How the brain shapes reality - with Andy Clark

Join philosopher and cognitive scientist Andy Clark as he challenges our conventional understanding of the mind's interaction with the world. Watch the Q&A for this talk (exclusively for our channel members) here: Q&A: How the brain shapes reality - with A... Buy Andy's book here: https://geni.us/cxB87 This Discourse was recorded at the Ri on 26 January 2024. --- This innovative concept suggests that the brain operates as a dynamic prediction engine, continually shaping our perception of our bodies and the surrounding environment. Through a complex interplay of sensory data and expectations, the brain orchestrates every facet of human experience, from the everyday to the extraordinary. In this thought-provoking Discourse, Andy will guide us through the inner workings of the predictive brain, exposing its profound implications for our well-being, mental health, and society. For instance, chronic pain and mental disorders often result from subtle disruptions in our unconscious predictions, offering promising avenues for more precise and effective treatments. As we scrutinise the boundaries between ourselves and the external world, we'll uncover the intricate connections between our environments, memories, thoughts, and emotions. This journey reveals perception as a carefully controlled form of 'controlled hallucination.' Join us as we delve into the extraordinary explanatory power of the predictive brain. Discover how it revolutionizes our comprehension of perception and reality, all without resorting to hyperbolic language or clichés. --- Andy Clark is a Professor of Cognitive Philosophy at the University of Sussex. His interests include artificial intelligence, embodied and extended cognition, robotics, and computational neuroscience. From 2017-2021 he was PI on a European Research Council Advanced Grant: Expecting Ourselves: Embodied Prediction and the Construction of Conscious Experience. He is PI on an ERC Synergy Grant, XScape and Material Minds: Exploring the Interactions between Predictive Brains, Cultural Artifacts, and Embodied Visual Search. --- Discourses are one of the Ri’s oldest and most prestigious series of talks. Since 1825, audiences in the theatre have witnessed countless mind-expanding moments, including the first public liquefaction of air by James Dewar, the announcement of the electron by JJ Thomson and over 100 lectures by Michael Faraday. In more recent times, we have had Nobel laureates, Fields medal winners, scientists, authors and artists – all from the cutting-edge of their field. Discourses are an opportunity for the best and brightest to share their work with the world. Steeped in nearly two centuries of tradition, a Discourse is more than just a lecture. The Discourse lasts exactly an hour, and a bell is rung to mark the beginning and end. To keep the focus on the topic, presenters begin sharply at 7:30pm without introduction and we lock the speaker into a room ten minutes ahead of the start (legend has it that a speaker once tried to escape!). Some of our guests and speakers dress smartly for our Discourse events to add to this sense of occasion. Read more about Discourses here: https://www.rigb.org/explore-science/... The Ri is on Twitter: Twitter: ri_science and Facebook: Facebook: royalinstitution and TikTok: TikTok: ri_science Listen to the Ri podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Donate to the RI and help us bring you more lectures: https://www.rigb.org/support-us/donat... Our editorial policy: https://www.rigb.org/editing-ri-talks... Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link. #BrainScience, #AndyClark, #CognitiveScience, #PerceptionAndReality, #NeuroscienceExplained