Does Everything Have Consciousness—Or Only Us?

Promod Puri December 2, 2025 Hinduism Edit”Does Everything Have Consciousness—Or Only Us?”

What is the difference between you and me, and a spoon, a table, a stone, or any object or thing? All are physical matters. But we have consciousness; others don’t. Or maybe they have it, which we don’t assume.

Anyway, that is what distinguishes us and the “non-consciousness” objects. How is this distinction through consciousness created, which directs the nature of physical matter to make it a mindful entity?

Why do humans have consciousness while everything else seems silent? Or is that silence just our own limitation?
There are two theories.

Before we approach these concepts, let us define or get a practical understanding of consciousness.

According to Wikipedia, consciousness is an “inward awareness of an external object, state, or fact,” and these could include perceptions, thoughts, and feelings. The keywords are “inward awareness,” suggesting it is already present.

The dictionary explanation says, “full activity of the mind and senses.” In that activity, the knowledge gained through external or inherent factors stimulates the development of a conscious mind.

Consciousness is both a biological and psychological phenomenon that correlates with the other.

Now, let’s see what the theories say.

Theory 1: Dualism — Consciousness Comes From “Outside”
Dualism says consciousness doesn’t come from matter; it’s plugged into matter. A divine USB stick, if you like. When it’s unplugged, the body ceases to be conscious.

It’s simple and spiritual.

But science can’t detect where this “spark” comes from or how it connects to matter.

It’s a neat idea, especially if you believe in divine powers.

But science doesn’t know where this plug comes from, who made it, or why it prefers humans over household cutlery.

Theory 2: Panpsychism — A Tiny Spark in Everything
The second view takes a surprising turn:
Everything in the universe has some form of consciousness, even if very tiny.

Not full-blown thoughts—more like the faintest hint of awareness at the particle level.

When millions or billions of particles in a matter come together in complex ways, they create a rich consciousness like ours. When they don’t, they remain quiet and basic—like the spoon.

This theory is called panpsychism, meaning “mind everywhere.”
It doesn’t say rocks think. It just suggests the raw material of consciousness is already present in rocks and everything else.

Is the Universe a Conscious Network?

Some modern thinkers go further: maybe the universe itself is one giant conscious whole, and everything inside—stones, stars, humans—is a fragment of that cosmic mind. A scientific echo of the Upanishads’ “Om purnam adah,” which speaks of totality and interconnectedness.

So…Does the Spoon Feel?
Science can’t yet tell us. Philosophy refuses to rule it out. And ancient wisdom says the universe is conscious in all its parts.

In short:
You may be the only one in your kitchen with opinions—but not necessarily the only one with a flicker of awareness.

-Promod Puri
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