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non-physicalism
Also known as: non-physicalist theories, non-physicalists, non-physicalist
Facts (12)
Sources
Non-physicalist Theories of Consciousness cambridge.org Dec 20, 2023 8 facts
claimNon-physicalism was the predominant view of consciousness among philosophers until the 1950s–60s, although some scholars identify the 1860s as an important turning point.
claimThe argument from physical causal closure requires non-physicalists to choose between epiphenomenalism, overdetermination, or the denial of physical causal closure.
perspectiveIt is argued that non-physicalist theories should adopt David Chalmers' theory of phenomenal judgments to account for the direct and immediate access individuals have to their own consciousness.
claimNon-physicalism about consciousness is the view that the fundamental constituents of reality are not fully describable by completed, continuous physics because consciousness is either fundamental, constituted by something discontinuous with current physics, or ruled out by the negative criterion.
claimNon-physicalism is supported by arguments regarding the epistemic gap between the physical and the phenomenal, as well as arguments asserting that the intentionality and unity of consciousness cannot be accounted for physically.
claimSome non-physicalists argue that intentional states are non-physical, challenging the view that only phenomenal states are non-physical while intentional states are physical.
perspectiveThe debate between physicalism and non-physicalism primarily concerns phenomenal consciousness, as functional consciousness provides little reason to doubt that reality is purely physical.
claimConsciousness being fundamental is typically regarded as a defining feature of most non-physicalist theories, rather than physicalism.
the explanatory power behind the non-physicalist paradigm - Frontiers frontiersin.org 4 days ago 2 facts
claimA paradigm shift from physicalism to non-physicalism does not make prominent neuroscientific theories obsolete, but rather places them in a broader context and entails a reinterpretation of neurophysiological indicators of consciousness.
claimPhysicalism is a paradigm where consciousness is considered reducible to physical properties, whereas non-physicalism is a paradigm where consciousness is considered fundamental and irreducible to physical properties.
Do all non-physicalist theories of consciousness face the interaction ... philosophy.stackexchange.com Nov 17, 2025 1 fact
perspectiveThe burden of proof lies with the non-physicalist to justify the claim that consciousness exists outside of the brain, rather than on the physicalist to explain how that claim is excluded from causal closure.
PANPSYCHISM (Philosophy of Mind Series) - Amazon.com amazon.com 1 fact
referenceThe book 'PANPSYCHISM (Philosophy of Mind Series)' contains 16 essays that feature contemporary arguments for panpsychism, representing different varieties of the theory and including perspectives from both proponents and critics from physicalist and non-physicalist camps.