We really do live in the present.
Chater proposes that every perception and every thought we have is created purely in the moment. Moreover, every such perception or thought is about what we are paying attention to at that moment. There are no other perceptions or thoughts knocking around in the background. So, consciousness is the rapid succession of such perceptions and thoughts. He notes too that the creation of these perceptions and thoughts is both quick and unconscious. We merely become conscious of the output of those acts of creations. This might be recognising an apple on the kitchen table. It might also be the words encapsulating an abstract idea. A by-product of Chater’s theory is that self is a fiction. We are no more than what we are from moment to moment.
You may also like to browse other neuroscience books: https://www.thesentientrobot.com/category/neuroscience/neuroscience-books/
