Lex Fridman Podcast #261 – Philip Goff: Consciousness, Panpsychism, and the Philosophy of Mind
In this discussion, Philip Goff, a philosopher at Durham University and author of 'Galileo’s Error', dives deep into the concept of panpsychism, suggesting that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe. He explores how this perspective contrasts with traditional views like materialism. The dialogue also touches on the relationship between consciousness and morality, critiquing the idea of philosophical zombies. Goff challenges listeners to rethink their understanding of consciousness, individuality, and even the ethical treatment of non-human animals.
02:53:05
Consciousness: A Unique Scientific Challenge
- Consciousness isn't publicly observable, making it unique for scientific study.
- We know it through direct awareness, not external experiments, requiring an expanded scientific method.
Panpsychism vs. Illusionism
- Philip Goff supports panpsychism, believing consciousness is fundamental to all matter.
- Daniel Dennett believes that consciousness, being empirically unverifiable, doesn't exist.
Unique Human Traits
- Humans uniquely reflect on conscious experience, plan for the future, and respond to reasons.
- Unlike animals, humans consider values in decisions, accessing objective truths about worthwhile goals.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Empowering Personal Decisions Through Data and Tools
02:05 • 2min
Navigating Careers, Nutrition, and Mental Health
04:28 • 3min
Consciousness and the Scientific Lens
07:58 • 20min
The Pursuit of Meaning: Pleasure vs. Goals
28:09 • 13min
Exploring Consciousness and Expertise
41:12 • 28min
The Dynamics of Expertise
01:08:52 • 4min
Exploring Panpsychism: Consciousness as Fundamental
01:12:34 • 26min
Exploring Information and Consciousness: Complexity and Subjective Experience
01:38:31 • 3min
Consciousness and Suffering in Non-Human Animals
01:41:05 • 6min
Consciousness and Morality: The Zombie Dilemma
01:47:21 • 26min
Consciousness Explained: Ontology and Epistemology
02:13:10 • 5min
Debating Consciousness at Sea
02:18:17 • 11min
Free Will and Consciousness: A Complex Exploration
02:29:32 • 20min
Exploring Hope and Purpose in Existence
02:49:45 • 3min
Free Will
Sam Harris
In 'Free Will,' Sam Harris argues that the concept of free will is inherently flawed and incoherent.
He contends that our thoughts, intentions, and actions are determined by prior causes outside our conscious control, whether these causes are deterministic or the result of chance.
Harris uses examples such as the Cheshire murders to illustrate how even heinous crimes can be seen as the product of uncontrollable experiences and neurological mechanisms, rather than free will.
The book challenges readers to reconsider their views on morality, law, and personal responsibility in light of this understanding.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy
Douglas Adams
The book follows Arthur Dent, an ordinary Englishman, whose house and planet are about to be demolished.
He is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect, an alien researcher for the 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'.
Together, they embark on a journey through space, encountering various characters such as Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed president of the galaxy, Trillian, a human woman, and Marvin, a paranoid android.
The story involves their adventures on the spaceship Heart of Gold, which has an Infinite Improbability Drive, and their quest to understand the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, which is revealed to be '42'.
The novel is known for its humor, satire, and imaginative storytelling.
Finnegans Wake
David Hayman
James Joyce
Finnegans Wake is James Joyce's final and most complex work, written over a period of seventeen years.
The novel is set in a dream world where the protagonist, Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker (HCE), and his family—wife Anna Livia Plurabelle (ALP) and their children Shem, Shaun, and Issy—undergo various transformations and identities.
The book is known for its innovative use of language, combining elements from multiple languages and creating new words through portmanteaus and puns.
It explores themes of identity, history, and the cyclical nature of life, drawing on Irish mythology, biblical narratives, and personal experiences.
The novel's structure is circular, ending with the sentence that begins the book, creating a continuous loop.
Galileo's Error
Philip Goff
Varieties of Religious Experience
William James
This book is a collection of lectures delivered by William James at the University of Edinburgh between 1901 and 1902.
It focuses on the personal and subjective aspects of religious experiences, rather than on theology or organized religion.
James examines various types of religious experiences, including healthy-mindedness, the sick soul, conversion, mysticism, and saintliness.
He emphasizes the importance of feeling and personal experience in religion, arguing that these experiences are the primary source of religious beliefs and practices.
The book also discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of these experiences, highlighting their complexity and life-altering nature.
Consciousness and Fundamental Reality
Philip Goff
Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness
Phillip Goff
Dennett's multiple drafts model
Dennett's multiple drafts model
Daniel Dennett
The key to life is to be unborable
The key to life is to be unborable
David Foster Wallace
Gettier problem
Gettier problem
Edmund Gettier
What Is It Like to Be a Bat?
Thomas Nagel
Thomas Nagel's essay "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" is a seminal work in philosophy of mind.
It explores the subjective nature of consciousness and the challenges of understanding other minds.
Nagel argues that even with complete physical knowledge of a bat's brain, we cannot fully grasp its subjective experience.
This essay highlights the limitations of reductionist approaches to consciousness.
It continues to be a central text in discussions about qualia, subjective experience, and the mind-body problem.
Integrated information theory
Giulio Tononi
Philosophical Zombies
Philosophical Zombies
David Chalmers
The art of computer programming
Donald Knuth
The Art of Computer Programming is a seminal work by Donald E. Knuth that presents a detailed and systematic treatment of computer programming algorithms.
The series, which began in 1962, is planned to consist of seven volumes, with several already published.
The books cover a wide range of topics, including fundamental algorithms, seminumerical algorithms, sorting and searching, and combinatorial algorithms.
Knuth uses a hypothetical assembly language called MIX (and its RISC version MMIX) to illustrate the algorithms, emphasizing the importance of understanding low-level machine operations.
The series is known for its rigorous mathematical approach and detailed analysis of algorithms, making it a cornerstone of computer science literature.
The big picture
Derek Monsey
People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own souls. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.
People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own souls. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.
Carl Jung
Naturalistic Dualism
Naturalistic Dualism
David Papineau
No specific book found
Vince Houghton's works do not include a book on this topic
Vince Houghton
Vince Houghton is known for his work as the Director of the National Cryptologic Museum and his discussions on cryptography.
However, he has not written a book that focuses exclusively on cryptology and cryptography in movies and pop culture.
His books include 'Nuking the Moon' and 'The Nuclear Spies', which cover different aspects of intelligence history.
Mitochondria in the brain
Mitochondria in the brain
Martin Picard
A treatise of human nature
David Hume
In this influential work, Hume seeks to establish a 'science of man' by applying the experimental method of reasoning, inspired by Isaac Newton's achievements in the physical sciences.
The treatise is divided into three books: 'Of the Understanding', 'Of the Passions', and 'Of Morals'.
Hume argues that human behavior is driven by passions rather than reason, introduces the problem of induction, and defends a sentimentalist account of morality.
He also discusses personal identity and free will from a sceptical and compatibilist perspective.
Our Mathematical Universe
My Quest for the Ultimate Nature of Reality
Max Tegmark
In this book, Max Tegmark presents his mathematical universe hypothesis, which posits that reality is not just described by mathematics but is actually a mathematical structure.
The book is divided into three parts: 'Zooming Out' explores our location in the cosmos and multiverse, 'Zooming In' delves into quantum mechanics and particle physics, and 'Stepping Back' discusses Tegmark's speculative ideas about the mathematical nature of reality.
Tegmark introduces four levels of multiverse, culminating in the 'Level IV multiverse,' where all possible mathematical structures have physical existence.
The book is written in an accessible and engaging style, using anecdotes and clear explanations to make complex scientific concepts understandable to a broad audience.
Being You
A New Science of Consciousness
Anil Seth
In 'Being You: A New Science of Consciousness,' Anil Seth presents a radical new theory of consciousness, arguing that we are 'prediction machines' constantly inventing and correcting our perception of the world.
The book delves into the biological mechanisms of the brain, exploring how billions of neurons create our conscious experience.
Seth discusses the 'controlled hallucination' viewpoint, active inference, and the 'beast machine' theory, which views consciousness as a process of regulating the body's essential variables through interoceptive signals.
The book is a synthesis of philosophy, science, literature, and personal experience, making complex science accessible and engaging.
The presence of the past
morphic resonance and the habits of nature
Rupert Sheldrake
Rupert Sheldrake's "The Presence of the Past" introduces the concept of morphic resonance, a theory proposing that nature possesses a form of memory.
This memory influences the behavior and development of living organisms, suggesting a collective consciousness across species.
Sheldrake uses examples from various fields to support his theory, including animal behavior and human learning.
The book challenges conventional scientific paradigms and explores the implications of morphic resonance for our understanding of the universe.
It sparks debate about the nature of reality and the interconnectedness of all things.
Bernard Williams on titles and hierarchies
Bernard Williams
Bernard Williams was a prominent philosopher who wrote extensively on ethics and moral philosophy.
His notable works include 'Morality', 'Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy', and 'Shame and Necessity'.
The Substance of Consciousness
J.P. Moreland
Brandon Ricker
The Harder Problem of Consciousness
A Conceptual Exploration
Ned Block
Ned Block's work on the Harder Problem of Consciousness delves into the epistemological difficulties of attributing consciousness to non-human entities.
It builds upon the Hard Problem, focusing on the challenges of understanding consciousness in others, including non-human beings like robots or animals.
Mind Time
Benjamin Libet
Sushi: Jiro Gastronomy
Sushi Sukiyabashi Jiro
Jiro Ono
This book provides an authoritative guide on how to eat sushi, with descriptions of each type of sushi, commentary from Jiro Ono, and beautiful photography.
It covers the correct methods of eating sushi and using condiments, making it a great resource for sushi lovers.
Panpsychism Debate
Panpsychism Debate
Owen Flanagan
Annika Harris
Zombies and Equal Rights
Zombies and Equal Rights
Jeff Lee
The Concept of Disenchantment by Max Weber
Understanding Modern Society
Max Weber
Max Weber's concept of disenchantment refers to the process by which spiritual magic and mystery are expelled from the world, replaced by rational calculation and scientific understanding.
This concept is central to understanding modern society's shift towards rationalization and secularization.
Matter and consciousness
Paul M. Churchland
In 'Matter and Consciousness,' Paul Churchland provides a detailed exploration of the mind-body problem, arguing for a materialist perspective.
He discusses various philosophical positions, including dualism, and critiques them from a materialist standpoint.
The book is a foundational text in contemporary philosophy of mind.
Illusionism and Morality
Francois Camille
No information available.
The Grand Design
null
George Orwell
Mystical Conceptions of Reality
Miriel Bihari
No information available.
Free Will and Determinism
A Philosophical Exploration
E. J. Lowe (Jonathan Lowe)
This hypothetical book would likely delve into the philosophical underpinnings of free will and determinism, drawing from Lowe's expertise in metaphysics and philosophy of mind.
It would explore the tensions between these concepts and their implications for understanding human agency and moral responsibility.
No book titled 'MindChat' by Keith Frankish found
No book titled 'MindChat' by Keith Frankish found
Keith Frankish
Keith Frankish is a philosopher who defends illusionism, the view that phenomenal consciousness is an illusion.
He co-hosts the 'Mind Chat' podcast with Philip Goff, discussing consciousness and related topics with various guests.
Boston Zombie
Boston Zombie
D. Dennett and his Theory of Consciousness
Dmitry Borisovich Volkov
In 'Boston Zombie: D. Dennett and his Theory of Consciousness', Dmitry Volkov provides a comprehensive critique of Dennett's arguments on consciousness, including the Multiple Drafts Model and the concept of qualia.
Volkov also engages with the ideas of John Searle and Vasiliev, offering counterarguments to Dennett's thought experiments and exploring the concept of the Self.
How the Laws of Physics Lie
Nancy Cartwright
In this collection of essays, Nancy Cartwright challenges the traditional view of scientific laws by arguing that they do not accurately describe the world but instead represent idealized models.
She distinguishes between theoretical entities and simple unifying laws, suggesting that while entities can be interpreted realistically, basic laws cannot.
Cartwright's work invites a reevaluation of how science is practiced and understood.
Philip Goff is a philosopher of mind and consciousness at Durham University and author of Galileo’s Error. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Philip’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Philip_Goff
Philip’s Website: http://www.philipgoffphilosophy.com/
Galileo’s Error (book): https://amzn.to/3ustY5B
Consciousness and Fundamental Reality (book): https://amzn.to/3ojldH1
PODCAST INFO:
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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:40) – Conscious matter
(41:06) – Death, mystical experiences and collective consciousness
(51:30) – The authority of expertise
(1:12:27) – Panpsychism and physics
(1:41:11) – Suffering, zombies and illusion
(2:13:57) – JRE podcast recap
(2:25:33) – Free will
(2:43:12) – Are we living in a simulation?
(2:47:04) – Meaning of life