Spacetime is just a headset: An interview with Donald Hoffman

Prof. Donald Hoffman talks to Essentia Foundation’s Hans Busstra about his theory of conscious agents, according to which space and time are cognitive constructs in consciousness, not an objective scaffolding of the world outside. The interview also touches on Prof. Hoffman’s personal history and life, bringing the warmth of his humanity to the academic rigor of his theories. 00:00 Intro: Beyond the spacetime headset 03:32 About Donalds personal background 07:35 On the importance of mathematics 13:22 Quantum theory and spacetime 19:24 Why exactly is spacetime ’doomed’? 24:34 Did physics ’encounter’ consciousness in quantum theory? 32:49 On heavy vs light metaphysical claims 37:36 How is your theory affecting your personal life? 42:17 Is The Matrix a good metaphor? 46:38 How can the space time interface affect consciousness? 53:09 What makes you say that if spacetime is not fundamental, consciousness must be fundamental? 55