In a recent exploration of consciousness, neuroscientist Anil Seth presents a compelling thesis in his book, "How the Brain Creates Our Consciousness." Contrary to the traditional view of the brain as a passive receiver of stimuli, Seth argues that it actively constructs perceptions and hypotheses based on sensory information.
Seth posits that every conscious experience is essentially a "controlled hallucination." This means that our perceptions are not direct reflections of reality; instead, they are interpretations shaped by the brain’s predictions about incoming sensory signals. He states, "We never experience sensory signals as they are; we only experience our interpretations of those signals." This perspective suggests that our understanding of reality is a series of educated guesses made by our brains.
Furthermore, Seth emphasizes that these predictions must be reliable for survival. The evolutionary success of certain species indicates that their controlled hallucinations have consistently approximated objective reality, thus reintroducing the concept of objective reality that Seth initially challenges.
In another insightful work, mathematician John D. Barrow, in "Why the World is Mathematical?", illustrates the evolutionary advantage of a scientific approach through a parable about two monkeys. One, relying on mathematical calculations, successfully jumps from one tree branch to another, while the other, lost in philosophical speculation, fails to survive. This story highlights how a grounded understanding of reality has been a key evolutionary mechanism for humans.
Additionally, physicist Tullio Regge notes that human cognition and logic have been profoundly shaped by the struggles for survival in nature, reinforcing the idea that our understanding of natural laws is intuitive and essential for survival.
While Seth's book raises intriguing questions about the nature of consciousness and perception, it also leaves some unresolved issues, particularly regarding how different species perceive colors and stimuli differently. This ongoing exploration of consciousness continues to challenge our understanding of both ourselves and the world around us.