Physicalism is a naturalistic and scientific worldview that concepts like love, consciousness, and free will can be explained in physical terms and analyzed empirically. The philosophy emphasizes empirical data and reasoned inquiry to better understand existence, and it strives for a comprehensive yet developing description of reality that reduces all existence to physical attributes but leaves room for scientists to realize new physical features. Physicalism is based on a number of ideas, including materialism, reductionism, and causal determinism. One of the cornerstones of physicalism, reductivism, advocates disassembling complicated systems into simpler, lower-level parts. This is the basis of first-principles thinking.

Another essential component of physicalism is materialism, which holds that everything in the universe is made of physical matter and is governed by the rules of physics. This suggests that the physical universe is made up of various physical substances and elements. Every event has a physical cause, according to the idea of causal determinism, which is often connected to physicalism. By examining these central ideas, physicalism can make it easier to understand life and the universe.

In southern Appalachia, practicality is often rooted in first-principles thinking — a deep understanding of the physical world and the resources it provides. Families in the mountains traditionally rely on hands-on skills like blacksmithing, quilting, and woodworking, all of which require an intimate knowledge of materials, processes, and the natural environment. From raising livestock to growing food, the region's people apply a grounded, physics-based approach to every task, understanding how systems work, whether it's crop rotation to enrich the soil or using renewable energy like hydroelectric power to conserve resources. These methods are based on fundamental principles that govern nature, ensuring both sustainability and efficiency.

Tillage practices are another example of how Appalachians apply physics to maintain soil integrity, as they understand the balance between minimizing disturbance and enriching the land. Techniques like canning, pickling, and smoking preserve food in ways that echo scientific principles, where each method is a way to slow down decay and extend the lifespan of natural resources. All of these actions reflect a profound respect for the environment, seen through the lens of physicalism, where the physical world is paramount, and everything is understood in terms of observable, natural processes.

Appalachians, with their deep connection to the land, have long embraced a worldview rooted in practical knowledge that aligns well with the principles of physicalism, which emphasizes the role of matter and energy in shaping our world. This lifestyle not only embodies first-principles thinking but also shows how a deep understanding of the physical world can lead to practical, sustainable living.

Physicalism aligns naturally with Southern Appalachian practicality, where the connection to the land is essential and the value of hands-on, real-world work is deeply ingrained. Rather than viewing the material world as “dirty” or “sinful,” the culture in the region embraces it, seeing the land and its resources as tools for self-sufficiency and resilience. This philosophical perspective fits seamlessly into the Appalachian tradition of craftsmanship — from blacksmithing to gardening to preserving food. The act of working with the land, understanding it through first-principles thinking, and utilizing its resources responsibly reflects the heart of physicalism, where the tangible world is not just acknowledged but cherished.

Much like the physicalist view that the universe is made of matter and energy, Southern Appalachian practices reflect the idea that physical work and craftsmanship are the building blocks of a meaningful existence. In this culture, "form" and "function" are not abstract concepts; they are the practical steps that farmers take when rotating crops, the meticulous care given to livestock, and the hands-on work done to preserve food for the winter months. In this way, physicalism offers a worldview that resonates deeply with the Southern Appalachian way of life — one that prioritizes the material world as both a source of sustenance and a medium for creativity and survival.

 

Principles of Physics  

It's normal to lack an extensive knowledge of physics, quantum mechanics, or sophisticated chemistry. These subjects form the basis of information, however, that might lead you down exciting, new, intellectual pathways even if you haven't studied them thoroughly. While physics may appear to be an abstract subject, it is simply a study that investigates and predicts the intricate chemical and transformative properties supporting our universe.

Physics can be looked at as the study of characteristics of existence that evolve with new understanding rather than a collection of fixed, immutable laws. Existence has this amazing capacity to transform yet imparts an assembly index and record of change within it. This amazing stability and equilibrium yet diversity and drama is driven by physical interactions, parameters, and principles that serve as universal foundations.  

From the minute subatomic particles that make up atoms to the huge stars of galaxies, existence is made of pieces, parts, and patterns that all interact and change together. Newton's Laws define the link between motion and the forces acting on objects in classical mechanics. Quantum mechanics investigates the complex motions of tiny particles, uncertainty, and probability in nature. In essence, physical principles and physics as a discipline studies the universal choreographers, which trends to reveal a story of chemical power, abstract performance, and physical transformation. 

 

Newton’s Laws of Motion 

Newton's laws describe how objects react to forces. The first law asserts that unless acted upon by a net external force, an object will stay at rest or in uniform motion. The second law describes the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration (F = ma), while the third law stipulates that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.  

 

Quantum Mechanics 

Quantum mechanics, a pillar of physics, explores a framework for understanding the actions of particles at subatomic (very small) scales. This theory introduces game-changing concepts like wave-particle duality, the dual nature of particles, electrons and photons, and such. The term "quantum" is derived from Latin and means "how much" or "how great."

 

Thermodynamics 

The study of energy, heat, and work in physical systems is known as thermodynamics. It includes principles such as energy conservation, the growth of disorder (entropy), and the behavior of matter at different temperatures. Thermodynamics also investigates the operation of engines and the efficiency of energy conversion. It is a fundamental physics idea with applications in many scientific and engineering domains. 

 
Time 

Heisenberg's Uncertainty

According to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, it is impossible to know a subatomic particle's exact position and momentum at the same time. According to the concept, the more precisely you determine one of these traits, the less precisely you can know the other.  

 

Electromagnetism 

Electromagnetism is the study of electric and magnetic fields in physics. Maxwell's Equations are a collection of laws that explain how these fields interact with one another. It's like having a manual for how electric and magnetic objects work. 

   

EXERCISE #11: Seeing Physical Laws that Shape Your Environment  

Observe: Start by allocating time for focused observation. Choose a specific location, such as your home, a park, or a city street. Pay special attention to the physical components in your environment, such as objects, motion, light, and sound. Take note of anything that catches your eye. 

Identify Physical Principles: While observing your surroundings, take note of the physical principles at work. Consider Newton's Laws of Motion, light and sound wave behavior, or even basic changes. Consider how objects move, the influence of gravity, or the interaction of forces. 

Capture Physics: Take pictures of any unusual phenomenon you come across. This could be the way a pendulum swings, shadows interact with light, or sound waves produced by diverse sources. Capture these moments with written notes, sketches, or even photographs to study up on later.

Reflective Analysis: Reflect on your observations and the physical principles you discovered. Consider how these concepts influence your surroundings and daily life and what else you want to learn about them. Think of ways comprehending these concepts can help you appreciate the physical world more.  

  

Physicalist Concepts 

Physicalist concepts derive from a rigorous process based on empirical measurement and observation. The physical universe, regulated by natural laws and constituted of matter, is the underlying reality, according to this philosophical stance. It all starts with empirical observation, which is based on sensory experiences and scientific methodologies.  

♢ The physical world is all that exists, and everything including the mind, supernatural realms, and subjective experience, can be explained in physical terms. 

♢ Metaphysical entities, such as God or the soul, can be explained in physical terms. The physical worlds include supernatural and virtual worlds.  

♢ All causation is physical causation. 

♢ Reductionism is a valid approach to understanding complex phenomena, and everything can be explained in terms of constituent physical parts. 

♢ The physical world is causally closed, meaning all physical events are caused by other physical events. 

♢ The laws of physics govern all existing events. 

♢ Physical objects and processes have objective properties that are measurable. 

♢ There is no mind-body dualism; mental states are not separate from physical states. 

♢ There is no need to postulate any non-physical entities or properties to explain the world. 

♢ The physical world is ontologically independent of the mind or any other non-physical entity. 

♢ The physical world is self-sufficient and self-contained. 

♢ The universe is deterministic, meaning that all events are determined by prior physical causes. 

♢ The physical world is the ultimate reality, and all other domains of knowledge, such as ethics and aesthetics, are ultimately reducible to physical phenomena. 

 

History of Physicalism 

The parent of physicalism, materialism, holds that everything in the universe can be reduced to material or physical substances. It can be traced back to Democritus of Abdera (460 BCE) and his work with atomic theory. Ancient Greek philosopher, Thales (620 BCE), believed water is the fundamental substance of reality. The Roman poet Lucretius (99 BCE) was a strong materialist fond of nature, woods, open spaces, and science.  

Materialism, at its heart, provides a framework for describing the bones of existence by relying on rules and principles that are not only quantifiable but also empirically testable. This approach focuses on the physical, observable parts of reality, encouraging a deliberate and evidence-based examination of the world and its structure. It drives reasonable arguments by systematically examining even metaphysical and supernatural ideas and aims for evidence-based perspectives.

One major contrast between physicalism and materialism is that physicalism acknowledges there may be features or laws in the cosmos that we have not yet discovered or understood, or that may be more abstract or energetic than anticipated, and that these may play a role in explaining complex phenomena such as consciousness. In this regard, physicalism is more open-ended and adaptable than materialism. Physicalism accepts the possibility that the relationship between mental and physical states is more complex than known reductions, but it doesn't deviate from maintaining a stance of physicality by retaining physical principles.  

Physicalism, in its devotion to a naturalistic framework, is open to the possibility of even the most strange or otherworldly realities, postulating them as potential physical or chemical manifestations. This viewpoint lays the groundwork for a more in-depth investigation of "occult physics" or agnostic science - the study of hidden or undiscovered laws that may underpin these perplexing areas. Instead of thinking what exists beyond the current scope of physics as non-physical, physicalists guess that whatever exists beyond is some type of "spooky physics."

One reason being is because reports of supernatural phenomena tend to maintain physical aspects such as form, movement, and force. Some religious and supernatural doctrines align with physicalism by positing supernatural realms as advanced or concealed physical natures regulated by an unknown, or occult, physics. There is no clear distinction between supernatural and physical realms except by knowledge; the supernatural is as an outer or obscure layer of a physical existence that behaves according to principles exceeding our comprehension. This doesn't mean they're impossible to know, just that they may require different tools of analysis.

When revealed to us, these features are commonly measurable with factors that mirror design and functionality. Physicalism as a viewpoint bridges the gap between the paranormal and the physical, implying that even the most mysterious and transcendent parts of existence may ultimately have a physical basis in reality that the human brain has yet to discover. Throughout history, humanity has attempted to define and comprehend what it means to be "physical." This pursuit results in physicalism and the ideas in this book that anything that moves, expresses, implements, or has essence in any way can be considered physical.

 

Criticisms of Physicalism

While physicalism is a fascinating and prominent philosophical viewpoint, it is not without opponents. Several thought-provoking objections have evolved over the years, criticizing various facets of this philosophy. These critiques go into significant issues about consciousness, experience, and the boundaries of reductionism. The "knowledge" argument, the "explanatory gap," and the non-reductive perspective are among the noteworthy critiques. These critiques push us to reconsider physicalism's assumptions and boundaries, prompting a more in-depth investigation of the complexity surrounding the mind-body dilemma and the nature of subjective experience. 

 

The Knowledge Argument  

The knowledge argument, effectively developed by philosopher Frank Jackson, asserts that certain components of conscious experience, particularly "qualia" or subjective qualities of perception, cannot be fully comprehended or known through physical descriptions alone. According to Jackson's argument, even though we have perfect physical understanding of a thing, we may still lack subjective awareness of that phenomenon. 

Pretend that: 
 

1. Mary is a smart scientist who has never seen color because she has lived her entire life in a black and white environment. 
   
   
2. Mary is an expert in the physiological mechanisms underlying color perception. 
   
   
3. Mary escapes the monochrome space and is exposed to color for the first time. 
   
   
4. When Mary sees color, she discovers something new that cannot be fully explained in terms of physical laws. 

Consequently, Jackson proposes there is something about conscious experience (qualia) that cannot be entirely explained in terms of physical mechanisms.

The knowledge argument encourages us to picture Mary, a scientist, as someone who has never seen color and has only ever known shades of black and white. Despite this, Mary is a brilliant scientist who fully comprehends the physical principles underlying color perception and is well-versed in the neural mechanisms that underpin color vision. Mary, though, is eventually let out of the black and white space and gets to see color for the first time. Even though Mary previously understood everything there is to know about color perception from a physicalist standpoint, the question is whether she learns something new or obtains new information when she encounters color for the first time subjectively.  

→ Rebuttal to the Knowledge Argument 

The knowledge argument can be contested on the grounds that color vision is a unique neurochemical process with distinct information. By not experiencing the objective chemistry of color vision, Mary cannot possibly have obtained all information about color. She has technical knowledge but not the knowledge of chemical experience. One difficult aspect about Mary's situation is it's difficult to distinguish technical knowledge from experienced knowledge until such a thing like color vision is personally lived.

Color is a distinct type of knowledge based on photoreceptive experience. Color vision is the physical process anchored in the operations of the visual system. When light enters the eye, it interacts with photoreceptors, which are specialized cells in the retina. Cone photoreceptors oversee detection of different wavelengths of light and transfer that information to the brain. Every cone type is sensitive to a different wavelength range that correlates to different hues, and this is why people can be color blind of different colors at different degrees.  

In ophthalmology, every part of the field is characterized by methodology and reliant on a measurability of interactions. The subjective experience of red, for example, is featured by sensations, contrast, and real chemicals. There are color vision tests and comparative analyses to measure Mary’s ability to organically produce a red hue subjectively. Subjective color experiences, emotions, sensations, and perceptions are evidentially a result of physical reactions within the human body and brain.

 

The Zombie Argument 

The zombie argument, developed by philosopher David Chalmers, challenges the concept that physicalism can adequately explain consciousness. He presents a hypothetical concept of a "philosophical zombie" (p-zombie) that is a sentient human lacking subjective experience. Chalmers contends that the p-zombie has an identical physical composition as a human with subjectivity, and if such a universe is logically viable, then it means that consciousness is explained by something other than the physical realm. 

→ Rebuttal to the Zombie Argument 

 Physicalists argue, in response to Chalmers' zombie argument, that a precisely identical physical duplicate of a human would not lack consciousness since consciousness is inherently founded in physical processes. According to this viewpoint, all aspects of consciousness are generated by the brain's complicated neuronal activity, synaptic connections, and electrochemical communication. Consciousness would nonetheless appear as an inherent characteristic of the physical components in a physically indistinguishable replica. As awareness is regarded an intrinsic element of the physical universe, there would be no "consciousness gap" in such a being. However, the question over whether physicalism can fully explain consciousness or whether certain parts remain beyond simply physical explanations remains a topic of philosophical investigation. 

 

Non-Reductionism 

In relation to physicalism, non-reductionism is the philosophical position that mental states and properties cannot be entirely reduced to, or explained solely by, physical states and properties. In other words, non-reductionism contends that there are components of consciousness, subjective experience, and mental events that are not reducible to the underlying physical processes in the brain or any merely physical explanation.  

The existence of qualia is one of the most important distinguishing qualities underlined by non-reductionists. The subjective, qualitative properties of conscious experience — the "what it's like" to encounter something — are qualia. Sensations such as the redness of a ripe apple, the sweetness of sugar, and the discomfort of a headache, non-reductivists propose these physical descriptions alone cannot adequately captured or explained by physics.  

→ Rebuttal to Non-Reductionism 

The science of subjectivity and qualia is a huge and evolving field. Subjectivity refers to a personal and distinct essence of conscious experience, which may differ from person to person. Qualia encompasses the subjective and qualitative traits of experiences like food flavors and painful sensations. While these occurrences pose philosophical problems, the physicalist viewpoint argues that they can be successfully comprehended via empirical science. 

Importantly, physics is an ever-evolving field of knowledge not a closed system. Physicalists anticipate that any findings about consciousness will eventually be revealed to be physical in nature. This viewpoint is based on the premise that the fundamental rules and principles that control the cosmos apply cross-dimensionally, so even the most supernatural aspects of existence and consciousness are in the realm of physics. 

Subjectivity, by self-report, is physical. It's an account of shifting sensations (motion), transforming thoughts (state change), expressive symbols & sceneries (form and motion) — precisely the topics that physics covers. While we may not always understand the intricate workings of cognition and subjectivity, evidence points in the direction of abstract conversations like God and consciousness being completely in the study realm of physical science. 

 

The Explanatory Gap “Hempel’s Dilemma” 

Hempel's Dilemma raised by Carl Hempel is a big challenge to physicalism that focuses on two key points: "explanatory gaps” and of "multiple realizability.” Explanatory gaps imply that physicalism struggles to completely explain certain mental events in terms of purely physical processes, such as consciousness and qualia. Multiple realizability indicates that many physical systems can produce the same mental state. Hempel's Dilemma urgently questions whether physicalism can appropriately address the intricacies of mental experiences. 

→ Rebuttal to Hempel’s Dilemma 

A physicalist defense against Hempel's Dilemma is that, while the explanatory gap is accurate, it is not definitive evidence against physicalism. Instead, it serves as a sober reminder that physicists’ existing understanding is inherently limited. The concept of the "non-physical" is never clearly defined by Hempel or expressed in a way that gives any meaningful alternative to physics or the physicalist paradigm. 

According to physicalism, everything, including mental occurrences, is ultimately anchored in the physical universe. As a result, the challenge offered by the explanatory gap emphasizes the need of continually reflecting on the urgency of developing a more comprehensive physics — one capable of accounting for the complexity of consciousness, qualia, and subjective experiences. It is a call to review and correct any gaps in our present understanding of physical processes and their relationship to mental states. In essence, while the explanatory gap raises serious concerns, it mostly highlights the importance of continuing the work to explore and enhance physics rather than rejecting it. 

 

Reasons People Might Reject Physicalism 

Critics of physicalism often argue that not all aspects of human experience can be reduced to the physical world. One of the most well-known alternatives is dualism, the belief that the mind and body are separate entities. Dualists contend that mental states—such as thoughts, feelings, and consciousness—cannot be fully explained by physical processes in the brain, raising the issue of how mind and body interact.

Another challenge is the concept of qualia, which refers to the subjective, individual experience of sensations. For example, the way we experience the color red or the taste of salt is unique to each individual and seems to defy physical explanation. This leads to the argument that physicalism cannot account for the richness of consciousness.

The issue of free will also poses a problem for physicalism. If all human behavior is determined by physical causes — such as brain chemistry and biology — some argue that this leaves no room for free will or personal agency. Without free will, our actions would be mere reactions to physical stimuli, undermining our sense of moral responsibility.

The concept of emergence further complicates the picture. Some argue that phenomena like consciousness arise from complex systems but cannot be reduced to the physical components of those systems. For example, while individual neurons are simply cells firing, the subjective experience of consciousness is not something that can be fully explained by looking at individual parts in isolation.

On the other end of the spectrum is idealism, which posits that reality is fundamentally mental, and that the physical world is an illusion or a construct of the mind. Idealists argue that consciousness is the primary substance of the universe, which is in direct contrast to the physicalist view that only the material world is real.

Another concern is personal identity. Many reject physicalism because they see the self as something non-physical, a soul or essence that persists over time, which cannot be explained through physical processes alone. This raises the problem of mental causation: how can non-physical mental states cause physical events, like the movement of muscles or the firing of neurons?

  

Metaphysics 

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that, like physicalism, explores the nature of reality and existence. However, while physicalism is concerned with the material world and empirical science, metaphysics addresses questions that lie outside the scope of physics, empirical observation, and scientific study.

Though it may use terminology similar to that of the sciences, metaphysics is not a science. It cannot replace physical science because it lacks the rigorous scientific method. Instead, metaphysics delves into abstract aspects of existence that science cannot yet explain — either due to limitations in our tools or our own human capacity. For instance, some phenomena are beyond our detection because of the limitations of our sensory perception, the scope of our scientific instruments, or the inherent diversity in human biology and environmental constraints.

This is where metaphysics plays a crucial role: it serves as a philosophical space for exploring questions and ideas that are too obscure or intangible to be investigated through scientific means. Though metaphysics lacks the empirical testing found in science, its purpose is not to challenge or replace science but to complement it by offering a space for contemplation about the nature of reality that may not yet be accessible to scientific inquiry.

While metaphysics is abstract and often speculative, it is still valuable for posing questions about the unknown. As certain metaphysical topics become more empirically observable or relevant to our senses, they may transition into the realm of scientific study. The rigor of scientific methodology applies when a topic can be tested, observed, and falsified.

It’s important to understand that the rules governing philosophy differ from those of science. Philosophy allows for more abstract, open-ended exploration and questioning, whereas science is grounded in empirical data and testing. Metaphysics explores the boundaries of physics, asking questions about phenomena that may exist beyond our current understanding. This space remains open to curiosity and is intended to encourage reflection on what might lie outside of what we can currently observe or test.

While metaphysics doesn’t rely on practical observation for verification, this doesn’t mean that metaphysical phenomena are non-physical. Instead, it suggests that we simply don’t have the tools or the knowledge to fully comprehend them yet. In this way, metaphysics aligns with agnosticism — it operates in areas of uncertainty, where definitive answers are elusive, and it refrains from making strong claims about the nature of reality.

 

EXERCISE #12: Discerning Metaphysics from Physics 

1. Define Physics and Metaphysics

To begin, physics is the natural science concerned with understanding the fundamental principles that govern the physical universe. It focuses on measurable phenomena such as energy, matter, and the forces at play in the universe, and relies heavily on observation, experimentation, and mathematical modeling. Physics is rooted in empirical methods that aim to explain what exists, how it works, and why it behaves the way it does.

In contrast, metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that tackles questions beyond the scope of physical science. It addresses abstract concepts like existence, reality, causality, and time, investigating why there is something rather than nothing, and what it means for something to exist. Metaphysics often explores concepts that cannot be directly observed or measured, making it distinct from physics, which deals with tangible, empirical data.

2. Explore Physicalism

Physicalism is a philosophical viewpoint that aligns closely with the scientific method. It posits that everything that exists is either made of physical matter or can be fully explained by physical laws and interactions. For physicalists, all phenomena—whether mental, emotional, or conscious—can be reduced to physical processes, like brain activity or molecular interactions. In this worldview, consciousness, emotions, and even thoughts are byproducts of physical systems.

This perspective mirrors the approach of physics, which strives to understand and explain the universe using observable, testable, and quantifiable data. Physicalism is aligned with the scientific method in that it assumes all phenomena can ultimately be described by physical laws. This concept is especially relevant in fields like neuroscience, which seeks to understand mental processes through brain activity and chemical reactions.

3. Learn the Scientific Method

At the core of physics is the scientific method, a systematic process for discovering knowledge through observation, experimentation, and the formation of hypotheses that can be tested and refined. In physics, facts are gathered through sensory experiences and experiments that produce measurable data. These data help scientists develop models and theories that explain how the physical world operates.

The scientific method stands in contrast to metaphysical inquiry, which does not rely on empirical testing but rather philosophical reasoning and conceptual exploration. While physics focuses on what is measurable and observable, metaphysics delves into what is conceivable and speculative—such as the nature of being or the existence of parallel realities.

4. Contrast Physics with Metaphysics

To understand the distinction, let’s consider the nature of questions asked in each field. In physics, scientists might ask, “What are the physical properties of light?” or “How does gravity affect objects in motion?” These questions are grounded in observable facts and can be tested using controlled experiments. Physics, therefore, focuses on the mechanisms of the physical world.

Metaphysical questions, however, are more abstract. For example, “What is the nature of time?” or “Do we have free will, or is everything predetermined?” cannot be directly observed or tested. Instead, metaphysical inquiries involve pondering ideas that cannot be empirically validated. In this way, metaphysics frequently deals with questions about existence and reality that remain outside the scope of scientific testing and are often subject to philosophical debate.

5. Reflect on the Relationship

Both physics and metaphysics serve as essential ways of understanding the world, though they do so in different manners. Physics explains how things work based on observable evidence, while metaphysics asks why they exist in the first place and what the deeper nature of reality might be. Despite their differences, the two are not mutually exclusive. While physics focuses on the tangible, metaphysics provides room for exploring the intangible aspects of human experience—such as the mind, consciousness, and existence itself.

The idea of physicalism ties these two domains together. By proposing that everything, even consciousness and abstract ideas, has a physical basis, physicalism attempts to reconcile the philosophical inquiries of metaphysics with the empirical methods of physics. This interplay between abstract philosophical speculation and rigorous scientific inquiry invites us to consider the full spectrum of reality, from the physical to the metaphysical.

Reflection

To solidify your understanding, take a moment to reflect on the following questions:

• Which aspects of reality do you feel can be explained purely by science, and which might require metaphysical contemplation?
• How does physicalism challenge or support your view of the universe and existence?
• Can you think of any real-world phenomena that blur the line between physics and metaphysics?

This exercise encourages you to not only grasp the theoretical distinctions between physics and metaphysics but also to apply them in a way that enhances your understanding of the world around you.