Michael Pollan

You have spotlight consciousness.

I have spotlight consciousness.

So I'm curious to hear you talk a bit about that because on the one hand, it feels like that idea would imply consciousness becomes richer as you become more goal-directed.

But I think it's quite clear that it becomes narrowed as you become more goal-directed.

I think it's almost inarguable.

I want to get at another theory of what consciousness is for.

I think the language in the book is consciousness is felt uncertainty.

Yeah.

Isn't that beautiful?

That is very beautiful.

Although in practice, I find it very unpleasant.

But...

What does that mean?

I think I've thought about this part of the book more than any other.

And I think that's in part because the way my mind works, and I'm not sure how generalizable this is.

My thoughts attract to uncertainty in my life.

I just ruminate and ruminate and ruminate over whatever I am typically most emotionally uncertain about.

Not always, by the way, the most useful forms of uncertainty.

There are other unsolved problems.

It would be better if my mind was interested in thinking about, but I get it.