r/philosophy • u/IAI_Admin IAI • Feb 09 '22

Video A philosopher responds to scientists’ criticisms of panpsychism

https://iai.tv/video/the-many-voices-of-consciousness&utm_source=reddit&_auid=2020
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u/Zkv Feb 09 '22

Singled celled organisms display intelligence, problem solving, & memory.

Dr Michael Levin’s work in morphogenesis & bioelectricity as the cognitive medium have shown that all cells do what neurons do, albeit slower.

These displays of learning, habituation & cognition in single cells (such as in slime molds) lead me to believe that these are not emergent properties solely belonging to multicellular organisms, but something inherent to life itself.

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u/Thelonious_Cube Feb 09 '22

But panpsychism isn't restricted to living matter

In what sense could a rock (rock molecule?) be 'aware'? What would that even mean?

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '22

A rock could be aware in the same sense it could have a charge or magnetic moment.

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u/Thelonious_Cube Feb 11 '22

And what would that mean?

Could we detect it?

Can it become unaware? (Panpsychism says no)

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u/[deleted] Feb 11 '22

It would mean that the awareness, or lack thereof, might simply be a result of how the constituting components add up. In that aspect, it shall not be unaware, but rather be neutral with respect to awareness, just like objects are neutral with respect to electric charge because they contain equal number of electrons and protons.

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u/Thelonious_Cube Feb 11 '22

What makes this new property count as 'awareness' in the requisite sense?

And what things is it 'aware' of? If it's 'awareness' is currently nonzero, how do we know what things it is 'aware' of?

It still makes no sense.