Exploring Consciousness and Non-Ordinary Religion, Panpsychism, and Heretical Ideas — Philip Goff

Philip Goff is a professor of philosophy at Durham University. His main research focus is consciousness, but he is interested in many questions about the nature of reality. He is most known for defending panpsychism, the view that consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of the physical world. He is the author of Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness and Why? The Purpose of the Universe. See the links below.

Connect with Philip Goff:
https://philipgoffphilosophy.com/
https://x.com/Philip_Goff/
https://bsky.app/profile/philipgoff.bsky.social

This episode is brought to you by:

Our Place's Titanium Always Pan® Pro using nonstick technology that’s coating-free and made without PFAS, otherwise known as “Forever Chemicals”: https://fromourplace.com/tim (Get 10% off today!)

AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.)

Helix Sleep premium mattresses: https://HelixSleep.com/Tim (Between 20% and 27% off all mattress orders and two free pillows)

***

Books from Philip Goff:
https://www.amazon.com/Galileos-Error-Foundations-Science-Consciousness/dp/0525564772/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0198883765/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20

Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded 900 million downloads and been selected for “Best of Apple Podcasts” three years running.

Sign up for "5-Bullet Friday" (Tim's free weekly email newsletter): https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-yt/
Follow the Tim Ferriss Podcast: https://tim.blog/podcast/
Visit the Tim Ferriss Blog: https://tim.blog/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tferriss/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timferriss/
Like Tim Ferriss on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimFerriss/

[00:00] Start.
[00:36] What is panpsychism?
[05:28] Common misunderstandings about panpsychism.
[10:14] Roger Penrose and quantum consciousness.
[11:37] Gödel's incompleteness theorem.
[13:35] The challenges of scientific consensus on consciousness.
[15:44] Integrated Information Theory (IIT).
[21:38] What early quantum pioneers like Max Planck and Niels Bohr thought about consciousness.
[26:28] Defining consciousness and qualia.
[28:53] Galileo's Error: How science removed consciousness from study.
[34:05] Materialist vs. panpsychist.
[36:41] The neuroanatomical seat of consciousness debate.
[39:01] Scientific challenges around the public observation of consciousness.
[44:03] Exploring potential payoffs and ethical considerations of figuring out consciousness.
[50:34] How *virtual* reality reminded Philip to appreciate *ordinary* reality.
[54:09] Bertrand Russell and William James as philosophical heroes.
[55:42] Science seems mum on the matter of matter.
[01:00:46] William James and mystical experiences.
[01:03:14] Philip's journey as a "heretical Christian."
[01:13:29] Why Philip left Christianity at age 14.
[01:14:26] Rediscovering mystical traditions within Christianity.
[01:25:44] Karen Armstrong on the modern corruption of religious belief.
[01:28:04] Is true belief a prerequisite for building a community through religion and enjoying its therapeutic benefits?
[01:42:57] Psychedelics and numinous experiences.
[01:45:50] Sufism and mystical poetry.
[01:50:38] Renaming traditional religious terms for broader accessibility.
[01:55:53] The potential resurgence of religion and new spiritual movements.
[02:00:40] Philip's billboard.
[02:03:44] Parting thoughts.