Paul Austin Murphy on Motivations for Anti-Physicalism

This part of what looks to be an on-going debate between philosopher Paul Austin Murphy and myself. This is in response to a December 7 post, so it does not respond to a couple more recent ones. I’ll respond to those later.

Medium writer and philosopher has dignified my contributions to the discussions around science and faith with a lengthy and detailed analysis of what I have written in the past — at least some of it. This was prompted by my comments (criticism?) regarding his analysis of anti-physicalists based on their political or religious motivations. I commented there that rather than responding to the substance of the positions put forward by anti-physicalists like Bernardo Kastrup, and those who are likely physicalists but advance ideas like panpsychism like Philip Goff or the possibility of purpose like Paul Davies, Murphy focuses his attention on their presumed politics and religious bent.

First of all, I want to thank him for calling attention to my posts and other content. I’m not sure what my work in a previous life as a communications consultant has to do with it, but apparently it is relevant. Yes, I have written several books including a couple on the media landscape and how the coming of the internet and social media have changed public communications.

What I find very ironic is that Murphy’s response to my suggestion that he should go beyond motivations of those with whom he disagrees and deal with the substance is his “expose” of my Christian…