Head to head
Advaita Vedanta vs Strawson’s Panpsychism
Advaita Vedanta Idealism (Indian Cosmic Consciousness) and Strawson’s Panpsychism Theory, compared field by field from their entries in the Atlas.
At a glance
- Advaita Vedanta belongs to the Idealism family in Kuhn's Landscape of Consciousness, Strawson’s Panpsychism to Panpsychism.
- Both treat consciousness as fundamental.
- On AI consciousness, Advaita Vedanta says “Conditional” and Strawson’s Panpsychism says “Likely”.
- On life after death, Advaita Vedanta says “Yes” and Strawson’s Panpsychism says “Unlikely”.
- On mind uploading, Advaita Vedanta says “Not needed” and Strawson’s Panpsychism says “Likely”.
- On meaning and purpose, Advaita Vedanta says “Cosmic/Ultimate” and Strawson’s Panpsychism says “Uncertain”.
Add more theories to this comparisonCompare other theories
Idealism
Advaita Vedanta Idealism (Indian Cosmic Consciousness)
Swami Vivekananda, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Aurobindo …
The claim
In brief
Advaita VedantaThis theory posits that consciousness is the singular, nondual fundamental reality (Brahman) that constitutes all existence. Individual human consciousness is ultimately non-different from this pervasive Cosmic Consciousness, which generates first-person inner experiences (qualia). The physical world, including the body-mind complex, is considered derivative or illusionary.
Strawson’s PanpsychismStrawson argues that any philosopher taking a realistic view of physicalism must accept that all physical phenomena are intrinsically experiential or phenomenal, leading to panpsychism (or panexperientialism) as a necessary conclusion of 'Real Materialism'. The existence of conscious experience, being the most certain fact, cannot be denied by genuine physicalism .
What consciousness is
Advaita VedantaConsciousness (Brahman/Cit) is the one nondual reality. Individual consciousness is identified as the all-pervading Cosmic Consciousness expressing itself through the body-mind complex.
Strawson’s PanpsychismConsciousness (experience) is identified as an intrinsic, non-reducible phenomenal property of all fundamental physical stuff or energy (panexperientialism).
Big questions
Can AI be conscious?Differ
Advaita VedantaConditionalIf consciousness is fundamental and pervasive throughout reality, then artificial systems could potentially instantiate or participate in cosmic consciousness, provided they meet the structural/complexity requirements for manifestation, though some idealists reject conscious AI based on current computer models.
Strawson’s PanpsychismLikelyIf consciousness is an irreducible property of every elementary physical entity, then AI, being composed of physical matter, should also have inner awareness, provided the combination problem can be solved and micropsychic aspects can be manipulated by advanced technology .
Advaita VedantaYesSurvival is a fundamental doctrine in Indian traditions (e.g., reincarnation). However, survival often means the eventual loss of current first-person awareness as consciousness is re-absorbed into the ultimate Cosmic Consciousness.
Strawson’s PanpsychismUnlikelyAlthough the world is infused with consciousness, survival requires reversing the complex process of microscopic elements coalescing into macroscopic consciousness, which seems difficult for first-person survival upon brain dissolution .
Advaita VedantaNot neededIf consciousness is already fundamental and eternal (Idealism), traditional concepts of survival or eternal life are already theoretically available, making technological virtual immortality moot.
Strawson’s PanpsychismLikelyIf consciousness is an intrinsic, regular property of the fabric of reality, advanced technology could potentially learn the regularities needed to aggregate or manipulate micropsychic forces to duplicate or upload consciousness .
Advaita VedantaCosmic/UltimateBy positing consciousness as the ground of all being and ultimate reality, the theory inherently provides cosmic meaning and purpose. Evolutionary Idealist views also see the evolution of consciousness as a primary feature of world meaning.
Strawson’s PanpsychismUncertainPanpsychism is positioned between Materialism (no ultimate purpose) and Dualism/Idealism (ultimate purpose), suggesting possible ultimate meaning/purpose/value .
Nature of mind
Ontology
Advaita VedantaIdealism (Ontological Idealism/Nondualism).
Strawson’s PanpsychismRealistic Monism / Real Materialism
Mind and body
Advaita VedantaThe mind and physical world are derivative or illusionary manifestations of the fundamental consciousness. The consciousness shines through the body-mind complex, but is not the body or mind itself.
Strawson’s PanpsychismIdentity Theory (Strong Sense). Mental phenomena are considered concrete physical phenomena because real physicalism encompasses all real phenomena, including experience.
Fundamental or emergent
Advaita VedantaPrimitive (Fundamental). Consciousness is defined as the singular fundamental existent.
Strawson’s PanpsychismPrimitive/Fundamental
Qualia
Advaita VedantaQualia (first-person inner experiences) are generated by the all-pervading cosmic consciousness. Experience is categorized into intransitive awareness (pure consciousness, devoid of content) and transitive awareness (phenomenal consciousness, which is a reflection or semblance of real consciousness).
Strawson’s PanpsychismQualia are real, concrete, and physical properties of the world; their denial is considered the 'silliest claim ever made'.
How it works
Mechanism
Advaita VedantaNon-duality, where the infinite, ultimate consciousness limits or expresses itself in manifold, seemingly diverse forms to create individual subjects of experience.
Strawson’s PanpsychismThe principle that all concrete phenomena are physical, combined with the fact that experience is a concrete phenomenon and cannot radically emerge, dictates that experience is intrinsic to fundamental physics.
Where it is
Advaita VedantaOmnipresent and pervasive throughout reality. Consciousness is universalized as Soul.
Strawson’s PanpsychismUbiquitous, associated with every part or aspect of physical reality, akin to fundamental fields and particles .
What it does
Advaita VedantaConsciousness is the ultimate source and ground of all being. It governs causation and creates energy and matter. The existence of consciousness is its own explanation, needing no outside cause.
Strawson’s PanpsychismConsciousness, being physical, fits unproblematically into the natural world. (The specific causal role of individual experiences is implied through their physical status but not detailed in the sources).
Evidence and criticism
Testability
Advaita VedantaSpeculative/Conceptual/Spiritual. The theory focuses on ultimate ontological reality, which is not typically subject to the scientific method.
Strawson’s PanpsychismConceptually testable. It is a metaphysical proposal derived from philosophical premises about the nature of the physical world. Nagasawa notes that panpsychism, even if true, may reach a 'cognitive dead end' because it cannot be proven .
Tests so far
Advaita VedantaNot stated
Strawson’s PanpsychismNot stated
Criticisms
Advaita VedantaCriticized for being anti-physicalist and relying on religious tradition. It faces the challenge of explaining how the physical world emerges or is derived from fundamental consciousness, an odd idea alien to common life experiences. It is contrasted with other Indian schools like GV Vedanta, which has differences regarding the ontological reality of matter and individual selves.
Strawson’s PanpsychismWidely held to be 'absurd' by some critics . It suffers from the combination problem, requiring an explanation of how micro-level experiences aggregate to yield macrophenomenal properties.
Sources
Key sources
Advaita Vedanta
- Consciousness and self in Advaita Vedanta, Swami Sarvapriyananda (2020)
- The Nature of the Human Person (Part 2), Swami Sarvapriyananda (2023)
- How consciousness becomes the physical universe, Kafatos, Tanzi, Chopra (2011)
Strawson’s Panpsychism
- Realistic Monism: Why Physicalism Entails Panpsychism, Galen Strawson (2009)
- Real Materialism and Other Essays, Galen Strawson (2008)
- The Consciousness Deniers, Galen Strawson (2018)