^TagAndrew McDiarmid

Expérience de mort imminente ou EMI, near death experience

^{Type
podcast

Author
Andrew McDiarmid
Date
December 7, 2023

Tagged
Andrew McDiarmid, Gary Habermas, Minding the Brain, Near-death experiences}

Gary Habermas on the Scientific Evidence for Near-Death Experiences

_{Andrew McDiarmid

December 7, 2023

2}

Is there strong scientific evidence for near-death experiences? On this episode of Mind Matters, we’re happy to share host Andrew McDiarmid’s recent ID The Future conversation with Dr. Gary Habermas about his chapter evaluating the evidence for near-death experiences in the recent book Minding the Brain. As Dr. Habermas explains, most near-death accounts contain both objective and subjective elements. While personal testimony about other Read More ›

Generative AI illustrations of the last step of the spiritual journey. Depths of consciousness, hidden wisdom, and transformative growth open a portal into a new realm of conscious awareness.

^{Type
post

Author
Andrew McDiarmid
Date
November 2, 2023

Categorized
Neuroscience

Tagged
After Death, Afterlife, Andrew McDiarmid, Gary Habermas, Near Death Experiences, Neuroscience, science}

The Scientific Evidence for Near-Death-Experiences

_{A conversation with Dr. Gary Habermas on the plausibility and evidence of near-death-experiences.} _{Andrew McDiarmid

November 2, 2023

2

Neuroscience}

Is there strong scientific evidence for near-death experiences, the subject of the new film After Death? On an episode of ID the Future, I spoke with Dr. Gary Habermas about his chapter evaluating the evidence for near-death cases in the recent book Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. As Dr. Habermas explains, most near-death accounts contain both objective and subjective elements. Personal testimony about other realms can’t be independently corroborated, but objective evidence rooted in this world can be confirmed and evaluated. “I can’t verify heavenly discussions or heavenly sites,” says Habermas, “so the kind of NDE data I’m talking about virtually always occur on this earth in normal kinds of situations, like parking lots or in your Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Andrew McDiarmid
Date
October 31, 2023

Categorized
Philosophy

Tagged
Andrew McDiarmid, Darwin, Materialism, Matter, mind}

Materialism Can’t Account for Beauty

_{Concepts like truth, beauty, and goodness can't be derived from the material world} _{Andrew McDiarmid

October 31, 2023

2

Philosophy}

Is the world a good place? Is truth relative? Can beauty be defined? On a classic episode of ID the Future, host David Klinghoffer speaks with biologist Dr. Ann Gauger, a Senior Fellow with Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, about her article “The Transcendental Treasury of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness” for Evolution News. These abstract concepts don’t derive from the material world, yet we feel impoverished without them; they’re foundations of a life worth living. Truth, says Klinghoffer, has fallen on hard times these days. Gauger calls truth a correspondence with reality and says we must have it to thrive. “Truth is essential for our lives,” says Gauger. “We can’t function in a society that isn’t based on truths. It’s Read More ›

Sad man getting dislikes and being rejected by audience for social addiction ad

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
August 13, 2023

Categorized
Social Media

Tagged
Andrew McDiarmid, Anxiety and depression, Cal Newport, emotions, mental health, New York Post, Reality, social media, Twitter}

The Benefits of Ditching Social Media

_{Tech writer Cal Newport explains why boredom is actually a good thing} _{News

August 13, 2023

2

Social Media}

Cal Newport ascended into the limelight upon his viral Ted Talk in which he called people to ditch social media. In this video from last year, Newport rehashes some of the main benefits of not having social media. Boredom is on the list, interestingly; Newport notes that most people no longer have moments of boredom, and as a consequence, don’t have any space in their lives to reflect, think, and work through their emotions. Andrew McDiarmid, a contributor at Mind Matters, has written on this in the past. He notes, Mind wandering, or stream of consciousness thought, gives us several mental gains, including the ability to consider obstacles to future goals, generate novel, creative thoughts, and place our experiences in meaningful Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Andrew McDiarmid
Date
June 23, 2023

Categorized
Environment

Tagged
AI, Andrew McDiarmid, ChatGPT, Inventions, John Muir, Machinery, Nature, social media, Technology, Yosemite}

John Muir and the Pleasures of Nature

_{The inventor-turned-naturalist can teach us the benefits of loving the natural world} _{Andrew McDiarmid

June 23, 2023

8

Environment}

April 21 is John Muir’s birthday. Muir is typically remembered as one of America’s foremost naturalists, father of our national parks and a tireless defender of the wilderness. But he might very well have been none of those things. As a young man, Muir was gifted at building machines, and he was set to pursue a career in technology until everything went dark. Literally. Revisiting this little-known chapter of Muir’s life can inspire us to better navigate our own relationship to technology and give us a fresh reason to celebrate his work. In 1849, Muir left his homeland of Scotland and moved with his family to the backwoods of Wisconsin. Farm work, chores, and family Bible studies kept him busy Read More ›

The robot guard on the dark garbage dump: A surreal 3D scenery

^{Type
post

Author
Andrew McDiarmid
Date
June 19, 2023

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
AI, Andrew McDiarmid, Artificial Intelligence, Computers, Gaming AI (book), George Gilder, Pixar, The Myth of Artificial Intelligence (book), thinking, WALL-E (film)}

AI Could Take Us Over, But Not In the Way You Might Expect

_{Revisiting last year's article from tech critic Andrew McDiarmid} _{Andrew McDiarmid

June 19, 2023

5

Artificial Intelligence}

As I reported last year, there’s been a lot of talk about a singularity in the last decade. That’s the point when machine intelligence (AI) exceeds human intelligence and begins to rule humanity and eventually the entire universe. It’s a scary proposition to be sure, but we can rest easy on that front, because it’s not going to happen. The futurists assume there’s a bridge between narrow applications of AI and the general intelligence humans possess. But no such bridge exists. As Erik J. Larson explains in his book The Myth of Artificial Intelligence, we’re not even on the right road to such a bridge. You can also take George Gilder’s word for it. One of the most influential thinkers on technology and economics Read More ›

Young woman relaxing at winter sea beach. Traveler resting by blue mountain

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
April 7, 2023

Categorized
Technology

Tagged
addiction, Andrew McDiarmid, Big Tech, Discovery Institute (mission), Life, Purpose, Technology, thinking}

In Defense of Daydreaming

_{Andrew McDiarmid encourages people to set aside their devices and embrace the discomfort of silence} _{News

April 7, 2023

3

Technology}

At the end of the day, do you ever feel like you’ve ingested so much information but have thought and contemplated so little? When do we take the time to simply be quiet and think? Discovery Institute’s Andrew McDiarmid encourages people to set aside their devices and embrace the discomfort of silence in a piece from The Epoch Times. He writes, A recent study reported in the Journal of Experimental Psychology suggests that the act of “just thinking” can be more rewarding than we might realize. The authors of the paper acknowledge that the ability to engage in internal thoughts without external stimulation is a unique characteristic in humans, yet we regularly underappreciate the benefits of doing so. This constant feed of Read More ›

Businessman in creative blue maze background.

^{Type
post

Author
Peter Biles
Date
April 5, 2023

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
AI, Andrew McDiarmid, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, COSM, Discovery Institute (mission), Robert J. Marks, Science fiction, Slate, Solutionism, WALL-E}

AI is a Tool, Not a Solution for Everything

_{Life is complicated and our problems can't always be solved through an engineering approach} _{Peter Biles

April 5, 2023

4

Artificial Intelligence}

AI is a tool. In the words of Robert J. Marks from an interview at last year’s COSM conference, it can’t be a “friend or foe,” because it’s not a living entity. It’s something that can be used (or abused). Such a neutral, balanced attitude toward AI is alien to many Big Tech moguls who are pitching AI as the solution to many of the world’s complicated problems. For them, on the flipside of the doomsday alarmists, AI will usher in a new epoch of human progress. They may be partially right about that, but according to this writer at Slate, their hype reflects a commitment to technological “solutionism,” the idea that tech, once adequately suited for the task, can Read More ›

Concept of robots replacing humans in offices

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks and Andrew McDiarmid
Date
March 30, 2023

Tagged
AI, Andrew McDiarmid, Artificial Intelligence, Robert J. Marks, Technology}

Navigating the Technological Age

_{Robert J. Marks and Andrew McDiarmid

March 30, 2023

1}

Humans have created technology for centuries. But what happens when we stop using tech and tech starts using us? In this episode, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow Andrew McDiarmid sits down with Robert J. Marks to talk about the root meaning of technology, how it has developed, and the ways we can healthily navigate our highly technologized world. Additional Resources

^{Type
podcast

Author
Andrew McDiarmid and Doug Smith
Date
November 24, 2022

Tagged
[Un]Intentional (book), [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and How You Can Break Free, Andrew McDiarmid, Android, Android phone, Androids, Big Tech, Big Tech influence, Doug Smith, Edward Bernay, Google, I-phones, iPhone, iPhones, screens, The Truman Show, Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey)}

Getting Intentional About Your Screens

_{Andrew McDiarmid and Doug Smith

November 24, 2022

1}

Our obsession today with screens is, often unintentionally, taking us to places we regret. We use these windows into the world for hours every day, often unaware how intentional content creators and app designers are in shaping our decisions and forming harmful habits. Read More ›

Smart industry control concept.Hands holding tablet on blurred automation machine as background

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks and Andrew McDiarmid
Date
July 21, 2022

Tagged
Andrew McDiarmid, authentic technology, Big Tech, Big Tech influence, critical thinking, Jacques Ellul}

Who Controls the Tech?

_{Robert J. Marks and Andrew McDiarmid

July 21, 2022

1}

Technology companies spend a lot of money trying to determine the best way to hook customers on their products. They have tremendous influence, but you have the final say. Andrew McDiarmid discusses technology, influence, and how to reset your technology use with Robert J. Marks. Additional Resources Andrew McDiarmid’s website Andrew McDiarmid at Discovery.org How to Glorify God with Your Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 15, 2022

Categorized
Addiction, Social Media, Spirituality

Tagged
Andrew McDiarmid, Authentic technology concept, Big Tech's pervasive influence, Featured, Jacques Ellul, Marshall McLuhan, Robert J. Marks, Social media addiction and teens, Technological Society (book), Technology (regaining control), Technology word origin}

Taking Our Lives Back from Big Tech, a Step at a Time

_{If we don’t have the time to stop and reflect because we are too busy checking our social media…} _{News

July 15, 2022

13

Addiction, Social Media, Spirituality}

In a recent podcast, “Weaving the Technology of Our Lives” (July 14, 2022), Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks interviewed tech and culture writer Andrew McDiarmid on the deep ways Big Tech governs our lives — ways of which we are often unaware — and concrete steps for taking control back: https://mindmatters.ai/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Mind-Matters-195-Andrew-McDiarmid.mp3 Here’s a partial transcript and notes. Additional Resources follow: Robert J. Marks: We have been talking about Jacques Ellul’s concept of technique… Andrew McDiarmid: Well, Jacques Ellul was a French sociologist, theologian, and philosopher of technology … Ellul’s lifetime spanned almost the entire 20th century, 1911 to 1994. He wrote books and articles throughout his career on how he saw technology impacting the “human adventure,” as he Read More ›

Close up of small caged colorful birds in pet store in morning sun

^{Type
post

Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
May 9, 2022

Categorized
Censorship, Global Technology

Tagged
Andrew McDiarmid, Elon Musk (and Twitter), Jacques Ellul, Pregnant man emoji, Twitter (and Elon Musk)}

Can Elon Musk Really Stop Big Tech From Controlling Us?

_{We usually don’t realize how far it has already gone in efforts to control our thinking} _{Denyse O'Leary

May 9, 2022

3

Censorship, Global Technology}

Think it doesn’t control you? Andrew McDiarmid can offer you some examples of pervasive efforts to control our thinking: It appeared in Apple’s iPhone software update this year, when a “pregnant man” emoji was quietly added to keyboards. It’s seen in Google’s new (and currently stalled) “inclusive language” feature, which autocorrects gendered terms like “landlord,” “policeman” or “housewife.” Andrew McDiarmid, “Big Tech is subtly controlling our lives—and we need to fight back” at New York Post (May 7, 2022) Surely, almost nobody on the planet, apart from small pressure groups, had asked for a “pregnant man” emoji. The concept has nothing whatever to do with the serious problems many pregnant women face worldwide. Landlord? Again, many people worldwide face problems Read More ›

Puppet hands from leadership controlling our lives. Concept

^{Type
podcast

Author
Andrew McDiarmid
Date
April 21, 2022

Tagged
[Un]Intentional (book), [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and How You Can Break Free, Andrew McDiarmid, Android, Android phone, Androids, Big Tech, Big Tech influence, Doug Smith, Google, iPhone, iPhones, screens}

How to Sever Big Tech’s Strings

_{Andrew McDiarmid

April 21, 2022

1}

Doug Smith, author of [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and How You Can Break Free, explains to Andrew McDiarmid how we can escape the subtle influence of Big Tech. He also emphasizes the importance of removing ourselves from our screens so we can enjoy the outside world and recapture our creativity. Show Notes 00:38 | Introducing Doug Smith Read More ›

^{Type
podcast

Author
Andrew McDiarmid
Date
April 14, 2022

Tagged
[Un]Intentional (book), [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and How You Can Break Free, Andrew McDiarmid, Big Tech, Big Tech influence, Doug Smith, Edward Bernay, I-phones, screens, The Truman Show, Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey)}

The Secret Scheme of Screens

_{Andrew McDiarmid

April 14, 2022

1}

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
December 14, 2021

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Global Technology

Tagged
Andrew McDiarmid, China (high tech), Erik Larson, Featured, GPT3, Jaron Lanier, Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now (book 2018), You Are Not a Gadget (book 2011)}

Understanding the de Facto Cold War With China

_{High tech is currently a battlefield between freedom and totalitarianism} _{News

December 14, 2021

13

Artificial Intelligence, Global Technology}

In “Hyping Artificial Intelligence Hinders Innovation” (podcast episode 163), Andrew McDiarmid interviewed Erik J. Larson, programmer and author of The Myth of Artificial Intelligence (Harvard University Press, 2021) on the wrong path he thinks some analysts are taking in terms of what machines can and can’t do. Plus they discussed Alan Turing’s change of heart. Then they looked at the critical fact that Big Data can easily be the enemy of new ideas. And now, the future …? https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/34ce0d74-aa74-4ad9-9599-e9ddf2be56a7-Mind-Matters-News-Episode-163-Erik-Larson-.mp3 This portion begins at roughly 38:23 min. A partial transcript and notes, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. They began with: How do we determine that we are not simply manipulated by social media? Larson recommended a book by computer scientist Read More ›

Analytics data big business intelligence background bi

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
December 10, 2021

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
Andrew McDiarmid, Big Data (as stifling innovation), Big Data (suppressing new ideas), Copernicus (data problem), Eric J. Larson, Human Brain Project (demise), Innovation (lagging)}

Why Big Data Can Be the Enemy of New Ideas

_{Copernicus could tell us how that works: Masses of documentation entrench the old ideas} _{News

December 10, 2021

12

Artificial Intelligence}

In “Hyping Artificial Intelligence Hinders Innovation” (podcast episode 163), Andrew McDiarmid interviewed Erik J. Larson, programmer and author of The Myth of Artificial Intelligence (Harvard University Press, 2021) on the wrong path in terms of what machines can and can’t do. Now they look at the critical fact that Big Data can easily be the enemy of new ideas. https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/34ce0d74-aa74-4ad9-9599-e9ddf2be56a7-Mind-Matters-News-Episode-163-Erik-Larson-.mp3 This portion begins at roughly 30:00 min. A partial transcript and notes, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Andrew McDiarmid: Are there lessons about the ethics of innovation from the past that would be useful to us today? Can you think of anything they learned about innovation in the past that we could really learn from as we’re innovating today? Read More ›