Matter, Consciousness, and the Anthropocene

How social theorists conceptualize the material world shapes their approaches to environmental challenges of the Anthropocene. This article contrasts panpsychist theory—which holds that consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous property of the natural world—with vital materialism and property dualist historical materialism. It argues that vital materialism tends to diminish human value and responsibility, while property dualist historical materialism tends to devalue and instrumentalize nature. Panpsychism is presented as a basis for addressing these deficiencies, particularly regarding intrinsic value in nature, which the author argues depends on consciousness.

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Abstract

The ways social theorists conceptualize the material world influences their approach to conceiving and addressing the environmental challenges of the Anthropocene. This article uses panpsychist theory, which holds that consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous property of the natural world, as a way of conceptualizing and developing responses to these challenges. This is done by contrasting panpsychist conceptions of materiality and consciousness with those of vital materialism and property dualist historical materialism. It is argued that the latter theories have difficulties effectively analyzing the relationship between humans and the nonhuman world in the context of the Anthropocene. Hence, vital materialism tends to diminish human value and responsibility, while property dualist historical materialism tends to devalue and instrumentalize nature. Panpsychism is used as a basis for addressing these deficiencies. A key feature of this investigation concerns intrinsic value in nature and the argument that intrinsic value is dependent on consciousness.