p-zombie
/ˈpiː ˈzɒm.bi/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A p-zombie is a philosophical idea of a being that acts exactly like a conscious person, but has no inner experience. It looks and behaves human, but is said to have no awareness or feelings.
- The professor used a p-zombie to explain consciousness.
- A p-zombie would talk like us, but feel nothing.
Adinary Nuance
A p-zombie is not a normal zombie from horror stories. It is a thought experiment used in philosophy, not a real creature in everyday life. Writers use it when they want to discuss consciousness, not fear or fiction.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- xác sống triết học
- Spanish
- zombi filosófico
- Chinese
- 哲学僵尸
- Japanese
- 哲学的ゾンビ
- Korean
- 철학적 좀비
Etymology
The term comes from philosophy of mind in modern English. The 'p' stands for 'philosophical', and 'zombie' suggests a being that seems alive but lacks inner life.
Common phrases
philosophical zombiep-zombie argumentthe p-zombie problem
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is p-zombie a real word in everyday English?
- It is mostly used in philosophy, not in daily conversation.
- What is the difference between a p-zombie and a zombie?
- A zombie is a fictional monster. A p-zombie is a philosophical example.
- How do people use p-zombie in academic writing?
- They use it to discuss whether consciousness can exist without awareness.