LAWS FOR REVELATION. THE COVERING LAW ACCOUNT OF EXPLANATION AND THE REVELATION PROBLEM FOR PANPSYCHISM*
Kriterion June 2, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1590/0100-512x2025n16201edom via DOAJ
Summary
Panpsychism, the view that consciousness is a fundamental feature of reality, faces the 'revelation problem'—the challenge that if consciousness is fundamental, we should have direct insight into its nature, which we don't. This paper argues that by adopting 'laws of metaphysics'—principles governing fundamental reality—panpsychism can better address this problem. Specifically, these laws reveal that the assumptions behind the revelation problem are themselves problematic, reducing the problem's force against panpsychism.
Study at a glance
| Design | theoretical argument |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Appealing to laws of metaphysics can illuminate problematic assumptions underlying the revelation problem, thereby mitigating its urgency for panpsychism. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT This research argues that if panpsychism adopts the socalled laws of metaphysics, then it will be better equipped to confront one of its most pressing challenges: the revelation problem. By appealing to the laws of metaphysics, it becomes possible to illuminate the problematic nature of the very assumptions underlying the revelation problem, thereby mitigating the urgency it poses for panpsychism.