Tag: Philosophy

Reducing felt experience requires not preemptively dismissing the solutions

Annaka Harris has a new audio book out which she is promoting. I haven't listened to it, but based on the interviews and spots like the one below, it appears that she's doubling down on the conclusions she reached in her book from a few years ago, that consciousness is fundamental and pervasive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP2swgDVl5M The … Continue reading Reducing felt experience requires not preemptively dismissing the solutions →

Avoiding the structural gaps

A long standing debate in quantum physics is whether the wave function is real. A quick reminder: quantum entities appear to move like waves, including portions interfering with each other. These waves are modeled with the wave function. But once measured, quantum objects manifest as localized points or field excitations. The wave function can't predict … Continue reading Avoiding the structural gaps →

Why I’m an ontic structural realist

Scientific realism vs instrumentalism A long standing debate in the philosophy of science is about what our best scientific theories tell us. Some argue that they reveal true reality, that is, they are real. Others that scientific theories are only useful prediction frameworks, instruments useful in the creation of technology, but that taking any further … Continue reading Why I’m an ontic structural realist →

What justifies logic?

Argument terminology used in logic and reasoning

Jacob McNulty has an article at IAI arguing that the foundations of logic can only be found in metaphysics. (Warning: possible paywall. Alternate link.). He describes a problem called “the logocentric predicament," that any attempt to justify logic with logic ends up being circular, risking an infinite regress. He notes that the most common response … Continue reading What justifies logic? →

Fundamental and naturalistic panpsychism

In the art of the Japanese rock garden, the artist must be aware of the "ishigokoro" ('heart', or 'mind') of the rocks.

Nicolas Rouleau and Michael Levin have a new preprint out: Brains and Where Else? Mapping Theories of Consciousness to Unconventional Embodiments. The gist of the paper is that we should be open to seeing consciousness in places other than brains. While I'm onboard with that general premise, they take it to places that don't seem … Continue reading Fundamental and naturalistic panpsychism →

Manifest and fundamental consciousness

I think the problem of consciousness is primarily one of definition. The word "consciousness" can refer to a range of concepts. Some of the concepts are scientifically tractable, while others, once we clarify them, are metaphysical assumptions that we can either choose to hold or dismiss. This is one of the reasons I find exploring … Continue reading Manifest and fundamental consciousness →