The Conscious Universe: Panpsychism with Philip Goff episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 1, 2026 · 42 MIN

The Conscious Universe: Panpsychism with Philip Goff

from Wonder Cabinet · host Wonder Cabinet Productions

What if consciousness isn't something that emerges from the brain—but is embedded in the fabric of reality itself?That's the provocative idea behind panpsychism— that consciousness goes all the way down to the fundamental building blocks of the cosmos. Philosopher Philip Goff, one of panpsychism’s leading advocates, argues that it offers the best solution to one of science's deepest mysteries: how consciousness arises at all. We also hear  from novelist Philip Pullman, whose  fantasy series His Dark Materials was partly inspired by panpsychism. Goff reflects on another surprising development in his own thinking: his recent turn toward the Eastern Orthodox Church and what he calls "heretical Christianity.” He also describes how a profound  psychedelic experience shook him to the core—and may have revealed a deeper reality. The first interview with Goff was recorded at the Island of Knowledge think tank in Tuscany, a project supported by Dartmouth College and the John Templeton Foundation. The interview with Philip Pullman originally aired on Wisconsin Public Radio’s To The Best Of Our Knowledge. This Wonder Cabinet episode was not funded, endorsed or affiliated with Wisconsin Public Media or the University of Wisconsin-Madison.—00:00:00 Introduction00:04:00 What Is Panpsychism?00:17:30 Heretical Christianity00:29:40 A Psychedelic Awakening00:38:25 The Conscious Universe, Confirmed— Philip Goff’s website.  Books Podcast: "Phillip Goff Philosophy" TTBOOK: "His Dark Materials' Author Philip Pullman On The Consciousness Of All Things" Wonder Cabinet is hosted by Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson. Find out more about the show at https://wondercabinetproductions.com, where you can subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 1, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

The Conscious Universe: Panpsychism with Philip Goff

0:00 42:34

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Wonder Cabinet?

This episode is 42 minutes long.

When was this Wonder Cabinet episode published?

This episode was published on August 1, 2026.

Can I download this Wonder Cabinet episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!