Professor Philip Goff at Durham University is on a mission to understand consciousness, challenging the limitations of purely quantitative science. He argues that excluding qualities of consciousness, like tastes and colors, from our understanding of the physical universe has hindered deeper understanding. Goff advocates for 'panpsychism,' the idea that consciousness exists in the fundamental building blocks of reality.
His work has elevated panpsychism from a fringe idea to a serious school of thought, with over 50 academic papers and a widely cited book. Goff's ideas have reached a broad audience through appearances on major media platforms. He emphasizes the importance of philosophy in addressing questions that scientific experiments alone cannot answer, and his research extends to the philosophy of religion, challenging traditional debates.
Now at Durham University, he attracts graduate students globally to study panpsychism. Goff's approach involves exploring middle-way options to overcome binary schools of thought, driving his work in consciousness and beyond.