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Philip Goff

@philipgoff.bsky.social

Philosophy Prof. Heretical Christian. Author of "Why? The Purpose of the Universe" & "Galileo's Error." "One of the most persuasive panpsychists" - Stephen Fry.

2,912 Followers  |  522 Following  |  1,294 Posts  |  Joined: 19.11.2024
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Posts by Philip Goff (@philipgoff.bsky.social)

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a man with long hair and a tie says housted by your own petard ALT: a man with long hair and a tie says housted by your own petard

Great analogy! Just as physicists want to avoid cosmologies where it's highly likely we're Boltzmann Brains, so I want avoid hypotheses (e.g. physicalism) where it's highly likely there's psychophysical disharmony. But in both cases, it's okay to assume the skeptical scenario is false.

03.03.2026 23:05 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

When we assume we're not in the Matrix we get all sorts of things we need to explain, i.e. the normal facts of science. When we assume psycho-physical harmony, we have to explain why there's psycho-physical harmony. What's the difference?

03.03.2026 22:22 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

It's just the old problem of how we rule out wildly skeptical scenarios. It's not incoherent that the world was created five minutes ago but no one takes that possibility seriously as something that might be actual.

03.03.2026 22:18 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I don't take inverted Ian seriously as something that might be true in the real world, so in that sense I'm not inconsistent with what I just said to Keith. But I take it seriously as a conceptual possibility, and this raises the need to explain why it's psychophysical harmony obtains in real world

03.03.2026 20:35 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

You're essentially asking me how we rule out wildly skeptical scenarios. I could equally ask you: How do you know we're in the Matrix?

03.03.2026 18:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I think of it as an extension of the normal scientific project, that tries to correlate observable brain activity with unobservable consciousness, partly by trusting people's testimony as to what their experience is like.

03.03.2026 18:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

I don't think science can explain consciousness but it's crucial for helping us to understand it.

03.03.2026 14:29 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 0

I don't think science can explain consciousness but it's crucial for helping us to understand it.

03.03.2026 14:29 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 0

I know I took a jar of pickled onions down from the top shelf of the fridge for my mother in law who was visiting & couldn't reach...best guess is that it's some weird neurodiverse thing that I just wrote down after doing this...not sure about the second word...one of life's great mysteries...

02.03.2026 23:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I don’t crave certainty about what is true, but I do crave certainty regarding the correct probabilities to attach to my beliefs.

02.03.2026 14:14 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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a white and black gauge with the word hz at the bottom ALT: a white and black gauge with the word hz at the bottom

Measure the strength of my intuitions.

02.03.2026 15:49 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I don’t crave certainty about what is true, but I do crave certainty regarding the correct probabilities to attach to my beliefs.

02.03.2026 14:14 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
Why philosophers should read Paradise Lost | Religious Studies | Cambridge Core Why philosophers should read Paradise Lost

Great article by my favourite heretic!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

02.03.2026 13:29 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Andreas Nordlander: Vi har fortfarande ingen aning om vad medvetandet Γ€r Γ„r materialismen pΓ₯ vΓ€g att fΓΆrlora sitt grepp om vetenskapen? Teologen Andreas Nordlander frΓ₯gar sig vart vi som kultur, i sΓ₯ fall, Γ€r pΓ₯ vΓ€g i stΓ€llet.

How can I share that there's a big article on my 'Why?' book in Sweden's biggest newspaper, without it seeming like I'm showing off?
www.dn.se/kultur/andre...

02.03.2026 10:05 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

This item is on my "to do" list "Hope/pickled onions"...anyone any idea what the hellI this is referring to???

01.03.2026 20:52 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

don't worry, i can see your question

01.03.2026 16:00 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

My call for questions for AMA is in the messages...can you see that?

01.03.2026 15:59 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Stuck for something to do on your Saturday night??? Why not listen to a 2.5 hours debate on ethical emotivism?

28.02.2026 19:06 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The most recent Panpsycast episode is one of the best podcast chats I've ever had. My favourite bit was Miri Albahari giving her heretical view that Buddhism and Advaita Vedandta are compatible. Check it out! (link below)

28.02.2026 11:35 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Episode 152, β€˜God, Consciousness, and Fundamental Reality’ with Philip Goff, David Godman, and Miri Albahari (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Welcome to Episode 152 (Part II of II), where Goff, Godman, and Albahari discuss the methods and impact of Christian and Hindu philosophy. The supreme being of classical theism is unlimited in power...

www.thepanpsycast.com/panpsycast2/...

28.02.2026 11:33 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

cool, I'll check it out! Going on Phil Halper's channel to discuss this soon

28.02.2026 11:13 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

you win this round of banter

27.02.2026 19:30 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Can't you talk to your doctor about that issue?

27.02.2026 17:31 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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a young man in a green shirt says meant absolutely nothing to me ALT: a young man in a green shirt says meant absolutely nothing to me
27.02.2026 17:29 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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a cartoon character named charlie brown is putting a letter in a mailbox ALT: a cartoon character named charlie brown is putting a letter in a mailbox

I love Mind Chat! But my co-host always forgets to answer my emails...

27.02.2026 16:13 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Any questions on this?? Subscribe to my Sub stack before Monday and I'll try to answer in this month's "Ask Me Anything" video.

27.02.2026 14:32 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

The philosopher of physics Tim Maudlin is always shouting at me over fine-tuning argument for God, but we have similar politics.

27.02.2026 14:04 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Looks like we agree on politics if not philosophy!

27.02.2026 11:39 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Definitely, I love Ralph

27.02.2026 11:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I like having a podcast...I should have done it years ago...

26.02.2026 20:49 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0