Donald Hoffman

So consciousness in the most basic sense, which I usually like to just call felt experience. I think that's the best way of getting at what it is that I'm talking about. So if a B has some minimal level of consciousness. If a worm has some minimal level of consciousness and neuroscientists do not have a consensus on these things yet.

So consciousness in the most basic sense, which I usually like to just call felt experience. I think that's the best way of getting at what it is that I'm talking about. So if a B has some minimal level of consciousness. If a worm has some minimal level of consciousness and neuroscientists do not have a consensus on these things yet.

We think it's likely that they have some conscious experience because they have brains and central nervous systems. But if they do, it's a very minimal experience. You know, something like a worm or a slug might just feel pressure against their skin. Maybe some internal kind of desire, like we have a feeling of hunger or something like that when they need to go towards food.

We think it's likely that they have some conscious experience because they have brains and central nervous systems. But if they do, it's a very minimal experience. You know, something like a worm or a slug might just feel pressure against their skin. Maybe some internal kind of desire, like we have a feeling of hunger or something like that when they need to go towards food.

We think it's likely that they have some conscious experience because they have brains and central nervous systems. But if they do, it's a very minimal experience. You know, something like a worm or a slug might just feel pressure against their skin. Maybe some internal kind of desire, like we have a feeling of hunger or something like that when they need to go towards food.

Maybe some minimal element of fear or even just an impulse to move away from something dangerous or something that wouldn't be good. Good for their system. And so when I use the word consciousness in this context and talking about the mystery of consciousness, I'm talking about consciousness in its most basic form, simply the fact of felt experience.

Maybe some minimal element of fear or even just an impulse to move away from something dangerous or something that wouldn't be good. Good for their system. And so when I use the word consciousness in this context and talking about the mystery of consciousness, I'm talking about consciousness in its most basic form, simply the fact of felt experience.

Maybe some minimal element of fear or even just an impulse to move away from something dangerous or something that wouldn't be good. Good for their system. And so when I use the word consciousness in this context and talking about the mystery of consciousness, I'm talking about consciousness in its most basic form, simply the fact of felt experience.

The fact that I'm not just processing light waves that are bouncing off all the objects in this room. I'm seeing yellow, I'm seeing green, I'm seeing shapes, I'm having an experience from the inside in a way that we imagine computers don't. You know, computers and cameras can process light waves.

The fact that I'm not just processing light waves that are bouncing off all the objects in this room. I'm seeing yellow, I'm seeing green, I'm seeing shapes, I'm having an experience from the inside in a way that we imagine computers don't. You know, computers and cameras can process light waves.

The fact that I'm not just processing light waves that are bouncing off all the objects in this room. I'm seeing yellow, I'm seeing green, I'm seeing shapes, I'm having an experience from the inside in a way that we imagine computers don't. You know, computers and cameras can process light waves.

And we don't imagine that they see green or that there's any kind of experience of color or anything like that, even though they're processing similar things.

And we don't imagine that they see green or that there's any kind of experience of color or anything like that, even though they're processing similar things.

And we don't imagine that they see green or that there's any kind of experience of color or anything like that, even though they're processing similar things.

inputs from the environment, the question is, and the really mysterious thing is, why does some processing, why do some organisms in nature have an experience of being the organism, have the experience of being that collection of atoms that's doing that processing? So sentience is also a great term, although it's not used that often in our culture and most people equate it with life.

inputs from the environment, the question is, and the really mysterious thing is, why does some processing, why do some organisms in nature have an experience of being the organism, have the experience of being that collection of atoms that's doing that processing? So sentience is also a great term, although it's not used that often in our culture and most people equate it with life.

inputs from the environment, the question is, and the really mysterious thing is, why does some processing, why do some organisms in nature have an experience of being the organism, have the experience of being that collection of atoms that's doing that processing? So sentience is also a great term, although it's not used that often in our culture and most people equate it with life.

So I don't use it that much. But the definition of sentience is really actually what I'm getting at here. Susceptibility to sensation, consciousness in its most basic form. So I use experience, I use awareness, felt experience and sentience interchangeably. But that is what I mean by consciousness.

So I don't use it that much. But the definition of sentience is really actually what I'm getting at here. Susceptibility to sensation, consciousness in its most basic form. So I use experience, I use awareness, felt experience and sentience interchangeably. But that is what I mean by consciousness.

So I don't use it that much. But the definition of sentience is really actually what I'm getting at here. Susceptibility to sensation, consciousness in its most basic form. So I use experience, I use awareness, felt experience and sentience interchangeably. But that is what I mean by consciousness.