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Do we see reality as it is? | Donald Hoffman | TED

TED · talk · Watch on YouTube

Consciousness & cognitionEvolution & geneticsNeuroscience & the brain

What it is

Cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman argues in this TED talk that evolution shaped perception to track fitness rather than truth. He uses evolutionary simulations and the Australian jewel beetle as examples.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Cited in discussions of perception, consciousness and what is real, though some commenters find his conclusions hand-wavy.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2016, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “This reminds me of this amazing TED Talk”

    Simulations show fitness-only perceivers outcompete those perceiving true reality.

    patcon, 2019-10 · Strong recommendation · in “Depressed People See the World More Realistically (2017)”

  2. “fascinating stuff”

    Hoffman's hypothesis that perception does not show reality as it is.

    wh-uws, 2016-10 · Recommendation · in “Image Synthesis from Yahoo's open_nsfw”

  3. “I encourage you to watch Donald Hoffman's 2015 TED Talk”

    Australian jewel beetle example of misled perception, around 100 seconds in.

    cartoonworld, 2021-06 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: Words of encouragement for someone lost in life?”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: donald hoffman, evolutionary simulations, perception, consciousness, ted

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