Philip Goff is a philosopher who argues that the traditional approaches of materialism and dualism face insuperable difficulties. Materialism is the view that consciousness can be explained in terms of physical processes in the brain whereas dualism is the view that consciousness is separate from the body and brain. On the basis of this Philip defends a form of panpsychism, the view that consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of the physical world. It sounds a bit crazy, but he offers a compelling argument that avoids the difficulties faced by its rivals.
In this interview we discuss:
- why consciousness is the experience or what it is like to Be you
- why the movie Being John Malkevich is an experiential interpretation of empathy
- how empathy relates to the interpretation of consciousness
- why people remain resistant to challenging materialism
We also discuss:
- why we need to rethink what science is all about
- the meaning of panpsychism
- how time travel helps us to reimagine the mind and the world around us
Let’s go to the show!
Note: This interview was recorded in November of 2019.
SHOW NOTES:
Philip’s book Galileo’s Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness
Jim Rutt on Building a Better Society: Episode 54
The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James