Panpsychism

1. Introduction

Panpsychism is the philosophical stance that mind or consciousness is a fundamental and pervasive feature of reality—potentially present at the level of particles, not just brains.

2. Definition & Motivations

• Holds that mentality, especially in the form of experience, is fundamental and ubiquitous in nature, offering a middle ground between physicalism and dualism. Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyWikipedia

3. Varieties & Distinctions

• Panexperientialism: even the smallest entities have very basic experience.

• Pancognitivism: posits thought is fundamental—far less common today. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

4. Philosophical Appeal

• Helps address the "hard problem of consciousness"—why subjective experience exists at all.

• Avoids dualism's question of how mind and matter interact, while acknowledging that pure physicalism doesn't fully explain experience. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

5. Key Figures & Recent Work

• Philip Goff, contemporary philosopher, advocates a form of Russellian monism, proposing that fundamental particles hold simple experiential properties. Wikipedia+1

• Goff's book: "Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness" explores panpsychism as a scientifically integrated theory. Wikipedia

6. Broader Outlook & Scientific Resonance

• Integrated Information Theory (IIT): asserts consciousness is intrinsic, graded, and may be present in simple systems—converging with panpsychist intuitions (though not identical). arXiv

• Philosophical reviews and resources like the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry provide comprehensive overviews. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

7. Suggested Reputable Sources

• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Panpsychism entry Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

• Wikipedia: Panpsychism overview including historical roots and revival Wikipedia

• Philip Goff's "Galileo's Error" (book) for a modern articulation Wikipedia

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about these topics please visit the following pages:

• Optimistic Humanism
• Transhumanism
• Panpsychism
• Community Values
• Ethical Use of A.I.