Nadia Elasalama

The science of consciousness is an interdisciplinary study aimed at understanding the relationship between mental aspects, such as the mind, and physical aspects, such as the brain. While scientists engage in the scientific exploration of consciousness, philosophers also contribute to the philosophy of mind. So far, there are metaphysical questions that remain unanswered by the science of consciousness, which adopts a physicalism framework: How can the mind animate the body, or how do the mind and body interact? Panpsychism is a metaphysical view in the philosophy of mind, which holds that mental properties are fundamental features that pervade all physical matter in the universe. In contemporary analytic philosophy, some philosophers take panpsychism seriously and consider it a better solution to the mind-body problem compared to other views, such as physicalism and dualism. Hence, panpsychism offers possible solutions to the unanswered metaphysical questions. This research employs a literature review method to examine the scientific theories regarding the relationship between the science of consciousness and panpsychism. The point of view is panpsychism, while the subject matter is the science of consciousness. The research proceeds through four stages: inventory, classification, analysis, and results formulation, employing four philosophical methods such as interpretation, historical continuity, heuristics, and description. In this thesis, I show philosophical problems within the science of consciousness and explain how panpsychism, as a non-physicalist view, can be compatible with the science of consciousness. Through panpsychism metaphysical reflection, I identify that the science of consciousness is limited to understanding structural aspects, such as neural activity, while it falls short in explaining intrinsic aspects, such as subjective experience. Furthermore, I propose three solutions to ontological problems within the scientific study of consciousness that can be addressed through panpsychism: the neural correlates of consciousness, the distribution of consciousness, and the nature of consciousness.