We can feel and even act like different people in different situations and at different times. Is a single self enough to hold together our messy, often contradictory collection of experiences and drives? At HowTheLightGetsIn 2024 in London, Sam Harris, Roger Penrose and Sophie Scott met to debate The Divided Self, hosted by Jack Symes. The bestselling philosopher, quantum physicist and leading neuroscientist investigated whether we need to update our model of the self, and how to do it. 

We take the existence of a self for granted: that there’s an I writing this review, a you reading it. But what is the nature of this I that’s carrying out the actions, and can it hold the strange multiplicity of experiences and behaviours that happen in our lives as a coherent whole? The Divided Self at HTLGI London 2024 brought together a stellar panel to tackle this question: philosopher, writer and meditation guru Sam Harris, physicist Roger Penrose, and neuroscientist Sophie Scott.