Philip Goff

Date: 2021-11-24 | Duration: 2h 17m

Episode Overview

Philip Goff, a philosophy professor from Durham University, delves into the complex nature of consciousness, advocating for panpsychism—the idea that consciousness is a fundamental feature of all matter. He challenges the traditional materialist view that consciousness emerges solely from complex brain activity, suggesting instead that even the simplest particles possess some form of experience. Goff explores how this perspective offers a fresh framework to address the “hard problem” of consciousness, bridging gaps left by physics and neuroscience. He also discusses the limitations of current scientific approaches, which often exclude subjective experience by focusing only on observable behavior and physical processes. Throughout the conversation, Goff highlights intriguing examples from plant behavior and ant colonies to illustrate the widespread presence of consciousness beyond humans and animals. He reflects on the philosophical implications of consciousness existing at the quantum or mathematical level, proposing that physical properties like mass and charge might themselves be forms of consciousness. The episode also touches on the challenges of defining consciousness, the potential for consciousness in artificial or alien life forms, and the difficulties in scientifically proving panpsychism. Goff’s insights invite listeners to reconsider the nature of reality and the role consciousness plays within it, offering a thought-provoking alternative to conventional scientific paradigms.

About Philip Goff

Philip Goff is a prominent philosopher and consciousness researcher at Durham University, renowned for his pioneering work in the field of consciousness studies. He is the author of the thought-provoking book, "Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness," which challenges conventional scientific views and advocates for a fresh understanding of the mind. Goff’s compelling arguments and unique perspective have sparked significant discussions about the nature of consciousness, making him a sought-after voice in philosophical and scientific circles alike. His insights, featured in episode #1739 of the Joe Rogan Experience, delve into the intricate relationship between consciousness and reality, capturing the curiosity of audiences eager to explore the mysteries of the human mind.

Key Moments

– Panpsychism
– Consciousness
– Philosophy of Mind
– Quantum Mechanics
– Neuroscience
– Evolutionary Biology
– Philosophical Zombies
– Mathematical Physics
– Animal Cognition
– Perception
– Connectome
– Conscious Experience
– Materialism
– Philosophical Illusionism
– Scientific Method
– Consciousness Studies
– Neurochemistry
– Consciousness and Physics
– Philosophical History
0:00:25 – Introduction to the topic of consciousness
0:01:03 – Guest introduction: Philip Goff, philosophy professor
0:03:06 – Experiments on plant cognition and sentience
0:03:48 – Discussion of tree communication via the wood wide web
0:05:05 – Fundamental particles and quantum wave functions
0:06:51 – Exploring plant sentience and reaction
0:09:02 – Attention and experience in human cognition
0:11:06 – Unconscious autopilot versus conscious experience
0:13:40 – Questioning consciousness in inanimate objects
0:17:13 – Defining consciousness as subjective experience
0:20:01 – Bertrand Russell's approach to consciousness
0:22:02 – Panpsychism: simple conscious entities at reality's base
0:25:22 – Emergence of consciousness in evolutionary context
0:26:39 – Distinguishing philosophical zombies from fictional zombies
0:29:05 – Leafcutter ant colony structure and communication
0:33:25 – Panpsychism's addition to physical causal dynamics
0:35:11 – Progress in mapping the human connectome
0:38:10 – Foundations for a new science of consciousness
0:41:06 – Physical properties as forms of consciousness
0:44:16 – Limits of physical science in explaining consciousness
0:45:15 – Galileo's exclusion of consciousness from science
0:49:11 – Mathematics engaging with consciousness
0:51:18 – Zombie argument and inner life absence
0:54:48 – Materialist versus panpsychist views on matter
0:56:23 – Quantitative structure of consciousness debated
1:00:20 – Materialist view of fundamental reality
1:02:41 – Hypothetical silicon-based conscious creatures
1:04:48 – Motivation and inner experience in animals
1:07:08 – Evidence for consciousness in living beings
1:09:44 – Sensory experience as interface with the world
1:11:15 – Consciousness as a fundamental assumption
1:14:31 – Illusionist view of consciousness discussed
1:18:32 – Limits of electrochemical signaling to explain experience
1:22:15 – Particle physics and panpsychist interpretation
1:24:50 – Consciousness not discovered in particle colliders
1:27:59 – Challenges in defining consciousness terminology
1:47:31 – Debate on consciousness upload and preservation
2:09:32 – Mystical experiences and their proof in science
2:13:27 – Closing remarks and episode conclusion

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Joe Rogan Experience. Starting point is 00:00:25 like when do i empty this ashtray when do i throw out some of these objects when do i move them into Starting point is 00:00:50 So thanks for doing this, man. Starting point is 00:01:03 I'm a philosophy professor from Durham University in the north of England. Starting point is 00:01:48 is somehow rooted in or derived from this very simple experience Starting point is 00:02:21 both feel something when they're being eaten and react to it. Starting point is 00:03:06 is incredible. So Monica Gagliano, for example, has done experiments subjecting pea plants to Starting point is 00:03:48 And also other people, you know, the sophistication of trees and the life of trees to the extent that they're hooked up under the ground, what some people have called the wood wide web. Starting point is 00:05:05 fundamental particles, quantum wave functions, you know, maybe even other universes, Starting point is 00:05:54 I can't directly observe your feelings, but I can ask you, right? And, you know, I can Starting point is 00:06:51 Like that's one of the things about plants, right? Starting point is 00:07:42 you know, exactly what kinds of physical activity Starting point is 00:07:59 and there's just no consensus. Starting point is 00:08:22 To do that, we have to set up Starting point is 00:09:02 attend to so if you think about your experience of Starting point is 00:09:44 because that's where things like cognition, like working memory is. Starting point is 00:10:38 So we know what we know experimentally is that you can't attend to all of that. Starting point is 00:11:06 Were you actually experiencing the road or were you just on total unconscious autopilot? Starting point is 00:11:52 hammered into our system in order to keep us alive right i mean that's you could only concentrate on Starting point is 00:12:27 Like there's a reason for all this stuff, right? Starting point is 00:13:08 Sorry, go on. Startin...

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On Joe Rogan Experience #1739 with Philip Goff, topics include Panpsychism, Consciousness, Philosophy of Mind, and Quantum Mechanics.

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