Brain Receives Consciousness--Not Creates--Resolving Death and Technology Divide - Episode Hero Image

Brain Receives Consciousness--Not Creates--Resolving Death and Technology Divide

Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin · · Listen to Original Episode →
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TL;DR

  • The author's exploration of consciousness, driven by personal loss, suggests a paradigm shift from local to non-local consciousness, potentially explaining paranormal phenomena and redefining the nature of death.
  • Technological advancement outpaces human maturity, creating a widening divide where humanity's ethical and philosophical development struggles to keep pace with exponential technological growth.
  • The author posits that the brain may not create consciousness but rather receive it, a concept analogous to Copernicus's heliocentric model, which resolves numerous scientific anomalies.
  • Fear of death is identified as a catalyst for negative behaviors like environmental disregard and materialism, which could diminish if humanity embraces the idea of life as a continuous journey.
  • Challenging established paradigms, whether religious or scientific, often meets resistance from those invested in existing frameworks, as seen with Copernicus, Galileo, and materialist physicists.
  • The author's writing process involves starting with the ending and working backward, akin to composing music, to ensure structural integrity and a clear narrative trajectory.
  • Fiction can serve as a predictive art form, reflecting undercurrents of reality that are not yet public, with the author's work often feeling prescient due to its grounding in emerging truths.

Deep Dive

Dan Brown's latest thriller, The Secret of Secrets, delves into the profound implications of consciousness, moving beyond traditional narrative structures to explore complex scientific and philosophical concepts. This ambitious undertaking, which took eight years to complete, reflects Brown's evolution as a writer, pushing the boundaries of his research-driven genre to confront humanity's most enduring questions about existence and technology.

Brown's exploration of consciousness pivots on a paradigm shift: from the brain creating consciousness to the brain receiving it. This "non-local consciousness" model, he argues, offers a more robust explanation for observed anomalies like savant syndrome and precognition, which current "local consciousness" theories struggle to accommodate. The personal impetus for this deep dive, he reveals, was his mother's passing, prompting a fundamental inquiry into the nature of death and the possibility of an afterlife. This personal quest, however, was rigorously grounded in scientific research, aiming to avoid bias and objectively analyze phenomena often relegated to the paranormal. The implication of this shift is profound: if consciousness is not confined to the physical brain, it suggests that death may be a transition rather than an end, potentially alleviating humanity's shared fear of mortality and fostering a more enlightened, less materialistic existence. This perspective challenges established materialist viewpoints, mirroring historical scientific revolutions where established paradigms were overturned by new evidence, such as Copernicus's heliocentric model.

Beyond consciousness, Brown addresses the dual nature of technological advancement, particularly artificial intelligence. While acknowledging the potential for AI to be weaponized, mirroring humanity's historical trajectory with all major technologies, he maintains an optimistic outlook. He posits that the vast majority of AI applications will be affirmative and creative, aiding in communication and problem-solving. The critical challenge, however, lies in humanity's moral and philosophical capacity to keep pace with the exponential growth of technology. This creates an increasing divide, where our ability to manage the tools we create may lag behind their development, posing a significant race for maturity and ethical alignment. This tension between technological progress and human evolution underscores the urgency of understanding our own consciousness, as it may hold the key to navigating this complex future.

Action Items

  • Audit research process: Identify 3-5 areas where personal biases may have influenced data interpretation (ref: non-local consciousness research).
  • Design a framework: Define criteria for evaluating novel concepts against existing paradigms, focusing on anomaly resolution (ref: Copernicus analogy).
  • Implement a "what if" scenario analysis: For 2-3 core themes (e.g., AI, consciousness), explore potential negative consequences of well-intentioned actions.
  • Track technology advancement vs. human maturity: For 3-5 emerging technologies, assess the potential for weaponization or misuse.
  • Create a checklist: For future book topics, ensure resonance with significant societal influence and a moral gray area.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"I love to write about uh people who do the wrong thing for the right reason so i like to find a big topic ideally one that i want to learn about that has that moral gray area it might be civilian privacy versus national security it might be ai is going to save us or ai is going to kill us it might be the future of human consciousness whether learning about how our minds work is a good or bad thing and so for me really it's choosing a topic and after that comes location and last of all comes the characters."

Dan Brown explains his core writing philosophy, which centers on exploring complex ethical dilemmas and moral ambiguity. He seeks topics that allow him to learn while also delving into the "gray area" of human motivation, where actions might be questionable but the underlying intent is perceived as right. This approach allows him to create compelling narratives driven by internal conflict and societal questions.

"I do have some new ideas that i'm sketching out but uh at the moment i think i'm pretty tired this book took eight years wow it was by far the most ambitious thing i've ever tried to write and uh i also happened to think it was the most fun but maybe that's just whatever an author says when they finally finish a book."

Dan Brown reflects on the immense effort and personal investment required for his latest book, which took eight years to complete. He describes it as his most ambitious project, yet also one of the most enjoyable, highlighting the author's often complex relationship with their work during and after its creation. This statement underscores the dedication and passion involved in bringing a large-scale literary project to fruition.

"The question is whether or not our humanity and our morality can keep pace with our technology you know you've got technology advancing at an exponential rate because every piece of technology becomes a tool to create new technology so you get this exponential growth and you know i kind of feel like our philosophy is more of a linear linear growth and so you get this increasing divide meaning are we mature enough to use the tools that we're now creating and that really is the race i think and you know we'll see what happens but in general i think technology is an incredibly positive productive phenomenon that we keep creating."

Dan Brown articulates a significant concern regarding the rapid advancement of technology and its potential to outpace human ethical development. He posits that technology's exponential growth contrasts with a more linear progression of human philosophy and morality, creating a widening gap. Brown suggests that the true challenge lies in humanity's maturity to responsibly wield the powerful tools it creates, while still maintaining an overall optimism about technology's positive potential.

"I personally believe as do a lot of physicists that we are at that exact moment in human history with respect to consciousness that this model of local consciousness is eroding there are so many anomalies that we simply can't explain them anymore there's too much outside of normal and the amazing thing is is that the equivalent of placing the sun at the center is saying well maybe the brain doesn't create consciousness maybe it receives consciousness and if we can make that leap intellectually the amazing thing that happens is these anomalies evaporate which would imply this is a much more accurate model and i personally believe that within 10 years that's the way we will see consciousness."

Dan Brown shares a perspective, supported by physicists, that the current understanding of consciousness as solely a product of the brain (local consciousness) is becoming insufficient. He draws a parallel to the Copernican revolution, suggesting a paradigm shift is needed where consciousness might be received rather than created by the brain. Brown believes this new model will resolve many unexplained phenomena and become the dominant view within a decade.

"I wrote a novel a while back called the lost symbol in which katherine solomon who's a character in this book also appeared and she is a noetic scientist and she was sort of an ancillary character in that book and i was writing about noetic science and consciousness as sort of a a tangent for what the real plot was in that book and i became so fascinated with what i was learning about consciousness that i thought wow consciousness has to be its own book and i thought it was going to be the next book i wrote but i just didn't know enough to write it so i wrote another book i said it'll be my next book i still didn't know enough and i was reading all the time and finally two books later i said okay i think i'm ready to write this."

Dan Brown explains the genesis of his focus on consciousness, tracing it back to his earlier novel, "The Lost Symbol." He describes how a character, Katherine Solomon, a noetic scientist, and the tangential exploration of consciousness in that book sparked his deep fascination. Brown indicates that this interest was so profound that it necessitated further research and time before he felt ready to dedicate an entire novel to the subject, ultimately leading to his ambitious eight-year project.

"I should answer that by telling you that i don't read fiction i read all the time but i only read non fiction i like to learn and i really feel like the fiction i would want to read is fiction that informs me about something in the real world and as you know better than anyone when you're a creative person all you have to guide yourself is your taste you write the novel you want to read you mix the song you want to hear it really is that simple and so i write the kind of novel that i want to read and then i just hope people share my taste and you and i are fortunate in that people share our taste and we're able to go on and do the next creative thing."

Dan Brown reveals his reading preference for non-fiction, driven by a desire to learn and be informed about the real world. He believes that the fiction he writes should also serve this purpose, offering insights into tangible subjects. Brown emphasizes that creative work is guided by personal taste, leading him to write the novels he himself would want to read, and expresses gratitude that this approach resonates with a readership that shares his interests.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown - Mentioned as a book that was banned and burned worldwide, and which resonated positively with some Catholic nuns.
  • "Angels & Demons" by Dan Brown - Mentioned as a commercial failure that was later re-published.
  • "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown - Mentioned as a book where Katherine Solomon, a noetic scientist, appeared as an ancillary character, and which touched on noetic science and consciousness.
  • "Inferno" by Dan Brown - Mentioned as a book where a character believed overpopulation was a threat and devised a plan to halve the population.
  • "Origin" by Dan Brown - Mentioned as a book featuring a billionaire technologist who wore a Kiton suit.
  • "Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown - Mentioned as the first novel written by Dan Brown, which was a commercial failure.
  • "Deception Point" by Dan Brown - Mentioned as a book where a geologist named Charles Brophy was a character.
  • "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" - Mentioned as an influential book on Dan Brown's writing of "The Da Vinci Code" and as the subject of a lawsuit.
  • "The Templar Revelation" - Mentioned as a book found on a shelf in the novel "The Da Vinci Code."
  • "Something Else" - Mentioned as a book found on a shelf in the novel "The Da Vinci Code."
  • "Wild Symphony" by Dan Brown - Mentioned as a children's picture book with classical music, inspired by animals.

Articles & Papers

  • "The Secret of Secrets" by Dan Brown - Mentioned as Dan Brown's latest book, released in September 2025, featuring the Robert Langdon character.

People

  • Dan Brown - Bestselling author of the Robert Langdon thriller series, whose novels have sold 250 million copies worldwide and defined a modern genre of high-concept, research-driven thrillers.
  • Robert Langdon - Fictional character created by Dan Brown, a professor of symbology.
  • Copernicus - Mentioned in relation to proposing a new model of the solar system with the sun at the center, which explained anomalies.
  • Galileo - Mentioned in relation to questioning the way things are and facing unhappiness from others.
  • Bruno - Mentioned in relation to questioning the way things are and facing unhappiness from others.
  • Katherine Solomon - A noetic scientist and character in Dan Brown's novels, who wrote a manuscript about advanced theories on consciousness.
  • Rupert Sheldrake - Mentioned for his work on morphic resonance, suggesting thoughts can impact others on the planet.
  • Tesla - Mentioned in relation to the concept of frequency and resonance.
  • Feynman - Mentioned in relation to the concept of frequency and resonance.
  • Charles Brophy - A geologist character in Dan Brown's novel "Deception Point," who was Dan Brown's geology teacher at Amherst College.
  • Susan Morehouse - Dan Brown's assistant, who is a character in his book.
  • George Vensy - Mentioned as a student on the swim team at Phillips Exeter who advised Dan Brown on swim goggles for a character.
  • Martin O'Jeffries - Mentioned as the world's foremost glaciologist at the University of Fairbanks, Alaska, who spoke with Dan Brown about ice.
  • Harlan Coben - A fellow writer and fraternity mate of Dan Brown's at Amherst College, who practices TM meditation.
  • Bob Roth - A meditation instructor in New York City who taught Dan Brown TM meditation.
  • Esther Newberg - A literary agent Dan Brown met in Anguilla, who recommended the show "Breaking Bad."
  • Rita Wilson - Tom Hanks' wife, who commented on Dan Brown's first experience on a movie set.
  • Paul Bettany - Mentioned as an actor who played an albino monk in "The Da Vinci Code" movie.
  • Ron Howard - Director of "The Da Vinci Code" movie.
  • Brian Grazer - Mentioned as a movie producer who wanted to buy "The Da Vinci Code" for a season of "24."
  • Kiefer Sutherland - Mentioned as the actor who was considered to play Robert Langdon in a potential "24" adaptation of "The Da Vinci Code."
  • John Calley - Mentioned as someone at Sony Pictures who decided to buy "The Da Vinci Code" for a movie.
  • Tom Hanks - Actor who played Robert Langdon in "The Da Vinci Code" movie.
  • Steve Rubin - Dan Brown's publisher at Random House.
  • Elizabeth Vargas - Mentioned as a host of a special on ABC that researched "The Da Vinci Code."
  • Jean Reno - Actor who played a role in "The Da Vinci Code" movie.
  • Jason Koffman - Dan Brown's editor.
  • Barry Fozman - British record producer who worked with Dan Brown on a music project.
  • Air Supply - Mentioned as a band produced by Barry Fozman.
  • Elton John - Mentioned as a comparison to Dan Brown's early music style.
  • Billy Joel - Mentioned as a comparison to Dan Brown's early music style.
  • Steve Berry - Mentioned as a successful author who has written copycat thrillers.
  • Richard Scarry - Mentioned as an author of picture books Dan Brown enjoyed as a child.
  • Dr. Seuss - Mentioned as an author of picture books Dan Brown enjoyed as a child.
  • Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass - Mentioned as a musical group Dan Brown listened to as a child.
  • The Beach Boys - Mentioned as a musical group that opened up a new world of pop music for Dan Brown.

Organizations & Institutions

  • Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Mentioned as a place where Dan Brown spoke with an AI specialist.
  • NFL (National Football League) - Mentioned in the context of civilian privacy versus national security.
  • Pro Football Focus (PFF) - Mentioned as a data source for player grading.
  • New England Patriots - Mentioned as an example team for performance analysis.
  • Unexpected Points - Mentioned as a newsletter run by Kevin Cole.
  • Robert Langdon thriller series - A series of novels by Dan Brown.
  • Sony Pictures - Mentioned as the company that acquired the movie rights to "The Da Vinci Code."
  • Random House - Mentioned as the publisher of Dan Brown's books.
  • Doubleday - Mentioned as a publisher Dan Brown moved to.
  • Vatican - Mentioned in relation to "The Da Vinci Code" controversy and filming locations.
  • Catholic Church - Mentioned in relation to the controversy surrounding "The Da Vinci Code."
  • ABC - Mentioned as the network that aired a special on "The Da Vinci Code."
  • The Louvre - Mentioned as a filming location for "The Da Vinci Code" movie.
  • Phillips Exeter Academy - A prep school in New Hampshire where Dan Brown's father taught and where Dan Brown grew up.
  • Amherst College - Where Dan Brown and Harlan Coben were fraternity mates.
  • NSA - Mentioned as an organization Dan Brown's father was recruited by but chose not to work for.
  • University of Seville - Where Dan Brown studied art history in Spain.
  • University of Fairbanks, Alaska - Where Martin O'Jeffries, a glaciologist, worked.
  • Boston Museum of Science - Where Dan Brown heard about evolution and the Big Bang.
  • The Vatican City - Mentioned as a place Dan Brown could not travel to.
  • The Bilderbergers - Mentioned as a group that could be considered part of a secret cabal running the world.

Websites & Online Resources

  • drinklmnt.com/tetra - Website mentioned for Element electrolytes.
  • athleticnicotine.com/xtra - Website mentioned for Athletic Nicotine.
  • tetragammaton.com - Website mentioned for Tetragammaton.

Other Resources

  • AI (Artificial Intelligence) - Discussed as a topic with potential to save or kill humanity, and as a technology that humankind has always weaponized.
  • Human Consciousness - Discussed as the lens through which we see reality and ourselves, a topic scientists cannot agree on a definition for, and the subject of Dan Brown's latest book.
  • Local Consciousness - A theory that consciousness is the product of chemical processes in the brain.
  • Non Local Consciousness - A theory that the brain receives consciousness, which helps explain anomalies.
  • Savant Syndrome - Mentioned as a paranormal phenomenon where a person gains extraordinary abilities, such as speaking a new language after a head injury.
  • Precognition - Mentioned as a paranormal phenomenon observed and proven in a lab.
  • ESP (Extra Sensory Perception) - Mentioned as a paranormal phenomenon observed and proven in laboratory settings.
  • The Sacred Feminine - An idea that religion has become male-centric and that women have been subjugated spiritually.
  • The Golem - A monster made of clay brought to life by a Jewish rabbi using cabalistic magic, which served as a protector of the Jewish people.
  • Morphic Resonance - A concept proposed by Rupert Sheldrake, suggesting thoughts can impact others on the planet.
  • Entanglement - Mentioned in relation to morphic resonance and the idea that thoughts can impact others.
  • Double Slit Experiment - Mentioned as a physics experiment that proved human thought affects physical matter.
  • Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser - Mentioned as an experiment related to the double slit experiment.
  • Ambigrams - Mentioned as things that read the same upside down, relevant to Dan Brown's book "Angels & Demons."
  • Kabbalistic Magic - Mentioned in relation to the Golem story and ancient mysteries.
  • Ancient Mysteries - Mentioned as being tied to Jewish mysticism.
  • Cabalistic Magic - Mentioned in relation to the Golem story and ancient mysteries.
  • The Golem - A monster made of clay brought to life by a Jewish rabbi using cabalistic magic, which served as a protector of the Jewish people.
  • The Secret Societies - Mentioned as a topic that will become public in the coming years.
  • TM (Transcendental Meditation) - A meditation technique practiced by Dan Brown and Harlan Coben.
  • Evolution - Mentioned in relation to a conflict with religious teachings.
  • The Big Bang - Mentioned in relation to a conflict with religious teachings.
  • Physics - Discussed as a field that becomes more spiritual the deeper one goes into it.
  • Mathematics - Described as a symbolic language that is explicit and descriptive.
  • Classical Music - The primary genre of music Dan Brown listened to as a child.
  • Pop Music - A genre that opened up a new world for Dan Brown after listening to classical music.
  • Codes and Puzzles - Described

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