Hyperdimensional Neutral monism
ABSTRACT
This article introduces the concept of ‘hyperdimensional neutral monism’ as an elaboration and exploration of neutral monism. Neutral monism states that there is a single type of neutral, ontologically primary ultimate, which both the physical and the mental supervene on (Banks Philosophical Psychology, 23(2), 173-187, 2010). Hyperdimensional neutral monism (HNM) states that these ultimates exist in a more-than-4-dimensional realm and that the physical world of spacetime is a 4-dimensional aspect of this realm. Consciousness is the localized protrusion of spacetime into more than four dimensions. In order to explain these concepts, I utilize an aquatic metaphor of vortices appearing within a physical ocean. I compare HNM to panqualityism, which is another version of neutral monism (Coleman, Erkenntnis, 79(1), 19–44 2014 & Panpsychism: Contemporary Perspectives, ed. Godehard Bruntrup and Ludwig Jaskolla (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017), pp. 249–282 2016), and cosmopsychism (Shani Philosophical Papers, 44(3), 389- 437, 2015, Shani & Keppler, 2018) which relies on a similar aquatic metaphor. I argue that HNM is a viable means of addressing the mind–body problem and the hard problem of consciousness (Chalmers, 1996, 2015, Panpsychism: Contemporary Perspectives, 179(214), 2017, Chalmers, 2019).
Keywords
Neutral monism · Cosmopsychism · Panqualityism · Dimensions · Mind–
body problem · Hard problem of consciousness
INTRODUCTION
In this article, I introduce the concept of ‘hyperdimensional neutral monism’ as an elaboration and exploration of the neutral monism suggested by James, Russel, Mach, and others (Banks, 2010). Hyperdimensional neutral monism (HNM) concurs with neutral monism in general, that there is a single type of ontologically primary ultimate, which both the physical and the mental supervene on. But HNM expands on this concept by defining the physical world of spacetime as a 4-dimensional aspect of an ‘ocean’ comprised of these ultimates, and the mental as the protrusion of the physical world of spacetime into the hyperdimensional realm.
I begin this article by exploring neutral monism in relation to various mind–body problems. In part 2, I provide some definitions and conceptual frameworks, which I then utilize in part 3, where I introduce the core concepts of hyperdimensional neutral monism. In part 4, I compare HNM to cosmopsychism (Shani, 2015) to demonstrate the logical viability of HNM as well as to explore some of its core concepts. In part 5, I review the problems facing HNM in particular and neutral monism in general. Finally, in the conclusion I briefly explore how HNM can be applied to other problems facing both science and metaphysics. Throughout this article, I introduce different versions of HNM and explore how each version responds to various challenges.
I begin this article by exploring neutral monism in relation to various mind–body problems. In part 2, I provide some definitions and conceptual frameworks, which I then utilize in part 3, where I introduce the core concepts of hyperdimensional neutral monism. In part 4, I compare HNM to cosmopsychism (Shani, 2015) to demonstrate the logical viability of HNM as well as to explore some of its core concepts. In part 5, I review the problems facing HNM in particular and neutral monism in general. Finally, in the conclusion I briefly explore how HNM can be applied to other problems facing both science and metaphysics. Throughout this article, I introduce different versions of HNM and explore how each version responds to various challenges.