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Ah, perfect — that makes sense! You want a comparison of Neo-Perennialism with the Hard Problem of Consciousness (HPOC). Let’s unpack this carefully.
1. The Hard Problem of Consciousness (HPOC)
Coined by David Chalmers, the Hard Problem asks:
Why and how do physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective experience?
Easy problems: explaining behavior, cognition, perception — basically “how” the brain functions.
Hard problem: explaining qualia — the raw feel of experience: “What is it like to be me?”
Key points:
HPOC is about subjective, first-person experience.
Science can track brain activity but struggles to explain why it feels like something to be conscious.
Philosophical implications: mind-body dualism, panpsychism, consciousness as fundamental.
2. Neo-Perennialism
Neo-Perennialism is a modern spiritual/philosophical movement derived from Classical Perennial Philosophy, which holds:
There is a universal, transcendent reality or ultimate truth underlying all religions and mystical experiences.
Reality can be accessed through direct experience, meditation, or inner realization.
Figures associated: Aldous Huxley, Frithjof Schuon, Ken Wilber (integral perspective).
Key points:
Consciousness is not just a brain process; it is primary, fundamental, or universal.
Subjective experience is a window into ultimate reality.
There is a strong overlap with mystical traditions, where “pure consciousness” or “awareness” is seen as ultimate.
3. Comparison: Neo-Perennialism vs HPOC
| Aspect | Neo-Perennialism | Hard Problem of Consciousness (HPOC) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Ultimate reality, universal consciousness | Subjective experience / qualia |
| Ontology | Consciousness is fundamental; world emerges from awareness | Consciousness emerges (or seems to) from physical brain processes |
| Approach | Mystical, introspective, experiential | Philosophical, scientific, analytical |
| Explanation of experience | Direct experience reveals reality; qualia are windows to the Absolute | No current explanation; subjective experience is “hard” to reduce to physical terms |
| Goal / Purpose | Spiritual realization, enlightenment | Understanding nature of mind; bridging mind-body gap |
| View on universality | Consciousness is universal, shared, eternal | Individual qualia may be private; universality not assumed |
4. Key Insight
HPOC asks: “Why does it feel like something to be conscious?”
Neo-Perennialism answers (sort of): “Because consciousness is fundamental; subjective experience is reality itself.”
In other words, Neo-Perennialism sidesteps the “hard problem” by positing consciousness as the ground of all being, rather than something produced by matter. It’s like a philosophical “solution” in a spiritual sense, though not empirically testable.
If you want, I can also make a pithy tagline-style summary that captures Neo-Perennialism vs the Hard Problem in one or two sentences — very handy for philosophy notes or talks.
Do you want me to do that?
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