Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

Mind Matters

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Web banner design of an American soldier saluting the American flag

Semper Fi: A Marine’s Perspective on Faith, Duty, and Service

In  this episode, host Robert J. Marks continues his conversation with retired major general Bobby Hollingsworth about his experiences in the U.S. Marines and his work advocating for reservists at the Pentagon. Hollingsworth unpacks the meaning of “Semper Fi” in the Marine Corps and the importance of supporting his fellow marines as riflemen on the pointed end of the spear. Read More ›

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Sound waves coming into an ear. Pixel perfect icon

The Radio Frequency Spectrum as a Finite Natural Resource

On this episode of Mind Matters News from the archive, hosts Robert J. Marks and Austin Egbert welcome Andrew Clegg to the show to discuss the radio spectrum as a finite natural resource and how to best manage it. The conversation kicks off with an overview of the electromagnetic spectrum and the different frequency bands used for various wireless technologies. Read More ›

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United States Air Force

From Dairy Farm to Fighter Pilot: More With Veteran Bobby Hollingsworth

Major General Bobby Hollingsworth discusses his life journey from growing up on a dairy farm to becoming a fighter pilot in the U.S. Marines. He describes how he was inspired to pursue aviation from a young age after seeing his uncle, a WWII Hellcat pilot. Hollingsworth discusses the discipline and work ethic he developed from growing up on a farm, Read More ›

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Elderly Man Stand Against American Flag For Veterans Day Holiday

Military Preparedness and the Path to Peace: An Interview with Veteran Bobby Hollingsworth

Major General Bobby Hollingsworth had a distinguished 38-year career as a U.S. Marine fighter pilot and in leadership roles including commanding the Marine Corps Reserve Support Command and serving as vice commander of Marine forces in the Pacific. After retiring, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to lead the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Read More ›

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man holding digital tablet, closeup

Flashes of Genius: An Interview with Touch Screen Inventor Hal Philipp

On this episode of Mind Matters News out of the archive, we share a memorable conversation with Hal Philipp, an inventor and entrepreneur who pioneered the capacitive touch screen technology that is now used in billions of devices worldwide. Philipp shares the story of his early work on optical sensors for automatic doors and faucets and how it led to Read More ›

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Artistic collage showcasing the iconic David sculpture, symbolizing individuality, individual empowerment, and the human potential for creativity and innovation. Generative AI

A Case for the Soul: An Interview with Joshua Farris

Is the mind the same thing as the brain? Recently, we’ve been tackling this question known as the mind-brain problem with several of the contributing authors to our recent book Minding the Brain. In a similar fashion, we can also ask if there’s more to the human person than just our bodies. This week we have neurosurgeon Michael Egnor talking about Read More ›

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Responsive Mirror neurons Side profiles of a couple with puzzle pieces forming their brains symbolizing the challenge of fitting together thoughts and ideas in a relationship

The Significance of Mirror Neurons: More With Dr. Mihretu Guta

On this episode, host Dr. Robert J. Marks continues his chat with Dr. Mihretu Guta about exploring the philosophical challenges surrounding the neuroscientific research on mirror neurons. What the heck is a mirror neuron you ask? As described in Part 1, it’s a type of brain cell that fires when a person observes an action being performed, as well as Read More ›

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A vibrant close-up of neurons showcasing their intricate structures and connections, highlighting the complexity of the nervous system.

Mirror Neurons, Consciousness, and the Bearer Question

For the last several months, we’ve been interviewing authors featured in the recent Bradley Center volume Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. The book delves into the age-old question: is the mind more than the brain? What was once solely a philosophical and metaphysical discussion has attracted the attention of science and is a much more Read More ›

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Profile of a young man with mental activity

Consciousness, Materialism, and the Limits of Reductionism

On this episode, host Pat Flynn concludes a three-part conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about all things related to AI, consciousness, and rationality. In Part 3, Flynn and Bringsjord summarize their points about integrated information theory and an alternative view, cognitive consciousness. The discussion explores the challenges of explaining consciousness from a materialist or physicalist perspective, noting the apparent qualitative Read More ›

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World Day against Human Trafficking. A man with his hands tied. Illegal human trafficking often involves serious violations of fundamental human rights

How Human Trafficking Flourishes in the Age of Social Media and How We Can Push Back

It’s tempting to think that human trafficking is a problem in a far-away land. Unfortunately, it’s much closer. Like in our back yard closer. On this episode, host Robert J. Marks speaks with Charlie Crockett, head educational trainer with Unbound Now, an organization that works to combat human trafficking through education, training, victim services, and partnerships with law enforcement. The Read More ›

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A striking depiction of a glowing brain with a hand signifying headache, mental strain, or migraine

Consciousness Conundrum: Integrated Information Theory vs. Cognitive Consciousness

On this episode, host Pat Flynn continues a three-part conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about all things related to AI, consciousness, and rationality. In Part 2, the discussion turns to Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and its claims about consciousness. IIT proposes that consciousness arises from the degree of informational integration in a system, so more integrated systems would have higher Read More ›

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man using laptop for searching of technology smart open AI or artificial intelligence using an artificial intelligence chatbot developed.

Exploring the Capabilities and Limitations of AI with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord

On this episode, host Pat Flynn begins a three-part conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about all things related to AI, consciousness, and rationality. Dr. Bringsjord has been studying and debating issues related to AI and the nature of consciousness for decades, and he shares his predictions about the capabilities and limitations of AI systems. He believes that while AI systems Read More ›

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image that represents the concept of expanded psychedelic consciousness

The Unique Relationship Between Consciousness and Its Bearer

What kind of being must exist for consciousness to exist? On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge conclude their discussion with Dr. Mihretu Guta about his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. The first half of this conversation centered on the amazing nature of consciousness and how it really doesn’t reduce to anything physical. In Part Read More ›

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Glowing human soul is illuminated with warm ethereal light against dark backdrop. Ethereal essence of person on abstract background. Spiritual body silhouette

In What Sense is Consciousness a Property?

On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge welcome Dr. Mihretu Guta to discuss his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Dr. Guta discusses the nature of consciousness and the challenges in understanding it from a philosophical perspective. He argues that consciousness is a unique property that is deeply subjective and personal, making it difficult to study Read More ›

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Deep meditation can create a spiritual bond between two people through telepathic communication. Concept Spiritual Bond, Deep Meditation, Telepathic Communication, Mind-Body Connection

The Impact of Descartes on the Philosophy of Mind

On this episode out of the vault, neuroscientist Dr. Michael Egnor welcomes Dr. Joshua Farris for a discussion about his recent published paper “Descartes’ New Clothes: Cartesian Thought in Philosophy, Neuroscience and Theism.” Descartes is famous for his dictum “I think, therefore I am.” Farris and Egnor discuss this statement and its implications for the mind-body debate. They also talk Read More ›

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Psychology of self-development. mind power control. human brain

Dr. Robert J. Marks Reads From Minding the Brain

Is your mind the same thing as your brain? Or are there aspects of mind that are external to the biology of the brain? This is the mind-body problem, and it has captivated curious minds since the dawn of human contemplation. Today many insist that the mind is completely reducible to the brain. But is that claim justified? On this Read More ›

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Machine learning reaction and ai artificial intelligence.Chat bot software network.big data and block chain system.Neuralink with smart brain.generative art images

AI’s Boundaries and Human Creativity: A Conversation with Dr. Robert J. Marks

In this recent radio interview, prefaced by a brief introduction from Discovery Institute representative Dr. Tom Winkler, host Mark Davis speaks with Dr. Robert Marks, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Baylor University and director of the Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Marks discusses his book Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Read More ›

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Brain mind way soul and hope concept art, illustration, surreal mystery artwork, imagination painting, conceptual idea of success

The Rational Soul: Rethinking Materialism with Neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor

In this episode, Pat Flynn and Dr. Michael Egnor conclude their discussion of Dr. Egnor’s contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Flynn and Dr. Egnor discuss Thomistic dualism and its relation to neuroscience and the soul. Thomistic dualism is the belief that the soul is a separate entity from the body and that the rational aspects of the soul, Read More ›

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Anthropomorphic robot in human court, neural network generated art. AI law concept. Digitally generated image. Not based on any actual person, scene or pattern. Generative AI

Richard Stevens on All Things AI and Law

In this episode, lawyer and Mind Matters News contributor Richard W. Stevens is on the show to discuss the legal issues and challenges around copyright, fair use, and the use of copyrighted material by AI systems. They discuss the implications of a recent Supreme Court case, Warhol vs. Goldsmith, that tackles the legal concepts of “derivative work” and “transformative work.” Read More ›

Two Scientists in the Brain Research Laboratory work on a Project, Using Personal Computer with MRI Scans Show Brain Anomalies. Neuroscientists at Work.
Two Scientists in the Brain Research Laboratory work on a Project, Using Personal Computer with MRI Scans Show Brain Anomalies. Neuroscientists at Work.

Dr. Michael Egnor: Neuroscience, the Soul, and the Limits of Materialism

In this episode, Pat Flynn and Dr. Michael Egnor continue their discussion of Dr. Egnor’s contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Flynn and Egnor discuss various criticisms of materialism in neuroscience. They touch on topics such as near-death experiences, the limitations of the computational theory of mind, and the nature of artificial intelligence. Dr. Egnor also addresses common questions Read More ›