All credits to @philosophybabble for this talk:    • Conscious Reality: Unraveling the Min...  

We are honoured to have Prof. Donald Hoffman, a distinguished cognitive psychologist and professor at the University of California, Irvine, renowned for his pioneering work on consciousness, visual perception, and evolutionary psychology. Alongside him, we have the insightful Resident Swami and head off the Vedanta Society of New York, Swami Sarvapriyananda, known for imparting the profound wisdom of Vedanta to audiences worldwide.

Summary:
In "The Great Minds Series: Conscious Reality," we navigate an enlightening dialogue where Prof. Hoffman and Swami Ji merge the profound teachings of Advaita with the frontiers of modern science. They begin by sharing personal journeys that have shaped their views on philosophy and consciousness, emphasizing the need for mathematical precision in understanding consciousness and the philosophical depth of the Vedas. Discussions range from skepticism about our sensory 'Headset' to interpreting non-duality and the symbolism of perception in Advaita. Prof. Hoffman reveals transformative experiences that have redefined his theories, while the conversation also tackles the differentiation between reality and perception, the intersection of spirituality and science, and the completeness of inquiries into reality. Incorporating Isaac Asimov's narratives and debates on physicality versus illusion, the episode culminates in a rich discourse on foundational philosophical issues and the nuances of Emergence, Complexity, and wave function collapse. Join us as we unravel these intricate topics, each moment delving deeper into the essence of being.

Timecodes:

00:00 - Intro
01:58 - Both reveal how their individual experiences and contemplative insights have guided them to their present views in philosophy and science.
07:36 - Interpreting consciousness necessitates mathematical precision.
11:52 - The range of ideas and philosophies contained within the Vedas.
24:05 - A candid moment where Don expresses polite skepticism
33:08 - Swami Ji could see the 'Headset' as a symbol for how the mind filters reality, akin to Advaita's view of perception.
37:29 - Pointers merely indicate; they aren't the reality itself.
50:12 - Our 'Headset' is extremely dull!
01:00:39 - There are various pointers, and non-duality is one such pointer.
01:11:50 - Your body is merely your avatar.
01:33:22 - Prof. Hoffman has experienced reflective moments leading him to re-evaluate his perspectives on consciousness, which have influenced the evolution of his theories.
01:36:05 - How do you differentiate between what’s objectively ‘real’ and out perceptions of reality?
01:44:33 - Where do the paths of spirituality and science intersect?
01:46:18 - When does an inquiry reach its conclusion?
01:47:58 - The discussion turns to the concept of incompleteness in understanding reality.
01:51:14 - A brief explanation of Stationary Markov Chains in context.
01:54:03 - Swami Ji retell Isaac Asimov's "The Last Question" by weaving it into a narrative that aligns with our conversation.
01:55:02 - A debate on the implications of bodily harm in the context of illusion and reality.
02:02:58 - Vinod suggests addressing foundational issues in philosophy to build a robust argument.
02:06:57 - Andy offers a counterpoint on the ideas of Emergence and Complexity.
02:14:57 - Unpacking the concept of Two Levels of Truth.
02:20:25 - Exploring arguments for wave function collapse and possible philosophical interpretations.

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ABOUT VEDANTA
Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions.

ABOUT US
Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.