Brute Fact Cosmology and the Fundamentality of Consciousness



• Brute Fact Cosmology and the Fundamentality of Consciousness

  Item Type	Journal Article
  Author	Ben Schermbrucker
  Abstract	What is the fundamental nature of the physical universe? This paper generates new insights into this question through examining how brute fact metaphysics intersects with our best cosmological theories of the universe’s origin. To do this, I first make the case that fundamental physical things are – by necessity – ontologically brute. Ontological bruteness, I maintain, provides a rationale for the counterfactual claim that there is no reason why a fundamental has one physical identity rather than another. The paper then gives an overview of modern cosmology. This empirically oriented analysis is enjoined to a metaphysical argument that – since science’s candidate fundamentals are impermissibly complex – we can appeal to brute fact metaphysics to meaningfully entertain the possibility of simpler fundamentals. The paper then investigates a particular simple fundamental I take to be most plausible: consciousness (understood as the intrinsic nature of matter). This discussion draws on cosmic-level evolution and panpsychism. While I remain agnostic about whether consciousness’ instantiation in fundamental-level physics and cosmology will be empirically verified, the paper draws attention to a number of emerging experimental paradigms that can – at least in principle – contribute to this project.
  Date	2024
  Language	English
  Rights	© 2024 Aletheia - Associação Científica e Cultural
  Volume	80
  Pages	863-892
  Publication	Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia
  DOI	10.17990/RPF/2024_80_3_0863
  Issue	3
  ISSN	0870-5283 ; 2183-461X
  Date Added	10/30/2024, 8:52:13 PM
  Modified	10/30/2024, 9:09:25 PM

  Tags:

  • brute fact, cosmology, evolution, fundamental, panpsychism, physical, rationally inexplicable behaviour, universe.

  Notes:

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