Panpsychism: Contemporary Perspectives (Philosophy of Mind Series)

Recent debates in philosophy of mind seemingly have resulted in an impasse. Reductive physicalism cannot account for the phenomenal mind, and nonreductive physicalism cannot safeguard a causal role for the mental as mental. Dualism was formerly considered to be the only viable alternative, but in addition to exacerbating the problem of mental causation, it is hard to square with a naturalist evolutionary framework. By 1979, Thomas Nagel argued that if reductionism and dualism fail, and a non-reductionist form of strong emergence cannot be made intelligible, then panpsychism-the thesis that mental being is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of the universe-might be a viable alternative. But it was not until David Chalmers' __The Conscious Mind__ in 1996 that debates on panpsychism entered the philosophical mainstream. Since then the field has been growing rapidly, and some leading philosophers of mind as well as scientist have argued in favor of panpsychism. This book features contemporary arguments for panpsychism as a genuine alternative in analytic philosophy of mind in the 21st century. Different varieties of panpsychism are represented and systematically related to each other in the volume's 16 essays, which feature not only proponents of panpsychism but also prominent critics from both the physicalist and non-physicalist camps. Recent Debates In Philosophy Of Mind Seemingly Have Resulted In An Impasse. Reductive Physicalism Cannot Account For The Phenomenal Mind, And Nonreductive Physicalism Cannot Safeguard A Causal Role For The Mental As Mental. Dualism Was Formerly Considered To Be The Only Viable Alternative, But In Addition To Exacerbating The Problem Of Mental Causation, It Is Hard To Square With A Naturalist Evolutionary Framework. By 1979, Thomas Nagel Argued That If Reductionism And Dualism Fail, And A Non-reductionist Form Of Strong Emergence Cannot Be Made Intelligible, Then Panpsychism-the Thesis That Mental Being Is A Fundamental And Ubiquitous Feature Of The Universe-might Be A Viable Alternative. But It Was Not Until David Chalmers' The Conscious Mind In 1996 That Debates On Panpsychism Entered The Philosophical Mainstream. Since Then The Field Has Been Growing Rapidly, And Some Leading Philosophers Of Mind As Well As Scientist Have Argued In Favor Of Panpsychism. This Book Features Contemporary Arguments For Panpsychism As A Genuine Alternative In Analytic Philosophy Of Mind In The 21st Century. Different Varieties Of Panpsychism Are Represented And Systematically Related To Each Other In The Volume's 16 Essays, Which Feature Not Only Proponents Of Panpsychism But Also Prominent Critics From Both The Physicalist And Non-physicalist Camps. -- Provided By Publisher. Introduction / Godehard Bruntrup And Ludwig Jaskolla -- The Logical Place Of Panpsychism -- Introduction / Godehard Bruntrup And Ludwig Jaskolla -- The Logical Place Of Panpsychism -- Panpsychism And Panprotopsychism / David Chalmers -- Emergent / Panpsychism Godehard Bruntrup -- The Varieties Of Panpsychistic Ontologies -- Mind And Being: The Primacy Of Panpsychism / Galen Strawson -- Panpsychism And Priority Cosmopsychism / Yujin Nagasawa And Khai Wager -- In Search Of Mentons: Panpsychism, Physicalism And The Missing Link / Berit Brogaard -- Land Ho? We Are Close To A Synoptic Understanding Of Consciousness / Gregg Rosenberg -- The Combination Problem For Panpsychism -- The Combination Problem For Panpsychism / David Chalmers -- What Combination Problem? / Barbara Gail Montero -- Panpsychist Infusion / William Seager -- Panpsychism And Neutral Monism: How To Make Up One's Mind / Sam Coleman -- The Phenomenal Bonding Solution To The Combination Problem / Philip Goff -- Panpsychism And Its Alternatives -- Mind Dust, Magic, Or A Conceptual Gap Only? / Brian Mclaughlin --emergence And Panpsychism / Achim Stephan -- Neutral Monism And Panpsychism / Leopold Stubenberg -- Dualism And Panpsychism / Charles Taliaferro -- Idealism And Panpsychism / Uwe Meixner Edited By Godehard Brüntrup And Ludwig Jaskolla. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Recent debates in philosophy of mind seemingly have resulted in an impasse. Reductive physicalism cannot account for the phenomenal mind, and nonreductive physicalism cannot safeguard a causal role for the mental as mental. Dualism was formerly considered to be the only viable alternative, but in addition to exacerbating the problem of mental causation, it is hard to square with a naturalist evolutionary framework. 00By 1979, Thomas Nagel argued that if reductionism and dualism fail, and a non-reductionist form of strong emergence cannot be made intelligible, then panpsychism-the thesis that mental being is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of the universe-might be a viable alternative. But it was not until David Chalmers' The Conscious Mind in 1996 that debates on panpsychism entered the philosophical mainstream. Since then the field has been growing rapidly, and some leading philosophers of mind as well as scientist have argued in favor of panpsychism Recent debates in philosophy of mind have resulted in an impasse, which lead to a renaissance of panpsychism as a viable alternative. Panpsychism is the thesis that mental being is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of the universe.