What is exactly the problem with panpsychism?
The Behavioral and brain sciences March 23, 2022 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x21001916 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA critical analysis of panpsychism argues that while integrated information theory could in principle apply to simple systems like photodiodes and subatomic particles, the main obstacle is the complete lack of evidence confirming consciousness in such entities. The perspectivalist theory of consciousness further illustrates the challenges in developing a comprehensive theory of consciousness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Argues that the lack of evidence for consciousness in simple systems is a main obstacle for panpsychism, and that perspectivalist theory reveals difficulties in synthesizing a full theory of consciousness. |
Abstract
Merker et al.'s critique calls for a deeper analysis of panpsychism. In principle, the concept of integrated information can be applied to photodiodes and subatomic particles, but I suggest the main obstacle is the lack of any evidence to confirm the presence of consciousness. Also MRW's perspectivalist theory illustrates the difficulties in synthesizing a full-fledged theory of consciousness.