The Importance of Constraints in a Theory of Consciousness

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A theory of consciousness should be judged by two constraints. The external constraint is just to fit the data Obviously crucial the internal constraint is to try and minimize or ideally eliminate explanatory gaps. I think already the Russell Eddington view Makes progress there because we now have an intelligible account of the relationship between physical states and conscious states. So, you know, I think People You know, it's going to take a much more seriously in academic philosophy Although people not entirely comfortable with this But I think rather than persuading people with the arguments if we just get on with the work I think history shows that once you just get on and Start doing some research and this bears fruit i'm very

The human brain contains roughly 85 billion neurons, wired together in an extraordinarily complex network of interconnected parts. It’s hardly surprising that we don’t understand the mind and how it works. But do we know enough about our experience of consciousness to suggest that consciousness cannot arise from nothing more than the physical interactions of bits of matter? Panpsychism is the idea that consciousness, or at least some mental aspect, is pervasive in the world, in atoms and rocks as well as in living creatures. Philosopher Philip Goff is one of the foremost modern advocates of this idea. We have a friendly and productive conversation, notwithstanding my own view that the laws of physics don’t need any augmenting to ultimately account for consciousness. If you’re not sympathetic toward panpsychism, this episode will at least help you understand why someone might be.

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Philip Goff received his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Reading. He is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Durham. His new book, Galileo’s Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness, is being published on Nov. 5.

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