PHILIP GOFF is a philosopher who teaches at Durham University. He is the author of Consciousness and Fundamental Reality and has published more than forty academic papers. His writing has also appeared in many newspapers and magazines, including The Guardian and The Times Literary Supplement, and he has guest-edited an issue of Philosophy Now. He lives in Durham, England.
"In Galileo's Error, Philip Goff argues for a new approach
to the scientific study of consciousness. He offers an accessible
and compelling analysis of why our felt experience continues to
elude scientific explanation and why the theories that describe
consciousness as a fundamental feature of matter have been
neglected--and why they now deserve serious consideration. This is
a must-read for anyone interested in the future of consciousness
studies."
--Annaka Harris, best-selling author of Conscious: A Brief
Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind
"This is one of the clearest accounts I've ever read about
the mystery of consciousness, and the way in which one theory about
it, panpsychism, does a great deal to explain how it occurs and
what it is. Why shouldn't consciousness be a normal property of
matter, like mass or electrical charge? This idea has the glorious
simplicity of our first realization that the earth goes around the
sun, and not vice versa. Suddenly the universe appears in a new and
much more revealing perspective. Philip Goff's book is altogether a
splendid introduction to this fascinating idea."
--Philip Pullman, author of the "His Dark Materials" series
"Philip Goff's new book, Galileo's Error, introduces the public to
a revolutionary approach to one of the most stubborn of mysteries:
how does the brain, with its chemical and electrical processes,
give rise to a mind, whose thoughts, emotions, colors and tones we
apprehend directly? In this provocative, brave and clearly written
book, Goff makes a compelling case for an initially absurd thesis:
that the colors we perceive are instances of universal qualities
hidden within all material processes."
--Lee Smolin, author of Einstein's Unfinished Revolution
and founding member of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical
Physics "Galileo's Error is a manifesto for a new generation of
philosophers who think we need to revise our view of the physical
world to accommodate consciousness. Galileo took the mind out of
matter, which was good for the science of matter but not so good
for the science of the mind. Philip Goff thinks that to explain
consciousness, we have to put the mind back into matter. His ideas
are radical, but his arguments are rigorous and the book is a
pleasure to read. I recommend it to anyone who wants to come to
grips with mystery of consciousness."
--David Chalmers, author of The Conscious Mind and
Professor of Philosophy at New York University "Goff's elegant
book offers a thought-provoking, inspiring picture of the nature of
mind. His spirited defense of panpsychism moves well beyond the
usual academic discussions, mulling over our place in the larger
universe."
--Susan Schneider, author of Artificial You: AI and the
Future of Your Mind
"Galileo's Error is a tour de force. Goff defends his distinctive
view of consciousness with verve, wit and authority, and for good
measure adds an even-handed account of alternative views and a
graphic introduction to the surrounding science. It is hard to
imagine a better introduction to current debates about
consciousness."
--David Papineau, author of Thinking about Consciousness
and Professor of Philosophy of Science at King's College London
"Galileo's Error is an exciting and provocative book, which argues
for the revolutionary view that all matter is conscious. Goff
writes with clarity and passion, and whether you agree or disagree
with his conclusions, you will find his book enjoyable, engaging,
and deeply thought-provoking."
--Keith Frankish, editor of Illusionism: as a Theory of
Consciousness and Honorary Reader in Philosophy, University of
Sheffield "Philip Goff has written an extraordinarily
accessible and entertaining book introducing and defending an
increasingly popular, if on the face of it outlandish, claim: that
consciousness is everywhere. Matter doesn't somehow magically
become conscious depending on how it's arranged; rather the
consciousness is there from the start. There's no better
introduction to this fascinating subject."
--Stephen Law, author of The Great Philosophers: The Lives
and Ideas of History's Greatest
Thinkers
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