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Robert J. Howell is giving a talk “From Subjective Physicalism to Panpsychism: How Deep Does Subjectivity Go?” Thursday, 2/25/16 at 3:15 pm in Addlestone Library Room 227.

Posted by: konglc | February 22, 2016 | No Comment |

From Subjective Physicalism to Panpsychism:  How Deep Does Subjectivity Go?

Thursday  February 25, 2016 at 3:15pm in Addlestone Library Room 227
Robert J. Howell
Southern Methodist University

Abstract
According to Subjective Physicalism, the world is completely made of physical stuff, but certain parts of the world can only be fully understood by subjects who instantiate certain physical states.  So, for example, though conscious states are physical states, they can only be fully understood by those who have them.  One challenge for this approach to the mind/body problem is that subjective physicalism might collapse into a form of panpsychism, according to which consciousness is everywhere, even in sticks, stones and electrons.  In this paper I discuss this challenge and suggest some ways the subjective physicalist can respond.

 

Short bio of the speaker:

Robert J. Howell is Dedman Family Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Southern Methodist University. He works on topics in metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of mind, especially concerning the nature of subjectivity and the self. Professor Howell is the author of Consciousness and the Limits of Objectivity (OUP, 2013), The God Dialogues, with Torin Alter (OUP, 2011), and A Dialogue on Consciousness, with Torin Alter (OUP, 2009), among other publications.

under: colloquia

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