Harmony in a panpsychist world

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Mind
• Metaphysics
• Consciousness Studies

Background:

• A common observation in conscious experience is that events are typically followed by mental states for which they offer normative justification.
• This 'harmonious correlation' between experiences and subsequent states requires a theoretical explanation.
• Existing biological theories, positing consciousness in biological entities, face challenges in adequately addressing these explanatory demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the explanatory power of biological theories regarding the correlation between experiences and subsequent mental states.
• To present panpsychism as a viable alternative framework for explaining these correlations.
• To introduce a novel 'psychophysical fine-tuning' argument in favor of panpsychism.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of existing biological approaches to the mind-body problem and consciousness.
• Development of a theoretical argument for panpsychism based on its explanatory advantages.
• Drawing parallels between cosmological fine-tuning arguments and the proposed psychophysical fine-tuning argument.

Main Results:

• Identified significant limitations in current biological theories' ability to explain the normative correlations in conscious experience.
• Demonstrated that panpsychism, the view that consciousness is ubiquitous, provides a more attractive explanatory framework.
• Established a psychophysical fine-tuning argument that supports panpsychism, analogous to multiverse arguments in cosmology.

Conclusions:

• Biological theories are insufficient to fully account for the structure of conscious experience.
• Panpsychism offers a robust and promising alternative for understanding consciousness and its relationship to the physical world.
• The psychophysical fine-tuning argument provides novel support for panpsychist metaphysical views.