#320 — Constructing Self and World | Making Sense with Sam Harris

Intro

In this episode of “Making Sense with Sam Harris,” Sam Harris has a conversation with Shamil Chandaria, a philanthropist, entrepreneur, technologist, and academic with multidisciplinary research interests. They discuss topics such as Bayesian inference, psychedelics and neuroplasticity, beliefs and prior probabilities, the interaction between psychedelics and meditation, the risks and benefits of psychedelics, non-duality, love, gratitude and bliss, the self-model, the Buddhist concept of emptiness, human flourishing, and effective altruism.

Main Takeaways

Philosophy of Science and Neuroscience

• Shamil Chandaria is interested in the philosophy of science, biology, neuroscience, and ethics.
• He has a PhD in mathematical modeling of economic systems and a master’s in philosophy from University College London.
• Chandaria helped found the Global Priorities Institute at Oxford University in 2018.
• He is a founder of the Global Priorities Institute at Oxford University and the Center for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London.
• Shamil has a mathematical background and a PhD in mathematical economics, using techniques that later became the mathematics behind reinforcement learning in AI.

Bayesian Inference and Perception

• The brain processes information from top to bottom, not bottom-up.
• The brain reconstructs the world based on electrochemical signals.
• Bayesian inference is the brain’s way of figuring out the causes of sensory data and understanding the environment.
• The brain uses approximate Bayesian inference to simulate what it thinks it’s seeing and minimizes the prediction error.
• Predictive processing and error detection are key elements of perception.

Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity

• Psychedelics may promote neuroplasticity and create durable changes in one’s sense of being in the world.
• Predictive processing theory can help us understand the mechanism of action of psychedelics.
• Psychedelics can cause sweeping changes in perception of the world for virtually anyone.

Meditation and Non-Duality

• Shamil has been meditating for 35 years and has practiced Transcendental Meditation, Buddhist retreats, and non-dual style meditation.
• He has worked closely with Robin Carhart-Harris and Carl Friston on computational neurophenomenology.
• Psychedelics can help us question our perception of the world and the self-model.

Effective Altruism and Human Flourishing

• Shamil is a research fellow at Imperial College and supports neglected areas of research.
• He funds research on the neuroscience of meditation at Harvard University and the University of California and Berkeley.
• Effective altruism is a philosophy and social movement that aims to use evidence and reason to determine the most effective ways to benefit others.
• Human flourishing is a central concern in effective altruism.

Summary

Understanding Perception and the Brain

Shamil Chandaria, a multidisciplinary researcher, discusses the philosophy of science, neuroscience, and Bayesian inference. He explains how the brain reconstructs the world based on electrochemical signals and uses approximate Bayesian inference to simulate and understand the environment. Predictive processing and error detection play key roles in perception. The brain’s hierarchy of models and neural networks work in similar ways, extracting features and building up to complex concepts. Psychedelics may promote neuroplasticity and lead to profound changes in perception.

The Intersection of Meditation and Psychedelics

Shamil shares his 35-year meditation journey, starting with Transcendental Meditation and deepening his practice through Buddhist retreats and non-dual style meditation. He explores the connection between meditation, psychedelics, and questioning our perception of the world and self-model. Computational neurophenomenology and the predictive processing framework help understand the mechanism of action of psychedelics.

Effective Altruism and Human Flourishing

Shamil’s philanthropic efforts support neglected areas of research, including the neuroscience of meditation. He discusses effective altruism, which aims to use evidence and reason to benefit others effectively. Human flourishing is a central concern in this philosophy. By combining research and practical efforts, Shamil contributes to understanding the brain, perception, and the potential benefits of psychedelics.

Conclusion

Shamil Chandaria’s wide-ranging interests in science, neuroscience, ethics, and effective altruism provide valuable insights into the brain’s workings, perception, and the potential of psychedelics. His journey through meditation and involvement in research contribute to understanding the self and the world.