Because that thesis has made better predictions than every rival theory which seemed at the time more reasonable (superstition, vitalism, Cartesian dualism, etc)
When it comes to the question of consciousness, I humbly submit that “i-don’t-know-ism” has made better predictions (i.e. none) than any rival theory.
The thesis doesn’t predict that every reduction is going to be easy. And “I don’t know” really masks a good bit of knowledge, unless you’re equally surprised by all new data. Physicalism directly predicts a good many of the things we consider too obvious to categorize as “mysterious” (e.g. that brain damage can cause personality change).
Sure! And I would take decent odds on physicalism...at 20:1 in my favor I wouldn’t have to think too hard; I’d be pretty sure to take the bet, because there is some pretty convincing evidence, like how brain damage works and how simple formulas about e.g. mechanics or radiation explain phenomena in what we might naively assume to be different realms, e.g. solar sails and roof albedo and warm light bulbs. If you can formulate a hypothesis with one set of data and test it using several other sets and get confirmation, it makes sense to guess that it works on all sets. And if you put a gun to my head and said “guess a theory of everything,” I’d guess physicalism...as I said earlier, “of course physicalism or whatever you want to call it is the most plausible known and articulated theory of everything.”
My only point is that we don’t yet have enough evidence to be sure of physicalism in its broadest senses so as to justify shutting down alternative avenues of exploration for standing questions such as the origin of the universe, the nature of consciousness, and the computability of matter.
When it comes to the question of consciousness, I humbly submit that “i-don’t-know-ism” has made better predictions (i.e. none) than any rival theory.
The thesis doesn’t predict that every reduction is going to be easy. And “I don’t know” really masks a good bit of knowledge, unless you’re equally surprised by all new data. Physicalism directly predicts a good many of the things we consider too obvious to categorize as “mysterious” (e.g. that brain damage can cause personality change).
Sure! And I would take decent odds on physicalism...at 20:1 in my favor I wouldn’t have to think too hard; I’d be pretty sure to take the bet, because there is some pretty convincing evidence, like how brain damage works and how simple formulas about e.g. mechanics or radiation explain phenomena in what we might naively assume to be different realms, e.g. solar sails and roof albedo and warm light bulbs. If you can formulate a hypothesis with one set of data and test it using several other sets and get confirmation, it makes sense to guess that it works on all sets. And if you put a gun to my head and said “guess a theory of everything,” I’d guess physicalism...as I said earlier, “of course physicalism or whatever you want to call it is the most plausible known and articulated theory of everything.”
My only point is that we don’t yet have enough evidence to be sure of physicalism in its broadest senses so as to justify shutting down alternative avenues of exploration for standing questions such as the origin of the universe, the nature of consciousness, and the computability of matter.