Do We Perceive Reality?

TL;DR

This paper explores Donald Hoffman's theory that human perception is an evolutionary interface rather than a true depiction of reality, extending the argument through key physics concepts like black holes and quantum gravity.

Contribution

It extends Hoffman's perceptual theory by analyzing its implications in modern physics, including black holes, holography, and quantum gravity.

Findings

Perception is likely an evolved interface, not reality itself.

Physics concepts support the idea that our perception of reality is limited.

Theoretical physics aligns with the view that reality is fundamentally different from perception.

Abstract

The cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman argues that we don't perceive reality: spacetime, objects, colors, sounds, tastes, and so forth, are all merely an interface that we evolved to track evolutionary fitness rather than to perceive truths about external reality. In this paper, I expound on his argument, then I extend it, primarily, by looking at key ideas in physics that are quite germane to it. Among the topics in physics that I discuss are black holes, the holographic principle, string theory, duality, quantum gravity, and special relativity. I discuss these ideas from physics with an eye to their relevance for Hoffman's view.