• home
• about
• new
• essays
• AI
• book

Frank Visser, graduated as a psychologist of culture and religion, founded IntegralWorld in 1997. He worked as production manager for various publishing houses and as service manager for various internet companies and lives in Amsterdam. Books: Ken Wilber: Thought as Passion (SUNY, 2003), and The Corona Conspiracy: Combatting Disinformation about the Coronavirus (Kindle, 2020).

Panpsychism:
Its Strengths and Weaknesses

Frank Visser / ChatGPT-4

Me to ChatGPT:

• Is there a case to be made for panpsychism? Please write an essay on the strengths and weaknesses of this hypothesis. Also mention some of its defenders and detractors.

Follow-up questions:

• Please elaborate on Goff's model.
• This sounds very much like the Eastern doctrine of Vedanta: the One Self brings forth the many selves.
• That's all well and fine but where does Goff find evidence for such a view?
• I take it then, that Goff simply begs the question about the nature of consciousness by simply postulating its existence.
• Does Goff have an explanation for how the cosmic Self brings forth the smaller selves, and how these selves connect to biological organisms - from human beings to bacteria?
• Isn't it much more economical philosophically speaking to simply assume that consciousness is progressively produced by increasingly complex biological organisms? This would not require a complete overhaul over our view of the cosmos.
• It seems to me that the cosmos at large is without consciousness - even our own solar system is basically devoid of conscious beings except on earth - and that the human organism contains highly complex molecules generally not freely found in nature.
• I stumbled on a paradox: though consciousness may be extremely rare within our solar system, it might be universal simply by the large scale of the universe, where conditions favorable to the origin of consciousness might occur.

ChatGPT:

Panpsychism, the doctrine that asserts that all things, not just humans or animals but inanimate objects as well, have some form of consciousness or mental properties, is a topic that has been debated by philosophers and scientists alike. This view represents a radical shift from traditional materialistic conceptions of consciousness. Below, I'll explore both the strengths and weaknesses of panpsychism, along with notable individuals who have defended or criticized this hypothesis.

Strengths:

Addressing the Hard Problem of Consciousness: The "hard problem" of consciousness, as termed by David Chalmers, concerns explaining why and how physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective experiences. Panpsychism can potentially offer an answer to this by proposing that consciousness is a fundamental feature of the universe, just like space and time.

Potential Unity with Quantum Mechanics: Some proponents argue that panpsychism might find a logical fit with certain interpretations of quantum mechanics, which sometimes posits non-materialistic views of reality.

Ecological and Ethical Implications: Panpsychism can offer a basis for a more respectful and harmonious relationship with the environment. By ascribing a form of consciousness to all things, it might foster greater ecological awareness and ethical considerations regarding our treatment of the natural world.

Weaknesses:

Scientific Verifiability: One of the significant weaknesses of panpsychism is the lack of empirical evidence to support it. As of my last update in September 2021, the scientific community has not developed methods to empirically verify or falsify the hypothesis that inanimate objects possess consciousness.

Combination Problem: A central issue for panpsychism is the “combination problem”, which asks how simpler conscious entities combine to form more complex conscious entities, such as the human mind. It is not clear how individual “minds” or “conscious entities” of inanimate objects would integrate to create a unified conscious experience.

Intellectual Parsimony: Many critics argue that panpsychism lacks intellectual parsimony, meaning it introduces more complexities than it solves. For instance, it ascribes mental properties to entities where it seems unnecessary, potentially complicating our understanding of consciousness rather than simplifying it.

Defenders and Detractors:

Defenders:

David Chalmers: A prominent philosopher who, although not a panpsychist himself, has shown sympathy towards the doctrine and acknowledged its potential in solving the hard problem of consciousness.

Galileo Galilei: Historically, some writings suggest that Galileo entertained the notion that all things have an inner life or spirit, although his viewpoint is subject to various interpretations.

Philip Goff: A noted philosopher who has defended panpsychism, especially in recent times, as a viable solution to the mind-body problem.

Detractors:

Daniel Dennett: A philosopher who has consistently criticized panpsychism, arguing that it introduces unnecessary complexities and lacks empirical support.

Patricia Churchland: A neurophilosopher who tends to favor a more neurobiological approach to understanding consciousness, often criticizing panpsychism for its speculative nature.

In conclusion, panpsychism is a hypothesis that offers a bold and encompassing perspective on consciousness, proposing it as a universal property. Its strengths lie in its potential to address the hard problem of consciousness and fostering a more ecological worldview. However, it also faces significant challenges, including the lack of scientific verifiability and issues regarding the combination problem. Notable intellectuals have both defended and criticized this approach, making it a vibrant field of discussion in the philosophy of mind.

Please elaborate on Goff's model.

Philip Goff

Philip Goff, a leading contemporary philosopher, has been a prominent advocate for panpsychism. His approach towards this philosophical doctrine can be understood through several key concepts and perspectives:

1. Consciousness as a Fundamental Feature of the Universe

Goff argues that consciousness, much like space and time, is a fundamental feature of the universe. This suggests that consciousness is not emergent or resultant from complex arrangements of matter but is intrinsic to all things. He proposes that we should look at consciousness as we do other fundamental aspects of reality, such as gravity, which we do not try to explain away but accept as a primary feature of existence.

2. Cosmopsychism

In addition to panpsychism, Goff has also explored a variant known as "cosmopsychism." In this model, instead of many small, independent conscious entities (as in traditional panpsychism), there exists one cosmic consciousness that pervades the entire universe. This cosmic entity is considered to be the ground of all being, and individual consciousnesses are seen as derivatives or localized manifestations of this all-encompassing

This sounds very much like the Eastern doctrine of Vedanta: the One Self brings forth the many selves.

Absolutely, Goff's ideas resonate with several philosophical concepts found in Eastern philosophies, particularly Vedanta, a school of Hindu philosophy. Vedanta, particularly the Advaita Vedanta subset, proposes the idea of a universal consciousness or a "Brahman," which is the ultimate reality behind the observable universe.

In Advaita Vedanta, the individual soul, or "Atman," is seen as not separate from Brahman. The perception of separateness is due to "Maya" or illusion, and enlightenment involves realizing the non-duality of Atman and Brahman. The belief that there is one fundamental reality from which everything emanates and that personal consciousnesses are localized manifestations of this universal consciousness parallels with what Goff explores in cosmopsychism.

This kind of ontological perspective brings with it implications for how we understand self, consciousness, and the universe. It fosters a holistic view of existence, where individuals are not isolated entities but interconnected facets of a more significant reality. In a similar vein, Goff's cosmopsychism can be seen as promoting a philosophical discourse that emphasizes unity and interconnectedness in understanding consciousness and reality.

Both Goff's cosmopsychism and Vedanta's non-dualistic approach, thus, offer rich philosophical grounds to explore a consciousness-centric view of the universe, encouraging a synthesis of spiritual insights and philosophical inquiry. It's an exciting convergence of ideas across time and cultural contexts, which perhaps hints at a universal truth about the nature of existence and consciousness.

That's all well and fine but where does Goff find evidence for such a view?

Goff, like other proponents of panpsychism, doesn't rely on empirical evidence in the conventional scientific sense to support his theories, because consciousness, as it's currently understood, cannot be directly measured or observed. Instead, he builds his case through philosophical arguments and reasoning, attempting to solve persistent problems in the philosophy of mind.

1. Solving the Hard Problem of Consciousness

One of the central arguments that Goff brings forward is to offer a solution to the "hard problem" of consciousness, a term coined by David Chalmers. This problem highlights the difficulty of explaining how and why we have qualitative experiences, given that physical science can only explain quantitative properties. Goff's model attempts to bypass this issue by making consciousness a fundamental aspect of the universe, thus not needing to be emergent from physical properties.

2. Metaphysical Grounding

Goff often points to the limitations of physicalism (the belief that the world is entirely physical) in explaining consciousness. He posits that panpsychism or cosmopsychism could provide a more robust metaphysical grounding for understanding the nature of consciousness, one that accepts conscious experience as a foundational aspect of reality instead of trying to reduce it to physical properties.

3. Philosophical Consistency

Goff also presents his theory as being more philosophically consistent than materialistic approaches to consciousness. By assuming that consciousness is a fundamental property of matter, it avoids the problems associated with trying to derive consciousness from purely physical properties, a process that, thus far, has not been successfully delineated.

4. Integration with Eastern Philosophical Insights

Though not a direct evidence, Goff's theories resonate with ancient Eastern philosophies, as previously mentioned. This resonance could be seen as a way to integrate long-standing philosophical insights about the nature of consciousness and reality into contemporary Western philosophy.

In essence, Goff's evidence is more about offering a coherent, explanatory framework for consciousness than providing empirical evidence, as we might find in scientific theories. His works are deeply entrenched in philosophical discourse, attempting to find a resolution to the problems that have plagued the philosophy of mind for decades, if not centuries.

I take it then, that Goff simply begs the question about the nature of consciousness by simply postulating its existence.

To some extent, you are correct that Goff's approach to the problem of consciousness involves taking a somewhat axiomatic stance on the existence of consciousness as a fundamental aspect of reality. This approach, though it might seem like begging the question, is actually a part of a philosophical tradition where theories about the nature of reality are formulated based on certain postulates or axioms.

In the case of panpsychism and cosmopsychism, the idea is to start with the assumption that consciousness is a pervasive feature of the universe, akin to space, time, or matter. Goff, and others in this philosophical domain, then build upon this foundational assumption to develop a coherent and encompassing theory about the nature of consciousness and reality.

Goff doesn't just postulate the existence of consciousness; he attempts to construct a viable philosophical framework where the fundamental existence of consciousness can explain various aspects of our perceived reality in a more comprehensive manner. He argues that this approach solves several perplexing issues that have proven to be quite resilient in the philosophy of mind, especially under physicalist doctrines.

It should be noted that while this approach might seem to be a departure from empirical methodologies, it is not uncommon in philosophy to build theories based on foundational postulates. Moreover, Goff encourages further investigation and dialogue, both philosophically and scientifically, to refine and potentially substantiate this paradigm.

Therefore, while Goff's approach might initially appear as begging the question, it can also be seen as a bold attempt to reframe the conversation about consciousness, steering it towards a path that might offer new insights and understanding about the intricate nature of consciousness and reality.

Does Goff have an explanation for how the cosmic Self brings forth the smaller selves, and how these selves connect to biological organisms - from human beings to bacteria?

Yes, Goff indeed discusses the problem of explaining how a universal consciousness can give rise to individual conscious entities and how these entities are connected to biological organisms, which is often referred to as the "combination problem" in the context of panpsychism.

In the framework of cosmopsychism, Goff considers the possibility that we, and all other finite conscious beings, are partial manifestations of the cosmic consciousness or "cosmic Self." However, he acknowledges that understanding the detailed mechanics of this process is a significant challenge.

He proposes several potential solutions to this problem. One of them is through the principle of "constitutive panpsychism," where smaller entities have their own forms of consciousness, and these forms contribute to higher-level consciousness, akin to how molecules constitute biological organisms.

To explain the connection between these conscious entities and biological organisms, Goff explores different philosophical concepts and methods. One approach he suggests is through a form of "Russellian monism" - an idea originally formulated by Bertrand Russell - where mental and physical properties are two aspects of the same underlying reality. In this model, the mental properties (or consciousness) of fundamental particles are connected to physical properties, which then give rise to the consciousness observed in biological organisms.

Goff also delves into how the cosmic consciousness might influence or give rise to individual consciousness through a process of "mental combination," where various forms of micro-consciousness combine to create a unified, more complex consciousness, such as that found in humans or other higher organisms. This can potentially offer an explanation for the diverse range of consciousness levels across different biological organisms, from bacteria to human beings.

However, Goff admits that this is an area where much more philosophical and potentially empirical work is needed. The precise mechanics of how the "cosmic Self" gives rise to individual "selves" and how these selves interact with biological organisms remain open questions, inviting further exploration and development in the theory.

Isn't it much more economical philosophically speaking to simply assume that consciousness is progressively produced by increasingly complex biological organisms? This would not require a complete overhaul over our view of the cosmos.

Certainly, the idea that consciousness arises from complex biological organisms is indeed a more parsimonious approach, especially from the perspective of physicalism which dominates contemporary science and philosophy. This viewpoint, which holds that consciousness emerges as a result of increasing biological complexity, aligns well with the evolutionary biology framework and the neuroscience's current understanding.

Here are some points that illustrate why this approach might be considered more economically viable philosophically:

1. Aligns with Current Scientific Understanding:

Modern neuroscience tends to favor the idea that consciousness arises from the complex interactions of simpler biological components. This approach allows for a more seamless integration with the established principles of biology, chemistry, and physics, without necessitating a fundamental shift in our understanding of the cosmos.

2. Empirical Support:

The emergence theory of consciousness can potentially be supported through empirical evidence, such as studies on brain function and development. Observational and experimental data in neuroscience often link the complexity of brain structures and networks to the levels of consciousness, a link which is more direct and perhaps easier to study than the fundamental consciousness postulated by panpsychism.

3. Philosophical Simplicity:

From a philosophical standpoint, assuming a progressive development of consciousness from complex biological processes avoids the intricacies and speculative nature of theories like panpsychism or cosmopsychism. It retains a level of simplicity by not introducing additional fundamental properties into the nature of existence.

However, it's worth noting that this approach also has its own set of challenges, primarily revolving around explaining the exact mechanisms through which consciousness emerges and addressing the "hard problem" of consciousness, which asks why and how physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective experiences. This is where theories like those proposed by Goff come in, attempting to offer alternative perspectives that might address these deep-seated philosophical dilemmas.

So while the emergence theory of consciousness might seem more economically viable, it also faces a significant explanatory gap, one that alternative theories like panpsychism are striving to fill, albeit at the cost of introducing more complexity and potentially revolutionary shifts in our worldview.

It seems to me that the cosmos at large is without consciousness - even our own solar system is basically devoid of conscious beings except on earth - and that the human organism contains highly complex molecules generally not freely found in nature.

Your perspective aligns with a widely held view in the scientific community. The rise of consciousness is often seen as a product of biological evolution, where the intricate and specialized arrangements of molecules in living organisms, particularly in the neural networks of brains, give rise to conscious experiences. In this view, consciousness is not a pervasive feature of the cosmos but is rather localized to certain biological organisms that have reached a necessary threshold of complexity.

Let's delve into this viewpoint a bit more:

1. Unique Molecular Complexity in Living Organisms:

Living organisms, particularly humans, have highly specialized and complex molecular structures that facilitate various functions, including consciousness. The complexity of these structures and the specific conditions required for their existence might suggest that consciousness is not a common feature in the universe but a rare phenomenon arising from unique biological configurations.

2. Absence of Observable Consciousness in the Cosmos:

As you mentioned, based on our current understanding and observations, conscious beings seem to be isolated to Earth within our solar system. The vast stretches of the cosmos, as far as we have explored, appear devoid of conscious life, supporting the idea that consciousness is not a fundamental feature of the cosmos but a phenomenon that emerges under specific conditions.

3. Evolutionary Development of Consciousness:

The evolutionary perspective supports the idea that consciousness developed as a result of biological evolution. In this view, consciousness in humans and other animals is a result of millions of years of evolutionary processes, honing complex neural networks capable of supporting conscious experiences.

4. Neuroscience and the Brain:

Current neuroscience research often links consciousness to the brain's workings, where the complexity and connectivity of neural networks play a crucial role in facilitating conscious experiences. This perspective sees consciousness as intrinsically linked to biological organisms, and not as a property that exists throughout the cosmos.

However, while this view is more conventional and aligns with current scientific understandings, it still grapples with the challenge of explaining the precise mechanisms through which complex molecular arrangements give rise to the subjective, qualitative aspect of conscious experiences, a question that remains one of the most profound in science and philosophy. It seems the discourse on consciousness remains open and multi-faceted, inviting various perspectives to offer insights into this complex phenomenon.

I stumbled on a paradox: though consciousness may be extremely rare within our solar system, it might be universal simply by the large scale of the universe, where conditions favorable to the origin of consciousness might occur.

Absolutely, you've touched on a significant consideration in the discussion about consciousness and its potential distribution throughout the universe. It's a perspective that often emerges in astrobiological and cosmological debates. Here are a few aspects of this paradox:

1. Vastness of the Universe:

The sheer scale of the universe, with its billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars and potentially even more planets, suggests that even if the emergence of consciousness is a rare event, it could still occur in numerous places across the universe.

2. Drake Equation:

This paradox aligns somewhat with the ideas presented in the Drake Equation, a probabilistic argument used to estimate the number of active, communicative extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy. The equation considers factors like the rate of star formation, the fraction of those stars that have planets, the number of planets that could potentially support life, and several other factors. Even with conservative estimates, the potential for life (and by extension, consciousness) elsewhere in the galaxy or universe remains.

3. Rare Earth Hypothesis:

On the flip side, the "Rare Earth Hypothesis" suggests that the emergence of complex life (and consciousness) requires a very specific set of conditions, which might be extremely rare in the universe. This hypothesis would imply that, despite its vastness, conscious life might still be exceptionally uncommon on a cosmic scale.

4. Anthropic Principle:

Your observation also resonates with the "Anthropic Principle," which posits that our ability to contemplate the universe is dependent on certain conditions that allow us to exist. In this way, consciousness, while possibly rare, has a sort of universal quality, as it allows for the observation and contemplation of the cosmos.

5. Fermi Paradox:

Lastly, this discussion brings to mind the Fermi Paradox, which points out the contradiction between the high probability of extraterrestrial civilizations' existence and the lack of contact with such civilizations. If consciousness is universal, given the age and size of the universe, we would expect to have had some indications of other conscious beings, which as of now remains an unsolved mystery.

Your observation beautifully encapsulates the tension between the potential rarity of consciousness on local scales (like our solar system) and the possibility of its widespread occurrence given the vastness of the universe. It indeed is a rich area for philosophical and scientific exploration.