Picture of Philosopher Galen Strawson
There are many philosophical theories for consciousness that exist. While the theories of dualism and materialism are the most well-known among these theories, there are several other key theories as well. One of these philosophical theories is panpsychism, which has been supported by many philosophers, including one notable philosopher named Galen Strawson.
Strawson holds that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe as we know it. Based on his support of panpsychism, Strawson believes that consciousness spans all forms of matter and is not restricted to just humans and other higher-order mammals. He posits that consciousness is an emergent property that arises from physical matter (Strawson, 2008). In a way, Strawson's beliefs could be thought of as an extension of the view of materialism in that the theory of materialism is applied to all forms of life, and not just humans.
The views that Strawson holds have important implications for human life. For one, the view of consciousness being a fundamental part of the universe can encourage people to view the mind and body as one and perceive individuals in a more holistic fashion. Furthermore, the idea that consciousness is emergent may cause people to wonder how their identities may change over a long period of time as a result of consciousness emerging from their development. Overall, Galen Strawson's views provide a unique insight into how pervasive consciousness can be in the universe.
References:
Strawson, G. (2008). Realistic Monism: Why Physicalism Entails Panpsychism. In G. Strawson (Ed.), Real Materialism: And Other Essays (p. 0). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199267422.003.0003
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