I'm a member of the Baha'i Faith and the Faith teaches that material and spiritual reality are both equally important, science and religion are in harmony and both are needed. I don't think it's quite what you're describing above, but close.
ps I love Melvyn Braggs programmes, I used to listen to them on the way to work.
I did a degree doing a course at Bristol where you could either choose a 'special' course or a 'general' one which labelled general science even though it only included two, or at the most 3 subjects. We all did a course on the history of science as well. The upshot was that although I say I did a physics degree I did a lot of maths too, Pure and applied which counted as two subjects. Our 3rd year course was the the same as the 'specials' 3rd year one. I felt we didn't really fit in properly in either the physics or maths department. It was a bit unsatisfactory system and, I think unique to Bristol. Later in life I did a psychology degree through the OU. I think I've always wanted to know how things work, especially at those intangible levels of eg quantum mechanics or how the brain works.
Thanks Louise. I found I wanted to do the psychology degree but didn’t make an opportunity in later life- unlike you, nice one! Maybe I still have time. I wish I’d done more physics but I choose a challenging book each year or so. Current one is actually philosophy, Philip Goff “Why, the purpose of the universe”, suggesting that the universe is inherently value creating. Hard for me, on my second go and still not quite there!
I have a degree in Maths and Biology so was brought up in a mechanistic Universe which led to some interesting discussions with my late husband (Philosophy, History and Theology). Physics always eluded my so my mind has been given a good workout by your description of the social interaction of the atom. But I do like the idea of panpsychism not least because of its objection to our feeling superior to the animate but non-human and the inanimate (?) others. I think I need to go and pick raspberries while I mull over this post!
Personally not sure that a mechanistic view of the brain/consciousness and panpsychism are mutually exclusive. One could argue that the mechanical brain gives rise to consciousness (or theory of self) and this enables it to 'tune into' the panpsychic 'mind'.
Thanks Steve. I should have pointed out in the article that panpsychism is a philosophy or mind, rather than a theory of mind, although adherents are working there way towards the latter.
Also, as you say, panpsychism and the materialist explanation of the universe are not incompatible. Panpsychists just suggest that their view avoids the emergence problem of a purely materialist approach.
I'm a member of the Baha'i Faith and the Faith teaches that material and spiritual reality are both equally important, science and religion are in harmony and both are needed. I don't think it's quite what you're describing above, but close.
ps I love Melvyn Braggs programmes, I used to listen to them on the way to work.
I did a degree doing a course at Bristol where you could either choose a 'special' course or a 'general' one which labelled general science even though it only included two, or at the most 3 subjects. We all did a course on the history of science as well. The upshot was that although I say I did a physics degree I did a lot of maths too, Pure and applied which counted as two subjects. Our 3rd year course was the the same as the 'specials' 3rd year one. I felt we didn't really fit in properly in either the physics or maths department. It was a bit unsatisfactory system and, I think unique to Bristol. Later in life I did a psychology degree through the OU. I think I've always wanted to know how things work, especially at those intangible levels of eg quantum mechanics or how the brain works.
Thanks Louise. I found I wanted to do the psychology degree but didn’t make an opportunity in later life- unlike you, nice one! Maybe I still have time. I wish I’d done more physics but I choose a challenging book each year or so. Current one is actually philosophy, Philip Goff “Why, the purpose of the universe”, suggesting that the universe is inherently value creating. Hard for me, on my second go and still not quite there!
I have a degree in Maths and Biology so was brought up in a mechanistic Universe which led to some interesting discussions with my late husband (Philosophy, History and Theology). Physics always eluded my so my mind has been given a good workout by your description of the social interaction of the atom. But I do like the idea of panpsychism not least because of its objection to our feeling superior to the animate but non-human and the inanimate (?) others. I think I need to go and pick raspberries while I mull over this post!
Picking raspberries is an excellent approach to dealing with complex subjects! I am still on the blackcurrants.
Personally not sure that a mechanistic view of the brain/consciousness and panpsychism are mutually exclusive. One could argue that the mechanical brain gives rise to consciousness (or theory of self) and this enables it to 'tune into' the panpsychic 'mind'.
You might like this study 'Adversarial testing of global neuronal workspace and integrated information theories of consciousness'; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08888-1
Whatever is going on it's sure that we need some change, as you say, to sort our crises out.
Thanks also for the link.
Thanks Steve. I should have pointed out in the article that panpsychism is a philosophy or mind, rather than a theory of mind, although adherents are working there way towards the latter.
Also, as you say, panpsychism and the materialist explanation of the universe are not incompatible. Panpsychists just suggest that their view avoids the emergence problem of a purely materialist approach.
Brilliant, Chris!!