The value of uncertainty: Why a healthy mind needs not knowing | Mark Miller | TEDxUofTSalon

Our brains are prediction machines, built to reduce uncertainty. But when we try too hard to make life certain, things go wrong — anxiety, burnout, even polarization. In this talk, Dr. Mark Miller invites us to rethink uncertainty as medicine for the mind. He explains how seeking out the right amount of not-knowing keeps our predictive brains flexible, curious, and capable of real flourishing. The value of uncertainty, he suggests, isn’t just in accepting life’s mysteries — it’s in learning to dance with them. Dr. Mark Miller is a cognitive scientist and philosopher at the University of Toronto and Monash University whose research explores how the brain’s predictions shape emotion, belief, and well-being. His work bridges neuroscience, philosophy, and contemplative practice to understand what it means to live and think well. He is also the host of The Contemplative Science Podcast, where he explores the science of wisdom and human flourishing with leading thinkers around the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx