Panpsychism, an ancient theory suggesting that everything has a mind or mind-like quality, is gaining traction among scientists. This theory proposes that consciousness is inherent in all matter, implying that everything in the universe, from humans to rocks to the sun, is conscious.
The concept of panpsychism was first coined in the late 16th century by Italian philosopher Francesco Patrizi. It combines the Greek words παν (pan, meaning everything) and ψυχή (psyche, soul or mind) to denote a distinctive soulfulness inherent in each and every order of creation. The idea can be traced back to ancient Greece, where pre-Socratic philosopher Thales stated that “everything is full of gods,” and Plato suggested that the world is a living being endowed with a soul and intelligence.
Despite being dismissed as metaphysical mumbo-jumbo during the rise of logical positivism in the 1920s, panpsychism has recently seen a resurgence. This is largely due to the inability of empirical sciences to solve the hard problem of consciousness — why and how matter gives rise to the experiences of consciousness.
Panpsychism offers a potential solution to this problem by suggesting that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of reality. However, this theory remains controversial and is the subject of ongoing debate among scientists and philosophers.
read more > www.popularmechanics.com