The Intrinsic Perspective is a Substack newsletter by neuroscientist and author Erik Hoel, focused on consilience: breaking down disciplinary barriers between science, history, literature, and cultural commentary. Hoel, who holds a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and formerly served as a research professor at Tufts University, left academia in late 2022 to write the newsletter full-time. With over 69,000 subscribers, the publication covers topics including consciousness, AI and its risks, emergence, education, and the intersection of science and the humanities. Hoel is also the author of the novel The Revelations and the nonfiction book The World Behind the World.
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- Fiscal Sponsor
- SciArt Initiative, Inc.
Theory of Change
The Intrinsic Perspective operates on the premise that rigorous, interdisciplinary public writing by a working scientist can improve public discourse on critical topics including AI, consciousness, and existential risk. By combining deep expertise in neuroscience and consciousness research with accessible, high-quality writing, Hoel aims to provide informed perspectives that bridge the gap between technical research and public understanding. His work on AI consciousness specifically contributes to the scientific grounding of debates about AI sentience and risk, while his broader writing challenges oversimplified narratives about AI from both alarmist and dismissive perspectives.
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from Survival and Flourishing Fund
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Details
- Last Updated
- Apr 2, 2026, 9:55 PM UTC
- Created
- Mar 18, 2026, 11:18 PM UTC