The real problem(s) with panpsychism
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that panpsychism explains nothing and generates no testable predictions, while materialist accounts are more resourceful than panpsychists assume. |
Abstract
Panpsychism is the notion that consciousness is fundamental and ubiquitous in the natural world. Defenders of panpsychism appeal, at least in part, to the apparent implausibility of materialist accounts of consciousness. However, materialist accounts are more resourceful than often assumed by proponents of panpsychism, while panpsychism has insurmountable problems of its own. The real problem with panpsychism is not that it seems crazy. It is that it explains nothing and does not generate testable predictions.