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Is Reality...Real?

Published February 12, 2019

Reality Is Not As It Seems


A cognitive scientist and a neurologist discuss the space between reality and perception.

We move through the world responding to the objects and stimuli around us. We believe that they are real; comprised of physical properties we can perceive through sensations interpreted by our brains. But to what degree is our understanding of reality shaped by our consciousness? And what does science have to say about the line between perception and reality?

Cognitive scientist Donald D. Hoffman and neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan delve into these questions based on their respective research into fundamental questions about the existence of consciousness, and the ways it shapes our interactions with the world. They're joined in this discussion by Wisconsin Public Radio’s Steve Paulson.

This event was the third and final segment in our series, Conversations on the Nature of Reality, co-presented with The Nour Foundation and Wisconsin Public Radio’s nationally-syndicated program To the Best of Our Knowledge.

Intrigued? Watch video from the other events in this series: "When Will Machines Start Thinking Like Us?" and "The Beauty and Limits of Math."