Description
In this conversation with philosopher Dr. Philip Goff, we dive into one of the deepest questions in science and philosophy: what if consciousness isn’t produced by the brain—what if it’s fundamental to reality?
We explore panpsychism, the “hard-to-ignore” problem of subjective experience, why physics may describe what matter does but not what it is, and what it would mean if even the smallest building blocks of nature contain a spark of experience.
Philip Goff’s work:Website: https://philipgoffphilosophy.com/Substack: https://philipgoff.substack.com/
In this episode:
What consciousness is (and why it’s so hard to explain)
Why brain scans don’t “find” experience
The core argument for panpsychism
Galileo’s legacy: how modern science set consciousness aside
What physics really tells us about matter
Implications for meaning, spirituality, and mystical experience
AI and consciousness: are LLMs “aware” of anything?
Chapters:00:00 What if consciousness isn’t made by the brain?00:14 Pansychism in one sentence (a conscious universe)00:40 Why consciousness breaks science’s “objective” method01:16 Welcome + Durham vs California weather02:35 What is consciousness? “What it’s like to be you”03:38 Goff vs Anil Seth / Donald Hoffman (physicalism vs panpsychism)05:10 Why consciousness is so hard to explain (objective vs subjective)07:49 The “dogs → plants → atoms” ladder into panpsychism08:34 Galileo’s move: taking consciousness out of science10:23 The bold claim: even atoms/particles have experience11:43 Plant intelligence + pea-plant learning (Monica Gagliano)14:02 Why extend mind to the “inanimate” world?15:14 Unifying what Galileo split: matter + experience16:17 Consciousness as fundamental (not “emergent”) + Maxwell analogy18:54 What panpsychism claims (and doesn’t)19:08 Russell & Eddington: physics tells what matter does, not what it is21:44 “Matter is what consciousness does” (the core framing)23:16 Consciousness isn’t publicly observable (why the “hard problem” persists)26:56 Flipping the project: start with consciousness first33:04 Sponsor: Finding Your Best (Michael Gervais)34:00 Flow, mystical experience, and taking inner experience seriously36:01 Groupthink, rigor, and why “woo” ideas get dismissed37:46 William James on trusting mystical experience40:21 Nick’s Auschwitz experience + the limits of science42:01 Value, depth, meaning—what experiences seem to reveal44:26 “Science isn’t the complete story” (logic, math, value, consciousness)46:59 Sponsor: Zapier + AI agents49:19 AI and consciousness: is there “something it’s like” to be an LLM?51:47 The Turing Test and redefining “thought” as behavior54:12 Why Goff thinks LLMs aren’t conscious (and what would be)57:54 No consensus in consciousness science + philosophy inside the lab1:01:26 The question keeping Goff up: math, logic, and Gödel1:05:40 What shift does Goff hope you take away?1:07:42 Where to find Goff’s work + closing thoughts1:09:50 Outro: ask questions, reject the status quo, stay curious
If this topic hits for you, consider subscribing—more conversations at the edge of mind, science, and reality.
🔗 Support This Podcast by Checking Out Our Sponsor:Test Prep Guruswebsite: https://www.prepgurus.comInstagram: @TestPrepGurus
Connect with The Nick Standlea Show:YouTube: @TheNickStandleaShowPodcast Website: https://nickshow.podbean.com/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nick-standlea-podcast/id1700331903Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0YqBBneFsKtQ6Y0ArP5CXJRSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/nickshow/feed.xml
Nick's Socials:Instagram: @nickstandleaX (Twitter): @nickstandleaTikTok: @nickstandleashowFacebook: @nickstandleapodcast
Ask questions, Don't accept the status quo, And be curious.
#Consciousness #Panpsychism #PhilipGoff #Philosophy #Neuroscience #Science #AI #Mind