Nick talks to cognitive scientist Dr. Donald Hoffman, who is professor emeritus of cognitive sciences at UC-Irvine and the author of many scientific papers and books, including "The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes.” They discussed a variety of topics related to consciousness, the nature of perception, and evolution, including: how perception works; whether our conscious perceptions are accurate representations of underlying reality; the interface theory of perception, which likens our conscious perceptions to the digital icons displayed on your computer screen; language; psychedelic experiences; and the nature of reality itself, such as whether space and time are fundamental aspects of the universe, or artifacts of perception.Support the showSign up for the free weekly Mind & Matter newsletter:[https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?sort=top]Learn how you can further support the podcast: [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/how-to-support-mind-and-matter]Become a Premium Subscriber to access full content library, including full premium episodes:[https://mindandmatter.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=menu&simple=true&next=https%3A%2F%2Fmindandmatter.substack.com%2F]Try the Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for $50 off:[https://www.lumen.me/shop?fid=8731&utm_source=influencer&utm_medium=influencer&discount=MIND]