Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Yeah, but panpsychists don't have any mechanism for it. It's just, "Well, if there's an emergent phenomena, it must have emerged from some critical mass of something, therefore your table is conscious."

It's fine for magical world building, but it doesn't really make much sense, and when pressed on it, they just throw up their hands and cry "It's logical!" It's specious. It feels like Descartes and others trying to elevate the pineal gland to be mechacockpit for the soul, or Plato assuming that everything is a projection from some metaphysical form outside of reality.

It's fancy talk, that is pointed -- and sometimes proudly -- unfalsifiable.



It's literally the opposite of that. The criticism you are levelling is precisely what makes the idea of the strong emergence of consciousness such a joke.

Panpsychists say that consciousness always exists, all the way down, not that it emerges. It is a view born out of the rejection of the kind of emergence you are describing.


Literally no panpsychist asserts that a proton has human, or even bacterium level consciousness.


Go do some reading and then come back with an informed opinion because you don't have the basics down.




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: