Philip Goff

1. 1992 Change of mindCatholic child, then atheist

   Raised Catholic, he turns atheist at 14, partly because of the problem of evil, and stays a 'happy atheist' for about 30 years.

   In their words

   « We don't know if we can get consciousness out of physics, but we know we can get physics out of consciousness »His core panpsychist argument: we cannot derive consciousness from physics, but we can derive physics from consciousness. watch

   « I think even more than Russell, William James is my big hero »William James is his big hero, even more than Bertrand Russell. watch

   « The problem of evil and suffering was part of it on the intellectual side »Why he became an atheist at 14: the problem of evil, plus ethical objections to Christianity. watch

   Video 2026 · Is Consciousness Everywhere? |…2
2. 2017Panpsychism as a third way

   After reading Thomas Nagel on panpsychism he finds a way out. He publishes Consciousness and Fundamental Reality, his academic defence of the view.

   Wikipédia 2025 · Philip Goff (philosopher)
3. 2019Galileo's Error

   His general-audience book argues that physical science leaves out consciousness, and that panpsychism fills the gap.

   Book 2019 · Galileo's Error: Foundations for…2
4. 2019Hope, not belief

   Before any conversion, he says the religious impulse is more about hope than belief. He does not call his cosmic purpose 'God'.

   In their words

   « We've we've tried for decades now to explain consciousness in terms of non-consciousness, and we've got precisely nowhere »In 2019 he says neuroscience has got nowhere on the hard problem, so explain complex consciousness by simpler consciousness. watch

   « I think it's a prejudice of materialists to suppose that's what we have to do »He calls it a materialist prejudice to suppose consciousness must be explained by non-consciousness. watch

   « the religious impulse in my view or the spiritual impulse, if you prefer, should be thought of as more about hope rather than belief »Already in 2019, before his turn to Christianity, he sees the religious impulse as hope rather than belief. watch

   Video 2019 · Is the Universe Conscious? -…
5. 2021Mind Chat with Keith Frankish

   He starts a YouTube channel with Keith Frankish, who defends illusionism. They interview scientists and philosophers of consciousness and debate each other in a friendly way.

   Wikipédia 2025 · Philip Goff (philosopher)2
6. 2023Why? The Purpose of the Universe

   He argues that fine-tuning and the existence of consciousness point to a cosmic purpose. He favours the idea that the universe is itself a conscious mind (cosmopsychism) over the traditional God.

   Article 2023 · Why our universe can have cosmic…2
7. 2023A purpose, and 'closest to God'

   In April, before Why? comes out, he presents it as a middle way between God and atheism, and says he feels closest to God in the soft morning light, 'whatever that means'.

   In their words

   « so my view is that when Consciousness emerges it makes a difference so you couldn't predict what my brain is doing just from the physics »He thinks consciousness makes a physical difference, and disagrees with Sean Carroll that physics alone fixes the brain. watch

   « that's where I disagree with Sean Carroll »He disagrees with Sean Carroll about whether physics alone determines the brain. watch

   « it's not only on pan psychism you might see it as a kind a middle way between God and Atheism »In April 2023 he presents his coming book as a middle way between God and atheism. watch

   Video 2023 · Philosopher Explains What…2
8. 2024 Change of mindA 'heretical' Christian

   In October he explains that he has moved to a participatory Christianity with a God of limited power, with about a 50% credence.

   Article 2024 · Embracing Uncertainty2
9. 2025Defending a limited God

   In debates with Craig and with three atheists he defends a God who set the constants of physics but cannot intervene afterwards. He says he does not 'believe' Christianity is true, but trusts it at about 30% or more, and describes the resurrection as visionary rather than a body seen and touched.

   In their words

   « I don't believe Christianity to be true which might sound a bit silly »He opens by saying he does not 'believe' Christianity is true, because he prefers to see faith as hope or trust. watch

   « I prefer to think of faith as about hope or trust »He defines faith as hope or trust, not high-confidence belief. watch

   « maybe 30% is the number I throw up »For trust to be rational he needs a credible possibility: about 30%. watch

   Video 2025 · Philip Goff vs 3 atheists, is…23
10. 2025Mystical roots of Christianity

    He says he once found depth only in Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta, then discovers the mystics of the Eastern Church. He settles between Eastern mysticism and Anglican flexibility, and starts a book (tentative title 'Heresy').

    In their words

    « It's consciousness that breathes fire into the equations »Using Hawking's phrase: physics gives mathematical structure, and consciousness is what fills it. watch

    « Maybe maybe the conscious universe can as it were design itself, finetune itself »A conscious universe might fine-tune itself, so no supernatural designer is needed. watch

    « I think of faith more is about trust it's about trusting your spiritual experiences »Faith is trust in your spiritual experiences and in a framework to interpret them, not certainty. watch

    Video 2025 · Why Does The Universe Exist?…2

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