Portalism - An Externalist Theory of Consciousness

Portalism is a philosophy of mind that rejects materialist assumptions of mind/brain identity and holds that consciousness is a fifth fundamental force of nature endowed with behavioral attributes. It argues that consciousness inheres in all living organisms, regardless of their biological sophistication, and compels us to reject traditional monist theories about the nature of consciousness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 25 November 2022
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing

The mind is not the brain. The locus of our consciousness is in the world. Portalism embraces radical phenomenal externalism and represents a contemporary form of dualism that rejects materialist assumptions of mind/brain identity. As a philosophy of mind,Portalism breaks with traditional thinking in two significant ways: first by holding that consciousness is in fact a fifth fundamental force of nature endowed with behavioural attributes not unlike that of gravity,and second by arguing how consciousness inheres in all living organisms regardless of their biological sophistication. Portalism compels us to reject traditional monist theories about the nature of consciousness and boldly enter into a new way of thinking about our own reality.

The mind is not the brain.

The locus of our consciousness lies in the world, transcending the confines of the brain.

Portalism is a philosophy that embraces radical phenomenal externalism, rejecting the materialist assumption of a mind/brain identity.

It represents a contemporary form of dualism that challenges traditional perspectives on the nature of consciousness.

Portalism departs from conventional thinking in two significant ways:

Firstly, it posits that consciousness is not merely an emergent property of the brain but rather a fifth fundamental force of nature, endowed with its own set of behavioural attributes akin to gravity.

Secondly, Portalism argues that consciousness inheres in all living organisms, regardless of their biological sophistication.

This perspective challenges the notion of a hierarchical consciousness, where higher forms of life possess a more advanced or refined consciousness.

Portalism compels us to abandon traditional monist theories about the nature of consciousness and embark on a new journey of exploration.

It invites us to embrace a more holistic understanding of reality, where consciousness is interconnected with the broader physical world and all living beings.

Through Portalism, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and interconnectedness of our existence, and we are challenged to reimagine our understanding of the self, consciousness, and the nature of reality itself.

Weight: 326g
Dimension: 141 x 215 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803410388