00: WHY NOT PHYSICALISM?
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 9:11 pm
Before getting into it, I think it's a good idea to explain why I don't think physicalism is the answer to consciousness. There are a few reasons.
1.
Consciousness is not physical. Although it is inextricably bound to the physical, and doesn't exist without a physical component (at least we are not aware of any consciousness without a physical component), it is not, itself, physical. It does not have any physical properties, like charge, mass, density, hardness. We cannot measure it's speed, direction, or any other characteristics of physical processes. It cannot be sensed with any of our senses, or our technology. It is not describable with mathematics, which can be used to describe every physical thing.
Physical things - objects and/or processes - build physical things. There is no logic or evidence for the idea that physical things can build non-physical things. And there is no theory, not even a guess, from those who assume physicalism must be the answer to consciousness as to how it can happen.
2.
3.
1.
Consciousness is not physical. Although it is inextricably bound to the physical, and doesn't exist without a physical component (at least we are not aware of any consciousness without a physical component), it is not, itself, physical. It does not have any physical properties, like charge, mass, density, hardness. We cannot measure it's speed, direction, or any other characteristics of physical processes. It cannot be sensed with any of our senses, or our technology. It is not describable with mathematics, which can be used to describe every physical thing.
Physical things - objects and/or processes - build physical things. There is no logic or evidence for the idea that physical things can build non-physical things. And there is no theory, not even a guess, from those who assume physicalism must be the answer to consciousness as to how it can happen.
2.
3.