Mind and Matter

Panpsychism, Dual-Aspect Monism, and the Combination Problem

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Mind & Body
Cover of the book Mind and Matter by Jiri Benovsky, Springer International Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Jiri Benovsky ISBN: 9783030056339
Publisher: Springer International Publishing Publication: December 8, 2018
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author: Jiri Benovsky
ISBN: 9783030056339
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Publication: December 8, 2018
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

In this book, the author takes a stand for a variant of panpsychism as being the best solution available to the mind-body problem. More exactly, he defends a view that can be labelled 'dual-aspect-pan-proto-psychism'. Panpsychism claims that mentality is ubiquitous to reality, and in combination with dual-aspect monism it claims that anything, from fundamental particles to rocks, trees, and human animals, has two aspects: a physical aspect and a mental aspect. In short, the view is that the nature of reality is 'phental' (physical-mental). But this does not mean, according to the author, that rocks and photons think or have conscious experiences, in the sense in which human animals have experiences. This is where pan-proto-psychism enters the picture as being a better theoretical option, where the mental aspects of fundamental particles, rocks, and trees are not experiential.

Many hard questions arise here. In this book, Benovsky focuses on the combination problem: in short, how do tiny mental aspects of fundamental particles combine to yield macro-phenomenal conscious experiences, such as your complex experience when you enjoy a great gastronomic meal? What makes the question even harder is that the combination problem is not just one problem, but rather a family of various combination issues and worries. Benovsky offers a general strategy to deal with these combination problems and focuses on one in particular – namely, the worry concerning the existence of subjects of experience. Indeed, if standard panpsychism were true, we would need an explanation of how tiny micro-subjects combine into a macro-subject like a human person. And if panprotopsychism is true, it has to explain how a subject of experience can arise from proto-micro-mental aspects of reality. Benovsky shows that understanding the nature of subjectivity in terms of the growingly familiar notion of mineness in combination with an eliminativist view of the self, allows us to have a coherent picture, where this type of combination problem is avoided, without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In this book, the author takes a stand for a variant of panpsychism as being the best solution available to the mind-body problem. More exactly, he defends a view that can be labelled 'dual-aspect-pan-proto-psychism'. Panpsychism claims that mentality is ubiquitous to reality, and in combination with dual-aspect monism it claims that anything, from fundamental particles to rocks, trees, and human animals, has two aspects: a physical aspect and a mental aspect. In short, the view is that the nature of reality is 'phental' (physical-mental). But this does not mean, according to the author, that rocks and photons think or have conscious experiences, in the sense in which human animals have experiences. This is where pan-proto-psychism enters the picture as being a better theoretical option, where the mental aspects of fundamental particles, rocks, and trees are not experiential.

Many hard questions arise here. In this book, Benovsky focuses on the combination problem: in short, how do tiny mental aspects of fundamental particles combine to yield macro-phenomenal conscious experiences, such as your complex experience when you enjoy a great gastronomic meal? What makes the question even harder is that the combination problem is not just one problem, but rather a family of various combination issues and worries. Benovsky offers a general strategy to deal with these combination problems and focuses on one in particular – namely, the worry concerning the existence of subjects of experience. Indeed, if standard panpsychism were true, we would need an explanation of how tiny micro-subjects combine into a macro-subject like a human person. And if panprotopsychism is true, it has to explain how a subject of experience can arise from proto-micro-mental aspects of reality. Benovsky shows that understanding the nature of subjectivity in terms of the growingly familiar notion of mineness in combination with an eliminativist view of the self, allows us to have a coherent picture, where this type of combination problem is avoided, without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

More books from Springer International Publishing

Cover of the book Self-powered SoC Platform for Analysis and Prediction of Cardiac Arrhythmias by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Photographic and Descriptive Musculoskeletal Atlas of Bonobos by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book ICT Diffusion in Developing Countries by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Racism in Contemporary African American Children’s and Young Adult Literature by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Epistolarity and World Literature, 1980-2010 by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Theory and Applications of Models of Computation by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Electronic Government and the Information Systems Perspective by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Writing Case Reports by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Improving Sustainability During Hospital Design and Operation by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Beyond Interpretivism? New Encounters with Technology and Organization by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Analytic Aspects of Convexity by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book The Near-Saturn Magnetic Field Environment by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Polyoxometalate-Based Assemblies and Functional Materials by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book The Ocean of Tomorrow by Jiri Benovsky
Cover of the book Simulation, Image Processing, and Ultrasound Systems for Assisted Diagnosis and Navigation by Jiri Benovsky
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy