logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2021
54m 53s

#234 — The Divided Mind

SAM HARRIS
About this episode

Sam Harris speaks with Iain McGilchrist about the differences between the right and left hemispheres of the human brain. They discuss the evolutionary history of the divided brain, research on surgically divided brains, popular misconceptions about the differences between the hemispheres, the left hemisphere's propensity for confabulation, the prospect that consciousness might be partitioned in an intact brain, the difference between consciousness and attention, the boundary between the conscious and unconscious mind, how face-to-face encounters differ between the hemispheres, the unique deficits resulting from damage to the left and right hemispheres, the ascendancy of the left-hemisphere in modern culture, the possibility that the brain is a mere receiver of mind, the prospect of surviving death, and other topics.

If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

 

Up next
Yesterday
#466 — What Is Technology Doing to Us?
Sam Harris speaks with Nicholas Christakis about technology, society, and human nature. They discuss the harms of modern communication technology, polarization and anomie, how AI agents can improve human cooperation, the social implications of humanoid robots, Christakis's experi ... Show More
19m 4s
Mar 18
#465 — More From Sam: Iran, Jihadism, Conspiracism, AI Disruption, the Manosphere, and More
In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss the Iran war and the Trump administration's shambolic messaging, antisemitism and moral confusion on the left and right, the spread of conspiracism, finding contentment in un ... Show More
35m 44s
Mar 16
#464 — The Politics of Pragmatism and the Future of California
Sam Harris speaks with Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose and Democratic candidate for governor of California, about governance, pragmatism, and California's policy failures. They discuss the dysfunction of progressive governance, the homelessness crisis and what San Jose has done to ... Show More
1h 22m
Recommended Episodes
May 2021
One Head, Two Brains
<p>Your brain is divided in two: a left hemisphere and a right hemisphere. In this 2019 episode of <em>Hidden Brain</em>, we dive into <a href="https://channelmcgilchrist.com/">Iain McGilchrist's</a> research on how the left and right hemispheres shape our perceptions. Iain argue ... Show More
49m 30s
Nov 2021
Iain McGilchrist on The Divided Yet Connected Brain
Stressed by Holiday Expectations? Join Eric and The One You Feed Community for a FREE online gathering on November 30th at 8pm Eastern Time. (Recording will be available for 72 hours) In this free live event, Eric will teach a Spiritual Habit that will allow you to release these ... Show More
50m 17s
Jul 2021
Brain in a Vat
<p>Have you considered that you might be a brain in a vat of liquid floating in a laboratory somewhere? How can you know that the world around you is real, not just a simulation being piped directly to your brain? In episode 30, Ellie and David unpack one of philosophy's favorite ... Show More
52m 45s
Apr 2023
BS 207 Luiz Pessoa "The Cognitive-Emotional Brain"
This month's episode is an encore presentation of an interview with neuroscientist Luiz Pessoa discussing his fascinating book "The Cognitive-Emotional Brain: From Interactions to Integration." We explored the surprising role of the amygdala in decision making and learned that co ... Show More
1h 5m
Apr 2023
#113 — Consciousness and the Self
Sam Harris speaks with Anil Seth about the scientific study of consciousness, where consciousness emerges in nature, levels of consciousness, perception as a “controlled hallucination,” emotion, the experience of “pure consciousness,” consciousness as “integrated information,” me ... Show More
1h 44m
Aug 2023
#96 — The Nature of Consciousness
Sam Harris speaks with Thomas Metzinger about the scientific and experiential understanding of consciousness. They also talk about the role of intuition in science, the ethics of building conscious AI, the self as an hallucination, how we identify with our thoughts, attention as ... Show More
40m 37s
Apr 2023
Understanding the difference between the mind and the brain
In 2020 the forced isolation of pandemic-related lockdowns led many of us to attend virtual fitness classes and undertake home baking projects. Chantel Prat wondered why she wasn’t interested in taking part. “I couldn’t help but notice and be frustrated by the fact that my brain ... Show More
24m 43s