This week, guest host Pat Flynn sat down with renowned Christian philosopher Dr. J.P. Moreland for a rich discussion on the soul, metaphysics, and the philosophical foundations of human dignity. Known for his contributions to Minding the Brain (Discovery Institute Press 2023) and for his long-standing engagement with philosophy of mind, Dr. Moreland shared not only his personal journey into the field, but also some of the most pressing philosophical questions surrounding consciousness, human nature, and the soul.

From chemistry to the soul

Dr. Moreland began his academic career as a physical chemistry major. He was headed toward a Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry before a life-changing conversion to Christianity in college redirected his focus. Drawn to theology, apologetics, and eventually philosophy, Moreland joined Campus Crusade for Christ and began encountering difficult philosophical questions posed by skeptics.

These challenges revealed the need for rigorous Christian philosophers, which ultimately led Moreland to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy under the mentorship of Dallas Willard (1935‒2013) at the University of Southern California. Since then, he has devoted his career to teaching, writing, and contributing to debates on the mind, soul, and the human person.

What is philosophy of mind?

Flynn prompted him to explain what philosophers of mind do. Moreland outlined how the field addresses fundamental questions about consciousness, free will, personal identity, and the nature of the soul. These are not primarily scientific questions, he emphasized, but metaphysical ones — dealing with categories of existence, substance, and causation that underlie all other disciplines, including neuroscience.

He explained that while neuroscience has made valuable progress in mapping brain functions and understanding causal relationships — such as how mirror neurons affect empathy — it cannot by itself determine what consciousness is or whether the soul exists. Such issues must be adjudicated through philosophical reasoning using criteria like explanatory power, simplicity, and coherence with broader metaphysical principles.

Three competing theories of consciousness

To illustrate this, Moreland shared an experience he had while presenting at the National Institutes of Health to over 100 neuroscientists. He outlined three major philosophical theories that are consistent with the empirical data on consciousness:

1. Strict Physicalism – Conscious states are brain states. For example, empathy is identical to mirror neuron activity.
2. Property Dualism – The brain has both physical and non-physical (mental) properties. Empathy arises from mental properties that depend on — but are not reducible to — brain function.
3. Substance Dualism – The soul and the brain are distinct substances. The soul is the seat of consciousness, and while it uses the brain to operate in the body, consciousness itself is non-physical.

Interestingly, Moreland noted that none of the neuroscientists challenged his claim that neuroscience alone cannot adjudicate between these competing models, highlighting the indispensable role of metaphysics.

Metaphysics and human nature

The conversation shifted to how metaphysics — the study of being — sets the foundation for discussions about human identity, morality, and rights. Moreland emphasized the importance of understanding natures, drawing on Aristotle’s distinction between substances and aggregates. He argued that without a shared human nature, concepts like “equal human rights” collapse.

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In evolutionary models, especially naturalistic or theistic evolution, organisms are often seen as mere historical resemblances with no essential nature. According to Moreland, this view undermines the philosophical grounding for human dignity and moral equality. If humans do not share the same nature (such as being made in the image of God), then rights become dependent on properties like intelligence, self-awareness, or functionality — properties that vary by degree.

This has sobering implications. As Moreland pointed out with dry humor, many college students may not meet those criteria during finals week. But more seriously, such criteria could justify unequal treatment of people with cognitive impairments or disabilities. He argued that only a view that affirms an intrinsic, shared human nature can sustain a belief in universal human dignity.

A common-sense realism

Pat Flynn emphasized that this Aristotelian framework, which sees human beings as unified substances with a common nature, resonates with common sense and has wide-ranging implications. Moreland agreed, stressing that the soul‒substance view not only accounts for consciousness and free will but also provides a solid foundation for ethics, law, and politics.

Conclusion

In this wide-ranging and deeply thoughtful interview, J.P. Moreland made the case that philosophy — and especially metaphysics — is not an abstract luxury but a necessary foundation for understanding ourselves, our minds, and our moral worth. Far from being outdated, the soul remains a vital concept for any worldview that takes seriously the realities of consciousness, freedom, and human equality. Without it, Moreland warns, we risk losing the philosophical scaffolding that has long supported the Western ideals of justice, dignity, and human rights.