Nick Spencer speaks with panpsychist philosopher and professor Philip Goff. 16/12/2025

Human beings need a sense of purpose but differ strongly on whether that purpose is discovered or created, on whether the universe itself has a purpose or whether purpose is just the result of a hyperactive human mind?

This disagreement often maps onto the theist/atheist divide – but not always and not necessarily. Perhaps the issue of purpose is wider than belief in God.

So does the universe itself show signs of purpose? If so, how would we know? Or is all this simply a delusion of a hominid brain than needs purpose and is happy to create it if it can’t find one out there?

Join Nick Spencer as he speaks to Philip Goff, a British author, panpsychist philosopher, and professor at Durham University, to discuss his latest book, ‘Why? The Purpose of the Universe’.

Tune in here.

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