reality? Most neuroscientists, biologists, and scientific leaders believe that we only understand a sliver of what is real. Although we assume our senses are telling us the truth, they’re actually fabricated to us. Considering senses are unique from person to person, and through our unique senses we can only intemperate a fraction of what is real, there is no all-encompassing perspective one can have. Because of this, we need to take our perceptions seriously, but not literally. Multiple perspectives have to be taken, as each will have some sort of truth lies within them. Seeing partial truth in multiple perspectives is fundamental to navigating the world and making informed decisions. Read the video transcript: https://bigthink.com/videos/objective-reality ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS: 0:00 Beau Lotto on how we perceive our external reality. 0:32 Alva Noë on how our reality projects into our nervous system. 1:20 Donald Hoffman on if our senses are telling us the truth. 2:58 Frank Wilczek on how we perceive color and sound. 4:41 Daniel Schmachtenberger on perception, choice making, and navigating reality. 6:01 Heather Heying on how to figure out what is true in reality. 6:28 Richard Dawkins on objective reality vs. science ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read more of our stories on objective reality: Did we evolve to see reality as it exists? No, says cognitive psychologist Donald Hoffman.►► https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/does-reality-exist Is human consciousness creating reality? ►►https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/is-human-consciousness-creating-reality New hypothesis argues the universe simulates itself into existence►► https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/new-hypothesis-argues-the-universe-simulates-itself-into-existence ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Big Think | Smarter Faster™ ► Big Think The leading source of expert-driven, educational content. With thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think helps you get smarter, faster by exploring the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century. ► Big Think+ Learn career skills from the world's top minds: https://bigthink.com/plus/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more Big Think? ► Daily editorial features: https://bigthink.com/popular/ ► Get the best of Big Think right to your inbox: https://bigthink.com/st/newsletter ► Facebook: https://bigth.ink/facebook ► Instagram: https://bigth.ink/Instagram ► Twitter: https://bigth.ink/twitter

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