Panpsychism: A New Look at Nature!

4–6 minutes

As I look at the sky, cumulus clouds float beautifully against a blue background. I’m not here to explain the Rayleigh scattering effect; don’t worry! lol. I think everyone loves nature except those tech geeks who spend all their time with gadgets. Those clouds have a remarkable ability to keep us calm.

I remember recalling a particular clip from Andrew Huberman. When working for a long time, he suggests looking at a wide space in nature, which dilates the pupils. It engages our peripheral vision, which relaxes our brain. This helps reset your focus and calm your mind. A simple but powerful tip!

Another intriguing thought comes to mind. I’m a fan of SSR (Sushant Singh Rajput) and his work. I remember him posting something about all matter having consciousness. At the time, the term “panpsychism” didn’t ring a bell. But after some digging, I realized he was referencing the ideas that philosopher Philip Goff explored in the book “Galileo’s Error. I’ve read a summary of it and plan to read the full book soon. Then I might understand the title.

Disclaimer: I’m not a theoretical physicist—just a fan of Sheldon Cooper!

While I was reading the summary, these theories were challenging. Philip Goff, a philosopher, has an intriguing idea that helps us see the magic in ordinary things. In his book (Galileo’s Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness), he argues that consciousness, or the ability to have thoughts and experiences, doesn’t just reside in brains like ours. It is actually part of everything in the universe, even tiny particles like atoms. Sounds weird?

He defines it as panpsychism, which means “consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of reality.” Goff believes that elementary particles such as electrons and quarks possess very basic forms of consciousness. While not comparable to human consciousness, they have a rudimentary level of awareness. It may be sort of “what it feels like” to be that thing. We typically think only complex brains can be conscious, but Goff challenges this assumption.

The reasoning goes. How could subjective, felt experience ever arise from combinations of unconscious matter? Let me explain. How could consciousness ever emerge or appear from things that don’t have any consciousness at all? It doesn’t make sense that you could combine a bunch of unconscious building blocks (atoms) and somehow get subjective experience.

Let’s say we have a bunch of black balls (atoms) and create a white ball (a human) out of them. The white ball can’t just appear from the black balls because the white balls don’t contain any “blackness” to begin with. I am going with white and black colors since I like them.

Similarly, Goff argues that subjective consciousness can’t just emerge from purely physical unconscious matter and particles. Those basic building blocks would need to contain some kind of very simple consciousness from the start.

He suggests that consciousness is not just a human trait but a fundamental aspect of the universe itself. This perspective can transform how we view and interact with our environment.

This reminds me of a meme. Let me share.

A meme illustrating the hierarchy of scientific disciplines being applied forms of deeper underlying fields.

Most scientists believe consciousness is a product of complex brain activity, not a fundamental property of the universe. They argue that if tiny particles had some form of awareness, we should see some evidence of it.

Whether you buy into such theories or not, this perspective encourages us to look at the natural world with more admiration and appreciation. Yet to accept, but this thought is appetizing. Hence, what I looked at wasn’t just unconscious masses of condensed water vapor. Instead, their existence arises from a vast, interconnected web of tiny conscious strands. How interesting! Not all for all (there are people who chop trees).

Every grass, plant, tree, river, and mountain is to be a communal entity. This might sound crazy, but it’s an interesting thought. We might respect them more, treating them with compassion and mindfulness.

In our busy modern lives, it’s easy to be disconnected from nature. But Goff’s ideas remind us that we’re not separate from the natural world. So take a minute today to really look at something in nature. Whether it’s a cactus, the clouds, or a sidewalk weed (meaning undesirable plants), don’t just glance at it. Experience it fully with your senses. Ignore the question of being high!

See if you can sense the resonance of consciousness within it—the same consciousness that sings within you. Who knows? We might discover the fundamental experiences that bind the universe together.

This shift encourages us to act with more compassion and mindfulness toward nature. Conservation becomes more than a duty. It becomes a way to honor the consciousness present in every part of our world. Imagine starting each day knowing that we are part of a vast, interconnected web of conscious beings. This can inspire us to make thoughtful choices. Reducing waste, conserving water, protecting wildlife & its habitat, and many more.

Some Practical Steps for a Better Tomorrow!