Summer School on Panpsychism

Panpsychism, the view that consciousness permeates the universe at a fundamental level, has been gaining traction in both academic philosophy and the popular imagination. Positioning itself as a middle ground between reductive physicalism and substance dualism, panpsychism seeks to integrate consciousness into the natural world while (often) aiming to preserve the causal closure of the physical. The most prominent formulation of panpsychism comes from the family of views known as Russellian monism. Building on Bertrand Russell's observation that physics describes only what matter does, rather than its intrinsic nature, philosophers have sought candidates to fulfil this metaphysical role, with consciousness being the most common proposal. However, there are Russellian theories that do not posit fundamental consciousness, as well as panpsychism-adjacent views which do not necessarily adhere to a Russellian ontology.

The Summer School aims to critically evaluate both the arguments in favour of and those against panpsychism and related theories, while providing a platform to analyse the broader debate on consciousness. Students will have the opportunity to engage with experts in the field, participate in discussions, explore a comprehensive reading list, while those who apply to present and are accepted will also have the chance to share their work and receive feedback. From the question of how fundamental consciousness gives rise to higher-level consciousness, to the relationship between phenomenal qualities and structure at different levels of explanation, and even to the nature of the universe as a whole, the topic can lead to numerous ways forward for both proponents and critics. Because of that, the Institute of Philosophy in Zagreb is thrilled to host the Summer School on Panpsychism, contributing to the ongoing debate surrounding this exciting and rapidly evolving topic.

Keynotes

• Hedda Hassel Mørch, University of Inland Norway
• David Papineau, King's College London/New York University
• Philip Goff, Durham University (Online presentation)

We invite students to attend the Summer School on Panpsychism. To register for attendance, please send your name, current academic status, and affiliation to nkadic@ifzg.hr. Students who attend will receive a certificate of attendance detailing their workload (e.g., equivalent to ECTS credits in the EU), which may be recognised by their home universities.

Additionally, students at all levels who wish to present their work are invited to submit a brief abstract (200–250 words) along with relevant keywords to nkadic@ifzg.hr. Please include your name, current academic status, and affiliation. Accepted students will give a 20-minute presentation, followed by a 10-minute discussion. There are six presentation slots available. Students who present will receive a certificate of participation detailing their workload (e.g., equivalent to ECTS credits in the EU), which may be recognised by their home universities. The application deadline for presentations is 31 March 2025.

The registration fee is €100 for both attendees and presenters, with payment details to be sent via email after registration.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: In response to strong interest, we are now accepting presentation applications from students at all levels, not just PhD students.

For any additional inquiries, please email nkadic@ifzg.hr. You can also visit our website for further details: https://panpsychism.ifzg.hr.