gabe_reads 's review for:

Why? the Purpose of the Universe by Philip Goff

1.75

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

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I really struggled to read this book, at times that was because it dealt with some very confusing (to me) concepts in metaphysics and quantum mechanics. But mostly because I found the whole thing so frustrating.

Let's start with the good. I really liked the layout of the chapters, with an initial premise that maps out his idea, and a further section where he digs deeper into objections or further thoughts. I also respect him for being very good at anticipating what my objections would be. There was also definitely interesting philosophy and ideas in here, however I felt like too often they weren't the ones the author was advocating.

I think, if you accept his assumptions, then he makes a really convincing and compelling story. But I don't accept his assumptions, and I think he argues them quite poorly. He'd often take something as true, or outline why he thinks it in a very cursory way, and then use it to build up his further points. I also think he doesn't give enough thought to alternative explanations. Some were dismissed because he just found them unconvincing, or improbable, with little more explanation. His own ideas were certainly treated with kid gloves in comparison. An example might be

rejecting materialism because it cannot create consciousness/experiential understanding, but failing to give any thought to how a fundamental base layer of consciousness in the universe creates anything other than consciousness.

The last chapter was also quite rogue and bizarre, though unlike others I found the taxation post-script quite fun!

Overall, despite some ideas that were broadly interesting, I was left deeply frustrated and unconvinced by this book.