Exploring Consciousness with Michael Pollan

What is consciousness, really? This is a question that, after delving into psychedelics and their effects on the mind, journalist Michael Pollan found himself pondering.

Pollan states, “There’s nothing any of us know with more certainty than the fact that we are conscious. It’s immediately available to us. It’s the voice in our head.” Yet, he acknowledges the perplexity surrounding how a mere three pounds of brain matter can generate this subjective experience. “Nobody knows the answer to that question,” he admits.

His latest work, A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness, investigates the nature of consciousness from both a personal and technological angle. Living in close proximity to Silicon Valley, he observes that there’s a growing belief among some that artificial intelligence can possess consciousness.

Pollan explains, “They base this on a premise that essentially states the brain is akin to a computer, and consciousness is just software. If it can run on a brain—a ‘meat-based computer’—then it should be possible to replicate it in other machines.”

However, Pollan challenges this notion. He recognizes that while computers might mimic thought processes, true thought is deeply intertwined with emotions. For him, feelings are inherently linked to our vulnerabilities, our physicality, and our mortality. “Any feelings that a chatbot reports will be weightless, meaningless,” he suggests, “because they lack bodies. They can’t suffer.”

Interview Highlights

Pollan expresses his bewilderment at the concern for chatbot consciousness, especially considering the lack of moral consideration extended towards billions of people, not to mention sentient animals. “Do we really need to worry about computers?” he questions, hinting at misplaced priorities.

On the topic of plant consciousness, he remarks that plants exhibit remarkable abilities. They can “see” and “hear,” adjusting their responses based on environmental cues—like releasing chemicals to fend off predators like caterpillars after detecting their sounds. It’s astonishing, he argues, suggesting they have memory and awareness.

Pollan also shares concerns about how modern media and technology restrict our ability to think spontaneously, a vital aspect of consciousness that’s under siege. “This is the last frontier for companies wanting to monopolize our attention,” he claims.

Addressing our contradictory views on self, Pollan observes that while we advocate for self-assurance and confidence, we simultaneously seek to transcend the self via various experiences—sports, art, meditation. “The ego creates walls that separate us, and lowering those walls can facilitate connections,” he reflects.

Writing this book proved to be a journey fraught with challenges for Pollan. He candidly recounts years of frustration, grappling with unanswerable questions and the science behind them. It wasn’t until encouragement from others that he learned to embrace the wonder of consciousness rather than just seeking solutions.

In the end, Pollan recognizes that understanding consciousness, while complex, continues to be a beautiful and compelling journey.