#805: Philip Goff — Exploring Consciousness and Non-Ordinary Religion, Galileo's Error, Panpsychism, Heretical Ideas, and Therapeutic Belief | The Tim Ferriss Show | Podwise
This episode explores the philosophical concept of panpsychism, the view that consciousness is a fundamental feature of the physical world, and its implications for our understanding of reality. Against the backdrop of a Scientific American interview that popularized panpsychism, the discussion delves into its core tenets, contrasting it with animism and clarifying that it doesn't necessarily imply consciousness in all things, but rather in fundamental particles. More significantly, the conversation examines the integrated information theory (IIT), a neuroscientific proposal suggesting consciousness emerges from integrated information processing, and its potential alignment with panpsychism's fundamental view of consciousness. As the discussion pivoted to the historical context, the role of Galileo in excluding consciousness from the scientific domain was highlighted, suggesting a need for a more expansive scientific method. In contrast to the materialistic view of consciousness as an emergent property, panpsychism posits consciousness as fundamental, with physical reality emerging from it. For instance, the views of physicists like Roger Penrose and the ongoing debate among neuroscientists regarding the neuroanatomical seat of consciousness were discussed. Finally, the episode touches upon the ethical implications of panpsychism for our treatment of animals and the potential for a renewed interest in religion, particularly its mystical traditions, as a response to the challenges of modern life and the search for meaning.
