#76: What If Matter Doesn't Exist? Howard Robinson on Idealism

Is Reality Fundamentally Mental? Howard Robinson on Idealism, Consciousness, and Reality

What if the physical world is not ultimately what we think it is?

In this episode of The Prometheans, we are joined by philosopher Howard Robinson for a deep exploration of one of philosophy's most fundamental questions: Is reality fundamentally mental?

Robinson is Professor Emeritus in Philosophy at Central European University and the author of Matter and Sense, Perception, From the Knowledge Argument to Mental Substance: Resurrecting the Mind, and Perception and Idealism: An Essay on How the World Manifests Itself to Us, and How It (Probably) Is in Itself.

Our conversation begins with the nature of perception and the controversial idea of sense-data, before moving into the philosophy of mind, consciousness, physicalism, substance dualism, and the hard problem of consciousness.

We then explore Robinson's contemporary defence of idealism, particularly his engagement with George Berkeley. If the world we perceive is a manifestation rather than a transparent window onto reality as it is in itself, what can we legitimately say about the underlying nature of the world?

And if physical reality cannot ultimately explain consciousness, does that push us toward idealism, dualism, panpsychism, or theism?

Robinson's Perception and Idealism takes the argument further, proposing that the world is best understood in a broadly Berkeleian manner—as a nomological structure in the mind of God that sustains our empirical world.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss:

• What is consciousness?

• Can physicalism explain subjective experience?

• What are sense-data?

• Is perception direct or mediated?

• What is the Knowledge Argument and what does Mary learn?

• Does consciousness require a non-physical mind?

• What exactly is matter?

• Can science tell us what reality is in itself?

• Why did Berkeley think reality is fundamentally mental?

• What role does God play in idealism?

• Is panpsychism a better alternative?

• Could reality ultimately be grounded in mind rather than matter?

This is a conversation about consciousness, metaphysics, idealism, Berkeley, physicalism, dualism, perception, God, and the ultimate nature of reality.

Guest: Howard Robinson

Topic: Is Reality Fundamentally Mental? Idealism, Consciousness, and the Nature of Reality.

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