#158 Could Consciousness Be an Illusion?
June 18, 2026
2 hr 7 min
158
Full
154 of 154
Episode 158 · June 18, 2026
#158 Could Consciousness Be an Illusion?
0:00 / 2:07:10
Excerpt playback isn’t available for this episode — use the full-episode link.
Search the Record
Moment search isn’t open for this episode yet
When it opens, you’ll be able to type any phrase and jump straight to the second it was said.
Rationality Rules Episodes Around June 18, 2026
Episode 154 of 154 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
2:07:10This episode#158 Could Consciousness Be an Illusion?
Summary
<p>Get all sides of every story and be better informed at <a href="https://ground.news/AlexOC" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://ground.news/AlexOC</a> - subscribe for 40% off unlimited access. </p><p><br /></p><p>For early, ad-free access to videos, and to support the channel, subscribe to my Substack: <a href="https://www.alexoconnor.com" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://www.alexoconnor.com</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>Keith Frankish is a British philosopher specialising in philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of cognitive science. </p><p><br /></p><p>Read Keith's essay, <a href="https://keithfrankish.github.io/articles/Frankish_Illusionism%20as%20a%20theory%20of%20consciousness_eprint.pdf" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"Illusionism as a theory of consciousness" (2016)</a>.</p><p>Find Keith's website <a href="https://keithfrankish.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>Keith Frankish and Philip Goff co-host a channel 'Mind Chat', where they debate panpsychism versus illusionism, and explore cutting-edge thought on consciousness: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1AxUq1hSacfkzyvDepJRaw"> / @mindchat </a> </p><p><strong>TIMESTAMPS: </strong></p><p>0:00 - Is Consciousness An Illusion? </p><p>4:02 - Do We Have a Private World? </p><p>10:00 - The Nature of Visual Experience </p><p>20:13 - Is Awareness Behavioural? </p><p>28:17 - Isn’t Introspection Itself a Private Experience? </p><p>33:04 - Philosophical Zombies </p><p>43:05 - What Motivates Illusionism? </p><p>50:02 - Psychedelics and the Dissolution of the Self </p><p>59:23 - Why Are Philosophers Always Categorising? </p><p>1:10:31 - Does Alex’s Triangle Exist? </p><p>1:21:40 - Is Pain Just a Reaction to Stimulus? </p><p>1:49:05 - Is Pain an Emergent Phenomenon? </p><p>1:55:52 - What Illusion Is Actually Happening? </p><p>1:59:07 - Can AI Be Conscious? </p><p><br /></p><p>CONNECT</p><p>My Website: <a href="https://www.alexoconnor.com" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://www.alexoconnor.com</a></p><p><br /></p><p>SOCIAL LINKS:</p><p>Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/cosmicskeptic" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/cosmicskeptic</a></p><p>Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cosmicskeptic" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/cosmicskeptic</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/cosmicskeptic" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">http://www.instagram.com/cosmicskeptic</a></p><p>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@cosmicskeptic" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@cosmicskeptic</a></p><p><br /></p><p>CONTACT</p><p>Business email: contact@alexoconnor.com</p><p>Brand enquiries: David@modernstoa.co</p>