Pansychism; a supporting essay (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, May 18, 2020, 18:40 (1650 days ago) @ dhw

QUOTE: “The degree to which each iteration is more or less different than the last iteration is the place for an iota of choice, and mind. This iota of choice compounds upwards and, through the course of biological evolution, results in the complex types of mind and choice that we humans and other mammals enjoy.”

DAVID: I find all of this a stretch, so I'm with Hossenfelder, but since I believe our universe is in the mind of God, some aspects of panpsychism reflect that thought. But much of what is discussed here is reactive behavior, automatic responses to stimuli.

dhw: The quote has always been my bottom-up alternative to the top-down hypothesis of consciousness emanating from a sourceless mind. But one should note that panpsychism does not have to be atheistic. Whitehead was a panpsychist who believed in a God who was always "becoming" (process theology), as opposed to the know-it-all-in-advance God you seem to believe in most of the time. It depends which version you adhere to. You will not be surprised to hear that I find all these hypotheses “a stretch”!

I'm aware of process theology, but view its just another guessed possibility about God's personality. Based on what God has done, i don't think He needs much learning to change what
He does or what He thinks. The logic comes from the knowledge that we are finite in the future so I consider us just one of His iterations from eternity on til now.