Donald Hoffman

A cognitive psychologist challenging conventional understanding of human perception

Donald David Hoffman (born December 29, 1955) has revolutionized our understanding of consciousness through his groundbreaking research on perceptual evolution. His Interface Theory of Perception proposes that human senses don't reveal objective reality but rather provide a simplified interface for survival.

Hoffman's work combines evolutionary game theory with neuroscience, demonstrating through mathematical models that natural selection favors fitness over truth. This radical perspective, detailed in his 2019 book The Case Against Reality, challenges 300+ years of scientific assumptions about the nature of reality.

Collaborating with quantum physicists, Hoffman explores how conscious agents might construct spacetime itself. His TED Talk Do we see reality as it is? has garnered over 3.8 million views, sparking international debate across scientific and philosophical communities.