Panpsychism and the metaphysics of properties

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Authors: Nicholas Osborn
Cited by: 0
References: 39

Abstract

Abstract A version of panpsychism emerges from a critical overview of the metaphysics of properties. The “powerful qualities theory,” according to which all concrete properties are equiprimordially powerful and qualitative, enjoys a general advantage over other major theories of properties. But it faces some issues. Chief is the Collapse Argument: the powerful qualities theory struggles to define powerful qualities in a way that distinguishes them conceptually from pure powers. But this issue is avoided by a variant of the powerful qualities theory which makes powerful qualities “powerful qualia”: essentially dispositional instances of phenomenal consciousness. I reject a few attempts to sever the link between this powerful qualia theory of properties and panpsychism. The result, and the view I endorse, is a version of panpsychism: a panpsychism of powerful qualia.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Philosophy and Theoretical Science Epistemology Ethics and Metaphysics Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy

Publication details

Journal / source
Asian Journal of Philosophy
Volume
5
Issue
1
Publication date
10 February 2026
Language
EN