The Computational Roots of Human Suffering

“The Computational Roots of Human Suffering” is a theoretical synthesis that explains why human minds suffer through the lens of computational cognitive science. It proposes that suffering arises when the mind’s generative models — used to predict and interpret reality — form overly rigid priors, especially around goals and self-concepts. These rigid predictions create persistent model-reality discrepancies, which are experienced as emotional distress. The project bridges ancient Buddhist insights with modern structured Bayesian models, offering a scientifically grounded path toward reducing suffering through contemplative practices like mindfulness and insight meditation. Ultimately, it envisions a science of liberation rooted in recalibrating how the mind predicts, values, and relates to experience.