Panpsychism: The Philosophy of the Sensuous Cosmos

by Peter Ells

Materialism asserts that the universe and everything within it, including ourselves, is a deterministic machine, trapped until the end of time on the rigid tracks of inviolable laws. Only the mechanisms of physics - forces, electrical charges, and so on - are consequential; nothing else matters. Experiences, such as the taste of honey, feelings, thoughts, choices: everything concerning the mind is an illusion, or is at best a useless and absurd epiphenomenon. This accessible and engagingly-written book is a serious philosophical work, giving solid reasons for rejecting materialism, and proposing an alternative metaphysical framework that is fully consistent with science. In the sensuous cosmos, our essence is that we experience the world in all its exquisite, sensual beauty and unbearable suffering.

Genres: Philosophy, Science

226 pages, ebook

First published August 16, 2011

About the author

Hi, I’m Peter, and I’ve had a long-standing interest in the mind-body problem. I took an MA in philosophy at Reading University in 2003. Based in part on my studies, I’ve published a book on the subject: Panpsychism. Coming in 2022 is a more advanced work, Mind, Quantum, and Free Will, which has the advantage that the philosophical position it advocates is closely tied to contemporary physics.
A link to my publisher's author page is HERE

Reviews

[Brian Dougherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent synopsis of this fascinating theory of an ontology of the Universe. Although for much of the book I felt like a kid watching a conversation between two adults, and only understanding part of the conversation at a primitive level--I still think the author did a good enough job of making this accessible to the point I could walk away with the gist.

The author provides many questions that attempt to push back preemptively potential objections knowledgeable readers would have--I do think the author should have included a question where someone would wonder if his attraction to Panpsychism is due to his faith in an Abrahamic Deity coloring his bias vs. the Materialism/Physicalism that is clearly biased by atheists.

[Daleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting

lots to think about here. The first two thirds or so is especially interesting. The critiques of current view of consciousness are quite cogent.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

There I was needing to while away the night when, after googling pantheism for a while, I stumbled upon the word "panpsychism", which eventually led me to this book (thanks, uni, for apparently having every ebook on the planet)! I'm definitely no philosopher, and so I was a bit wary of how successfully I'd be able to wrap my head around the concepts presented in the book. Luckily it turned out that my sleep-deprived state was the best way for me to read this book, as it all made perfect sense - right up until I went to bed and tried continuing to read the next day. It was a bit messy after that. Nevertheless, I think Ells did a good job making his arguments clear and understandable for a general reader. I mean, I'm not going to pretend to understand how the bloody hell quantum theory works, but it all still made for a quick and interesting read. Perhaps too quick? A re-read will definitely be necessary to properly absorb all the information. Overall, I think I've got a fair understanding of panpsychism now ... just don't ask me to explain it to you.