Panpsychism And Theism Panpsychism And The Mind body Problem

Panpsychism is sometimes described as nothing more than the universe having "universal consciousness". This view is shared by some forms of theosophy, pantheism, panentheism, cosmotheism, and universism. However this form of panpsychism does not necessarily imply any of these views.

2 Panpsychism and the Mind-body problem

Panpsychism does not necessarily imply idealism - the metaphysical view that mind is the fundamental constituent of reality (a view that reducesReductionism in philosophy describes a number of related, contentious theories that hold, very roughly, that the nature of complex things can always be reduced to (explained by) simpler or more fundamental things. This is said of objects, phenomena, expla matterMatter is anything that has mass and occupies space. One [contemporary] view on matter takes it as all scientifically observable entities whatsoever. Matter can more accurately be defined as the energy that has a low vibratory rate, a compressed energy st to mind - a type of monismMonism is the metaphysical position that all is of one essential essence, substance or energy. Monism is to be distinguished from dualism, which holds that ultimately there are two kinds of substance, and from pluralism, which holds that ultimately there). Panpsychism is compatible with either idealism or dualismIn philosophy of mind, dualism is a set of beliefs which begin with the claim that mental events and physical events are totally different kinds of events. It is constrasted with varying kinds of monism, including materialism and phenomenalism. Dualism is - the view that mind and matterMatter is anything that has mass and occupies space. One [contemporary] view on matter takes it as all scientifically observable entities whatsoever. Matter can more accurately be defined as the energy that has a low vibratory rate, a compressed energy st are mutually irreducible. In contrast, panpsychism seems incompatible with materialism (or physicalism), another kind of monism that reduces mind to matter.

3 Thinkers on panpsychism

3.1 Modern idealism

Starting from the skeptical idea that all we can know of the universe is what we perceive of it, the idealists went onto draw the radical conclusion that it is the mind that makes the universe. In modern philosophy George Berkeley is seen as the originator of the idealist tradition; key figures of idealism include Georg Hegel and Arthur Schopenhauer. Spinoza (1632 - 1677) is also considered a panpsychist thinker.

3.2 The Psychoanalytic Tradition

Starting from the work of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung investigated psychological and mythological archetypes, and began to argue for a panpsychical and mystical view of the human condition. Joseph Campbell took these ideas further, arguing for a archetypal core to all myths, the monomyth, and viewed mythical accomplishment as the basis for individual and social growth, and further saw life as being made up of myth structured journeys.

4 See also

5 External links

Philosophy of mind

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1 Panpsychism and Theism