Resisting -ism

Abstract

Professor Strawson’s paper is refreshing in content as well as refreshingly intemperate. It is salutary to be reminded that even the type-identity theory does not entail physicalism as that doctrine is usually understood. And it’s fun to consider versions of panpsychism. I can see why Strawson finds his position hard to classify (p. 7), and I sympathize. In my title I have cast my own vote for ‘?-ism’ on the grounds that any familiar label would be either misleading or unwieldy. My main purpose here is to assess Strawson’s case for panpsychism and then to offer some objections to panpsychism, but first I want to answer an interesting and serious charge he makes against me. (edited)