In a reality where spacetime is not fundamental, physical objects like neurons are merely "rendered" upon observation. Therefore, neurons cannot be the fundamental creator of consciousness because they don't exist independently until an observer interacts with them.

Hoffman's theory posits that our perceived world is not a persistent, objective reality but a simulation that is rendered only when an observer looks at it. According to this model, when you look away from an object, it ceases to exist and is only re-rendered upon observation.

Donald Hoffman sees our 3D world as a confining, "training wheels" version of existence. Given the choice, he would exit this simulation to explore higher-dimensional realities with far richer sensory and emotional possibilities, viewing it as an upgrade rather than a loss.

The question of how consciousness emerges from physical systems like AI is flawed. Hoffman argues consciousness is fundamental. A physical object, be it a brain or silicon chip, is merely a limited "headset" representation of an underlying conscious reality. Consciousness doesn't emerge from matter; matter is a symbol for consciousness.

According to Hoffman's theory, what lies 'outside the headset' of our perception is not physical. Instead, the fundamental layer of reality consists of a network of interacting observers or 'conscious agents.' These can be described mathematically (as Markov chains), and our perceived physical world, including spacetime, is a projection generated by their interactions.

The "filter thesis" suggests the brain doesn't generate consciousness but acts as a reducing valve for a broader reality. This explains why psychedelics, trauma, or near-death experiences—states of disrupted brain activity—can lead to heightened consciousness. The filter is weakened, allowing more of reality to pour in.

When we observe neurons, we are not seeing the true substrate of thought. Instead, we are seeing our 'headset's' symbolic representation of the complex conscious agent dynamics that are responsible for creating our interface in the first place.

Extending the simulation theory, cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman argues that your physical components, like neurons, do not exist persistently. They are rendered into existence only in the moment of perception by an observer. If a neuroscientist observes your brain, the neurons exist in their perception, but they were never 'your' neurons in an objective, independent sense.

Cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman argues that spacetime and physical objects are a "headset" or VR game, like Grand Theft Auto. This interface evolved to help us survive by hiding overwhelming complexity, not to show us objective truth. Our scientific theories have only studied this interface, not reality itself.