Read about philosopher David Papineau’s favorite topics in science, his biggest influence, his most controversial opinion, and more.
1. What topic in science is particularly fascinating to you right now?
I’m currently writing a book about causation. I want to show philosophers how the science of statistics holds the key to the nature of causation. I’ve had ideas about this for decades, but the recent upsurge of interest in causal inference has made the book much easier to write.
2. What have you changed your mind about?
Probability. I have pretty settled views on most philosophical topics, but probability stumps me. I completely change my mind about it every five years or so. I currently favour the view that probability is fundamentally mental not physical.
3. Who has been your biggest influence?
It wouldn’t be fair to the countless people who have influenced me over the years to pick just one. My parents taught me how to think critically, my high-school physics teacher nurtured my curiosity, and my PhD advisor trained me up into an independent scientist.
4. What are you optimistic about?
With luck, the explosion of electronic information in the last two or three decades will lead the coming generations to better decisions. It had better, if we humans are not to waste the freakishly good hand that evolution has dealt us.
5. What is your most controversial opinion?
Consciousness isn’t a thing. I worry that most scientists and philosophers think of consciousness as a definite process, like infrared radiation or nuclear fusion, and try to study it as such. I’d say it’s more a loose way of characterising living systems, akin to “intelligence” or “creativity”, and not really a proper subject for science.
You can purchase David Papineau’s book, The Metaphysics of Sensory Experience, and support Closer To Truth with your purchase.