The Ethical Implications of Panpsychism

The history of philosophy shows a pattern of expanding the moral circle—the set of entities considered worthy of moral concern—alongside expanding beliefs about which entities possess consciousness. Recently, proposals for consciousness have extended to invertebrates, plants, logic gates, and fundamental entities, the last driven by renewed interest in panpsychism. This paper explores the ethical implications of panpsychism, concluding that while panpsychism likely expands the moral circle significantly, it probably offers little of practical significance.

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The history of philosophy is a history of moral circle expansion. This history correlates with a history of expansionism about consciousness. Recently, expansionism about consciousness has exploded: to invertebrates, to plants, to logic gates, and to fundamental entities. The last of these expansions stems from a surge of interest in panpsychism. In an exploratory spirit, this paper considers some largely uncharted territory: the ethical implications of panpsychism. Our conclusion is that while panpsychism probably does significantly expand our moral circle, it's also probably short on anything of practical significance.