<p>Joscha Bach explores the nature of consciousness, free will, and reality through the lens of computation, cognitive science, and philosophy. Rather than treating the mind as a mystical entity, Joscha frames consciousness as a constructed dream—a model generated by the brain to make sense of the world and coordinate behavior.</p><p><br></p><p>We examine why beliefs should remain provisional, how the self functions as a useful fiction, and why suffering emerges when internal learning signals misfire. Joscha explains why free will feels real even if decisions arise before awareness, how meaning exists beyond the individual ego, and why wisdom is not simply knowledge but the ability to orient oneself within larger systems of value.</p><p><br></p><p>BON CHARGE - 15% off red light therapy products I personally use</p><p>https://www.boncharge.com/knowthyself</p><p>[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]</p><p><br></p><p>André&#39;s Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list</p><p><br></p><p>___________</p><p>00:00 Intro: Josha Bach</p><p>04:24 Agnosticism, Evidence, and Logical Alternatives</p><p>11:20 Reality as a Mental Simulation</p><p>13:00 What Physicalism Actually Claims</p><p>16:55 Telepathy, Rituals, and Distributed Minds</p><p>19:45 Consciousness Does Not Make Decisions</p><p>22:55 Free Will as a Post-Hoc Story</p><p>24:00 Consciousness as a Trance State</p><p>26:00 Meditation and the Illusion of Self</p><p>29:10 Out-of-Body Experiences Explained</p><p>31:07 Ad: BON CHARGE</p><p>36:30 Why the Brain Fills in Missing Reality</p><p>39:50 Dreams, Selves, and Narrative Identity</p><p>43:20 Intelligence, Models, and World-Building</p><p>47:10 Why Reality Feels Stable</p><p>51:00 Meaning, Agency, and Mental Compression</p><p>55:10 Why Consciousness Feels Central (But Isn’t)</p><p>59:30 The Psychological World vs Physical Reality</p><p>1:04:10 Intelligence Without Awareness</p><p>1:08:45 The Cost of Believing the Self Is Real</p><p>1:13:30 Waking Up From the Narrative</p><p>1:18:40 What a Cognitive Science View Really Implies</p><p>1:23:30 Final Thoughts: Living Inside the Dream</p><p>___________</p><p><br></p><p>Episode Resources: </p><p>https://www.cimc.ai/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/</p><p>https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/</p><p>https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcast</p><p>https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com</p>