Archive of Author | Philip Goff

About Philip Goff

I am Associate Professor in Philosophy at Central European University in Budapest (a unique and wonderful institution). My main research focus is trying to explain how the brain produces consciousness. I think we need to radically rethink our understanding of matter in order to explain consciousness, in something like the way Einstein radically rethought the nature of space and time. I am also passionate about religion and politics. In terms of religion, I'm a kind of Christian fictionalist, seeing Christianity as a deeply political spiritual practice rather than a set of beliefs about the supernatural. Regarding politics, I am concerned with tax justice and the power of global capital.

I am Associate Professor in Philosophy at Central European University in Budapest (a unique and wonderful institution).

My main research focus is trying to explain how the brain produces consciousness. I think we need to radically rethink our understanding of matter in order to explain consciousness, in something like the way Einstein radically rethought the nature of space and time. I am also passionate about religion and politics. In terms of religion, I’m a kind of Christian fictionalist, seeing Christianity as a deeply political spiritual practice rather than a set of beliefs about the supernatural. Regarding politics, I am concerned with tax justice and the power of global capital.

www.philipgoffphilosophy.com

Twitter @Philip_Goff
Blog www.conscienceandconsciousness.com

Articles with Philip Goff

Consciousness: why a leading theory has been branded ‘pseudoscience’

Philip Goff is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Durham University. Goff’s main research focus is consciousness, but he is interested in many questions about the nature of reality. Goff is most known for defending panpsychism, the view that consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of the physical world.
Goff has authored an academic book with Oxford University Press – ‘Consciousness and Fundamental Reality’ – and a book aimed at a general audience – ‘Galileo’s Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness.’ His new book ‘Why? The Purpose of the Universe,’ argues that the universe has a purpose, and will be published by Oxford University Press in November 2023. Goff has published 48 academic articles as well as writing extensively for newspapers and magazines, including Scientific American, The Guardian, Aeon and the Times Literary Supplement. The interview with Goff by Pulitzer Prize winning author Gareth Cook was one of the most viewed of the most viewed articles in Scientific American of 2020. Goff has appeared on many high-profile podcasts, including the Joe Rogan Experience and Lex Fridman’s podcast.

Science as we know it can’t explain consciousness – but a revolution is coming

Philip Goff is Associate Professor of Philosophy, Durham University. His research focuses on how to integrate consciousness into our scientific worldview. His first academic book, ‘Consciousness and Fundamental Reality’ (Oxford University Press), was published in 2017 and his first book aimed at a general audience, ‘Galileo’s Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness’ (Rider in UK, Pantheon in US), was published in2019.

“I argue that the traditional approaches of materialism (consciousness can be explained in terms of physical processes in the brain) and dualism (consciousness is separate from the body and brain) face insuperable difficulties. On the basis of this I defend a form of panpsychism, the view that consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of the physical world. It sounds a bit crazy, but I try to show that it avoids the difficulties faced by its rivals.”

Consciousness: how can I experience things that aren’t ‘real’?

Philip Goff is Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Durham University. A philosopher and consciousness researcher, his research focuses on how to integrate consciousness into our scientific worldview.

“My first academic book, Consciousness and Fundamental Reality (Oxford University Press), was published in 2017 and my first book aimed at a general audience, Galileo’s Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness (Rider in UK, Pantheon in US), was published in November 2019.

I argue that the traditional approaches of materialism (consciousness can be explained in terms of physical processes in the brain) and dualism (consciousness is separate from the body and brain) face insuperable difficulties. On the basis of this I defend a form of panpsychism, the view that consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of the physical world. It sounds a bit crazy, but I try to show that it avoids the difficulties faced by its rivals.”

Passionate about Consciousness

Philip Goff is an Associate Professor in Philosophy at Central European University in Budapest. HIs main research focus is trying to explain how the brain produces consciousness. In this exclusive interview he discusses how we need to radically rethink our understanding of matter in order to explain consciousness, in something like the way Einstein radically rethought the nature of space and time