The Conscious Cosmos

For centuries, Western science and philosophy have struggled to explain what consciousness is and where it comes from. What if the answer to both those questions is: everything?

Episode 5 of the How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality podcast, hosted by PRX, titled "The Conscious Cosmos" was published on May 4, 2025 and runs 40 minutes.

May 4, 2025 ·40m · How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality

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Summary

For centuries, Western science and philosophy have struggled to explain what consciousness is and where it comes from. What if the answer to both those questions is: everything? On this episode, we dive into panpsychism: the idea that consciousness may not be limited to humans, or even living beings, but could be a basic property of reality itself. We’ll talk to philosopher Philip Goff about why this idea is gaining attention in academic circles, and to theologian Joanna Leidenhag about how panpsychism aligns with spiritual traditions from across cultures and throughout history. We’ll also ask: could this strange-sounding idea reshape how we understand ourselves and our place in the world? Philip Goff is a professor of Philosophy and the author of Why?: The Purpose of the Universe, Galileo’s Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness and many other publications about panpsychism. Find out more about his work on his website. Joanna Leidenhag is a professor of Theology and Philosophy and the author of the book Minding Creation: Theological Panpsychism and the Doctrine of Creation. Find out more about her work here.

Episode Description

For centuries, Western science and philosophy have struggled to explain what consciousness is and where it comes from. What if the answer to both those questions is: everything?

On this episode, we dive into panpsychism: the idea that consciousness may not be limited to humans, or even living beings, but could be a basic property of reality itself. We’ll talk to philosopher Philip Goff about why this idea is gaining attention in academic circles, and to theologian Joanna Leidenhag about how panpsychism aligns with spiritual traditions from across cultures and throughout history. We’ll also ask: could this strange-sounding idea reshape how we understand ourselves and our place in the world?

Philip Goff is a professor of Philosophy and the author of Why?: The Purpose of the Universe, Galileo’s Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness and many other publications about panpsychism. Find out more about his work on his website.

Joanna Leidenhag is a professor of Theology and Philosophy and the author of the book Minding Creation: Theological Panpsychism and the Doctrine of Creation. Find out more about her work here.