Walden Pod

Philip Goff, a Professor of Philosophy at Durham University and author of 'Consciousness and Fundamental Reality,' dives into the intriguing realm of consciousness. He tackles type-b physicalism and the concept of philosophical zombies, challenging the tenets of materialism. Goff critiques current frameworks of consciousness, exploring the implications of personal experience versus theoretical knowledge. The discussion also ventures into the evolution of belief and the reimagining of religion, inviting a fresh perspective on faith and spirituality.

Ralph Stefan Weir, a philosophy professor and author of "The Mind-Body Problem and Metaphysics," shares his insights into consciousness and dualism. He delves into the disembodiment and parity arguments, challenging property dualism and exploring the implications of the soul's existence. The conversation also critiques physicalism and examines the historical narratives that shaped philosophical thought, all while connecting metaphysics to modern issues like transhumanism and personal identity.

I am once again begging apologists to stop treating atheism and materialism as interchangeable concepts. It's intellectual laziness at best and dishonesty at worst. This was originally a short video posted on my youtube channel. Linktree 

Today, we explore the privacy of consciousness, a feature of the mind rejected by qualia antirealists.  (summary of the arguments begins at 43:45)  A few of the papers and books referenced: Is Mental Privacy Defensible? Jaffer Ahmed Explaining Mental Privacy - Colin McGinn Other minds are neither seen nor inferred - Mason Westfall  Understanding Knowledge - Michael Huemer Illusionism As A Theory of Consciousness  Galileo's Error - Philip Goff Linktree

Today we discuss three skeptical arguments from Wang Chong, a first-century Chinese philosopher who railed against the belief in ghosts. Although the skeptics who initially presented these arguments to me seemed to think they were decisive, I was unimpressed and wanted to explain why I think they miss the center of the spectral target.  As summarized on Wang’s IEP entry:  (1) Argument from physical shape:  The death of a person is the result of the body losing the animating qi (vital essence), and once the qi is separated from the body, the body decays.  All will admit to this.  If this is so, however, and the person’s qi is still existent, how can this qi itself manifest in the form of a physical shape?  It is not a body, it is qi.  But when one sees a ghost, one sees a body.  But if the person has died, they no longer have a body, so where could they get another one?  They cannot take over another living body, which will already possess its own qi.  Thus, the view that people when they die become ghosts is nonsensical.  (2) Argument from population:  If people become ghosts when they die, there should be more ghost sightings than living people, as the number of people who have lived in the past and died is far greater than the number of people now living.  This is not true — ghost “sightings” are rare.  Thus it cannot be that people when they die become ghosts. (3) Argument from ghostly efficacy:  If a living person is harmed, this person will immediately go to a magistrate and bring a case against the party who harmed them.  If it were the case that people become ghosts when they die and can interact with living humans, every ghostly murder victim would be seen going to a magistrate, telling him the name of the killer and the means of murder, leading him to the body, and so forth.  This is never witnessed (ever).  Wang Chong - IEP  Philosophy on the Fringes - Ghosts and Hauntings  Dale Allison Interview - Encountering Mystery  Greenbrier Ghost - Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World  Twitter thread where I first encountered Wang Chong Music for this episode was performed by yours truly (except the drums). Linktree 

Explore the fascinating tale of Mary, the color scientist, and her intriguing encounters with her cousin Fred and a colorblind neuroscientist. Delve into the limits of physical knowledge and its inability to fully capture conscious experiences. Philip Goff challenges the ability hypothesis and presents 'phenomenal curiosity' as a threat to moderate forms of physicalism. This thought-provoking discussion critiques various responses to the knowledge argument while shedding light on the nature of consciousness.

We discuss Philip Goff’s conversion, the online reaction to it, and what his “heretical Christianity” involves. Is he a real Christian? What does he think about the resurrection, the ascension, the miracles of Christ, the virgin birth, the trinity, inerrantism, the atonement, and God’s nature?  Amos Wollen - Conversion Review: Christianity gains a new smart person  Randal Rauser on Goff’s Conversion  Nathan Ormond (DigitalGnosis)- Philosopher CONVERTS to Christianity  Linktree

I give three reasons why panpsychism typically strikes us as counterintuitive, and why we shouldn't credit our innate bias against it.  David Papineau: Physicalists who find panpsychism counterintuitive haven’t truly freed themselves from dualist thinking  Jonathan Birch on overconfidence about sentience This episode was available early to supporters at patreon.com/waldenpod Linktree

Today we continue our exploration of the conceivability argument, covering the best response in the physicalist arsenal, and why it doesn't help physicalists escape the hoard of zombies in the end. Linktree

Today we discuss David Chalmers' conceivability argument against physicalism: the zombie argument. Linktree