Physicalism doesn’t fail. It is misunderstood.

It is assumed by physicalists that since all things must ‘exist’ physically then any ‘ideal’ nature, not being physical, ipso facto does not exist.

My take is that the physical can only exist in terms of the awareness of ‘it,’ and that to be aware is to be aware of the ‘physical.’

In short a ‘thing,’ and the awareness of that thing, are the same thing. The ideal is 'built into' the material, and vice versa. Like flip sides of a coin, neither can exist without the other.

https://johnnyroneill.medium.com/awareness-and-consciousness-and-mind-oh-my-d610fda8c47d

Thanks for the read!