Hello internet: meet your new Joseph Campbell

Dr. Donald Hoffman, Professor of Cognitive Science at UC Irvine

Just as Joseph Campbell gave us context into the great spiritual heros, myths and literature by showing us how they compared with each other and by showing us their metaphorical meanings, Don Hoffman is ably doing the same thing in the field of consciousness. But in Hoffman’s case, he’s willing to test his theories with hard mathematics including ultimately tackling the thorny questions of “Who am I?” and “Is there life after death?”

To me, these two people represent the best of the blending of eastern mysticism and western religion on the one hand, and cutting-edge thought in the world of physics and mathematic proofs.

And Hoffman raises more than an eyebrow when he pauses in concern over potential hacks into consciousness… both the good AND the bad.