Join philosopher and cognitive scientist Andy Clark as he challenges our conventional understanding of the mind's interaction with the world.

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This Discourse was recorded at the Ri on 26 January 2024.

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This innovative concept suggests that the brain operates as a dynamic prediction engine, continually shaping our perception of our bodies and the surrounding environment. Through a complex interplay of sensory data and expectations, the brain orchestrates every facet of human experience, from the everyday to the extraordinary.

In this thought-provoking Discourse, Andy will guide us through the inner workings of the predictive brain, exposing its profound implications for our well-being, mental health, and society. For instance, chronic pain and mental disorders often result from subtle disruptions in our unconscious predictions, offering promising avenues for more precise and effective treatments. As we scrutinise the boundaries between ourselves and the external world, we'll uncover the intricate connections between our environments, memories, thoughts, and emotions. This journey reveals perception as a carefully controlled form of 'controlled hallucination.'

Join us as we delve into the extraordinary explanatory power of the predictive brain. Discover how it revolutionizes our comprehension of perception and reality, all without resorting to hyperbolic language or clichés.

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Andy Clark is a Professor of Cognitive Philosophy at the University of Sussex. His interests include artificial intelligence, embodied and extended cognition, robotics, and computational neuroscience. From 2017-2021 he was PI on a European Research Council Advanced Grant: Expecting Ourselves: Embodied Prediction and the Construction of Conscious Experience. He is PI on an ERC Synergy Grant, XScape and Material Minds: Exploring the Interactions between Predictive Brains, Cultural Artifacts, and Embodied Visual Search.

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