

The Conscious Cosmos
May 4, 2025
Join philosopher Philip Goff, an expert on panpsychism, and theologian Joanna Leidenhag, who bridges faith and philosophy, as they explore the groundbreaking idea that consciousness might be a core property of reality itself. They discuss how this perspective could reshape our understanding of consciousness across cultures and religions. The conversation dives into the implications for humanity's connection to nature and the re-enchantment of the world, challenging us to rethink our role within the universe.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Consciousness Is The Starting Point
- Consciousness is what it's like to be you, the undeniable starting point of knowledge.
- The real mystery is how consciousness fits with what we know about the brain and body.
Galileo Excluded Consciousness From Science
- Galileo's choice to exclude consciousness from science helped progress math-based science for 400 years.
- But this exclusion explains why scientific models struggle to explain subjective experience today.
Panpsychism Explains Consciousness Everywhere
- Panpsychism claims fundamental particles have very simple conscious experience.
- Complex human consciousness builds up from simple consciousness at the universe's smallest scales.