A Big Think Conversation with Anil Seth and Jonny Thomson
In 1995, philosopher David Chalmers made a provocative distinction: there are easy problems of consciousness — and hard ones.
The easy problems are challenging, but solvable. How we process color, for instance, can be explained by light wavelengths, retinal activity, and neural pathways.
But the hard problem? That’s the mystery of experience itself. What is it like to see the color blue? Why should any physical process feel like anything at all?
In this live Big Think conversation, acclaimed neuroscientist Anil Seth takes us to the frontier of this enduring mystery. Drawing on ideas from his bestselling book Being You, Seth unpacks what modern science can—and still cannot—say about the nature of subjective experience.
The conversation will be moderated by Jonny Thomson, a Big Think writer and philosopher best known for Mini Philosophy, the viral platform making philosophy accessible to millions. Following their conversation, there will be an opportunity to take questions from the audience.
About the Speakers
Anil Seth is a neuroscientist at the University of Sussex whose research explores consciousness, perception, and the nature of the self.
Jonny Thomson is a writer and senior editor at Big Think, where he covers philosophy and big ideas. He is also the author of Mini Philosophy and runs the popular social media project of the same name.
