Christof Koch is a neuroscientist who studies consciousness, and is best known for integrated information theory. IIT is a consciousness-first theory, which states that the experience of being someone (or something) is directly related to the causal powers of the underlying system. Up until relatively recently, Koch was something of a materialist - he believed that it would be possible to find the specific series of neural events in the brain that produce lived experience. A series of events, which he details in his new book "The I Am Myself the World" have led him to embrace more of an idealist perspective, which says that we are instantiations of a a much larger universal consciousness that permeates the universe. We talk to him about his transformation, the nature of consciousness and will, what it "causal powers" of a system have to do with consciousness, and the value of mystical experiences. Sign up for our Patreon and get episodes early + join our weekly Patron Chat https://bit.ly/3lcAasB AND rock some Demystify Gear to spread the word: https://demystifysci.myspreadshop.com/ OR do your Amazon shopping through this link for Dr. Koch's books: https://amzn.to/3Mleyrw 00:00 Go! 00:03:40 Consciousness and Clinical Practice 00:08:32 Practical Challenges and Developments 00:14:13 Ethical and Theoretical Considerations 00:17:43 Theories and Predictions in Neuroscience 00:21:08 Physics, Causality, and Consciousness 00:24:12 The Role of Physical Interpretation in Science and Technology 00:27:24 Exploration of Physical Theories in Science 00:29:03 The Intersection of Consciousness and Data Interpretation 00:33:35 Significance of Studying Consciousness 00:37:30 Understanding Consciousness through Neural Correlates 00:48:16 Evolutionary Complexity and Consciousness 00:54:04 Human Evolution and Desires 00:57:01 Idealism and Consciousness 01:02:23 Mystical Experiences and Consciousness 01:12:15 Near-Death Experiences and Psychedelics 01:14:29 Exploring 5-MeO-DMT Experiences 01:16:34 Idealism and Scientific Study 01:18:29 Universal Mind and Consciousness 01:21:30 Complexity and Consciousness 01:24:00 Split Brain and Consciousness Studies 01:27:53 Evolution and Self-Consciousness 01:31:48 Complexity of Consciousness Emergence 01:35:23 Integrated Information Theory and Consciousness 01:39:33 Impact of Substances on Microorganisms and Consciousness 01:44:26 Artificial Intelligence and the Possibility of Consciousness 01:51:05 Simulation vs. Reality in Causal Power 01:56:01 Importance of Hardware in Consciousness 02:01:15 Virtual Worlds and Reality 02:02:08 Consciousness and Computational Limitations 02:03:05 Scientific Rivalries and Theory Validation 02:06:05 The Intersection of Science and Philosophy 02:09:22 Science, Paradigms, and Metaphysical Assumptions 02:11:28 Science Evolution and Competing Theories 02:15:00 The Computational Universe and AI Perspectives 02:21:24 Metaphysical Reflections 02:23:47 Mystical Experience on the Beach 02:27:07 Nature's Influence 02:32:36 Flow States in Nature and Music 02:36:06 Limits of Scientific Understanding 02:41:00 Behind the Scenes and Future Endeavors #sciencepodcast, #longformpodcast, #Consciousness, #Neuroscience, #ChristofKoch, #IntegratedInformationTheory, #IIT, #ConsciousnessStudies, #UniversalConsciousness, #Idealism, #Materialism, #MysticalExperience, #PhilosophyOfMind, #CausalPowers, #BrainAndMind, #NeuroscienceResearch, #MindAndConsciousness, #SpiritualityAndScience, #LivedExperience, #PhilosophyOfScience, #NeuroscienceAndConsciousness, #ConsciousnessTheory Check our short-films channel, @DemystifySci: https://www.youtube.com/c/DemystifyingScience AND our material science investigations of atomics, @MaterialAtomics https://www.youtube.com/@MaterialAtomics Join our mailing list https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S PODCAST INFO: Anastasia completed her PhD studying bioelectricity at Columbia University. When not talking to brilliant people or making movies, she spends her time painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions. Shilo also did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic properties of molecular water. When he's not in the film studio, he's exploring sound in music. They are both freelance professors at various universities. - Blog: http://DemystifySci.com/blog - RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/2be66934/podcast/rss - Donate: https://bit.ly/3wkPqaD - Swag: https://bit.ly/2PXdC2y SOCIAL: - Discord: https://discord.gg/MJzKT8CQub - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DemystifySci - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DemystifySci/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemystifySci MUSIC: -Shilo Delay: https://g.co/kgs/oty671