The Epicurean philosophy of pure physicalism is attractive to many but the logic of it, followed consistently, refutes itself.
Tag: physicalism
At Mind Matters News: Why physicalism is failing as the accepted approach to science
Essentially, panpsychism offers a way for scientists to address human consciousness, as currently understood, without explaining it away as an illusion. It would allow us to say that if Zombie-Jane existed, she would be missing something critical that Jane has (and so does everything else, to some extent). Whether that makes panpsychism a better explanation of reality than idealism or dualism is a separate question. Like all points of view, they have their own issues but the Zombie isn’t one of them.
Michael Egnor: Materialist science is like driving with the parking brake on
Egnor: None of the good philosophy being done today is being done by any materialist. That is that whatever good philosophy is being done, and there is some, is being done by people who at least in part reject materialism. The good part of their philosophy is the part that rejects materialism.
Round 2: Naturalist philosopher replies to neurosurgeon Michael Egnor
Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor was permitted the opening statement. Now here’s Papineau’s reply (partial transcript).
Philosopher Angus Menuge on why traditional physicalism isn’t really working
The shift toward emergentism will probably begin to affect debates over evolution. Evolution theories based on physicalism will likely face challenges from unexpected quarters.
Apparently, some scientists are questioning the “anti-God” stance
An “anti-God” stance is, in some ways, more complex and less satisfactory than a conventional “pro-God” stance.
Physicalist philosopher: Consciousness Is Not a Problem. Dualism Is!
But wait, say others, the hard problem of consciousness is not so easily dismissed.
Mind vs Matter: the Result of an Error of Thought
(I think we’ve corrupted KF’s thread long enough.) The entire problem of mind/matter dualism is rooted in a single error of thought: the reification of an abstract descriptive model of experience into an causal agency independent of the mind that conceives it and the mental experience it is extrapolated from. It is similar to the Read More…