^TagAristotle

^{Type
post

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
March 6, 2023

Categorized
Free will

Tagged
Aristotle, brain, causation, free will, Materialism, Matter, mind, Sean Carroll}

Sean Carroll: “How Could an Immaterial Mind Affect the Body?”

_{The well known physicist thinks free will is nonsense. But has he investigated the classical understanding of causation?} _{Michael Egnor

March 6, 2023

5

Free will}

Sean Carroll is a theoretical physicist at Johns Hopkins University who takes an atheist and materialist philosophical perspective on nature and on science. I have disagreed with him often — I’m in no position to judge his scientific acumen, but his philosophical acumen leaves a lot to be desired. An example of this is a question he asks in a recent documentary about free will (which I haven’t watched yet). In the trailer for the movie, Carroll asks, How in the world does the immaterial mind affect the physical body? Carroll’s denial of libertarian free will is based on this question, and of course, he believes that the immaterial mind does not exist and, if it did exist, could not Read More ›

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
February 24, 2022

Tagged
Angus Menuge, Aristotle, Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, descartes, Elon Musk, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, human dignity, Human exceptionalism, Jaegwon Kim, Michael Egnor, mind-body dualism, mind-body problem, Mind-Body problem (types of theory), Mind-Brain Distinction, Near-death experiences, Ned Block, Neuralink, Paul Churchland, religious liberty and the law, Richard Swinburne, Robert J. Marks, Roger Penrose, Roger Penrose (on consciousness), Stephen Hawking, Sybil, Sybil (1976 film), Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Aquinas (on perception)}

Discussing Consciousness and the Mind-Body Problem

_{Robert J. Marks

February 24, 2022

2}

What does it even mean to be aware of something, to be conscious? Why do the vast majority of people only have one consciousness? Will computers ever experience consciousness? On this Bingecast, Dr. Robert J. Marks and Dr. Angus Menuge discuss these questions and more. Show Notes 00:01:36 | Introducing Dr. Angus Menuge 00:07:02 | Near-death experiences 00:10:32 | The Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
October 27, 2021

Categorized
Ethics, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Abortion, Aristotle, Carl Trueman, Cartesian dualism, hylomorphism, Karl D. Stephan, Peter Kreeft, Rene Descartes, Roe v. Wade}

How a Theory of the Soul Drives Abortion Activism

_{Descartes’ theory that the soul and the body are utterly distinct, while mostly rejected in philosophy, is still part of popular culture} _{News

October 27, 2021

7

Ethics, Philosophy of Mind}

Every now and then, it’s useful to look at the philosophical underpinnings of current thought and what implications they have for engineering ethics. In a recent post on the website of the journal First Things, professor of biblical and religious studies Carl Trueman noted that Cartesian dualism — a way of looking at the human person promulgated by René Descartes (1596-1650) — is enjoying a comeback in the popular mind, although modern philosophy has long since discarded it as an inadequate model. (This article by Karl D. Stephan originally appeared at Engineering Ethics Blog (October 11, 2021) under the title “Against Cartesian Dualism,” and is reprinted with permission.) If you know anything about Descartes, you will probably recall his most famous saying: “I think, Read More ›

Pot with beautiful blooming azalea and cup of tea on table

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 27, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Aristotle, Arjuna Das, Four causes, Michael Egnor}

How Science Points To Meaning in Life

_{The earliest philosopher of science, Aristotle, pioneered a way of understanding it} _{News

July 27, 2021

4

Philosophy, Science}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” Among other things, he talks about how science points to meaning in life. Earlier, he had explained why he ceased to be an atheist as he learned more about science and its dependence on mathematics, which is not a material thing. In this section, he talks about the importance of the concept of purpose in nature (teleology), with a hat tip to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BCE) Here is a partial transcript and notes for the fifteen- to twenty-minute mark: Michael Egnor: I think teleology is the cornerstone of understanding nature. That whole system of understanding nature, that includes Read More ›

Tree brain with human head cape, idea concept of think hope freedom and mind , surreal artwork, dream art , fantasy landscape, imagination of nature

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 8, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Science

Tagged
Aristotle, David Papineau, Featured, Michael Egnor, Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Physics, Soul (as form of body), Werner Heisenberg}

Can Traditional Philosophy Help Us Understand Mind vs. Brain?

_{Michael Egnor asks us to look back to the traditional idea that the soul is the “form” of the body} _{News

July 8, 2021

11

Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Science}

Yesterday, we published the fourth portion of the debate between materialist philosopher David Papineau and neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, where the key issue was “Is the mind simply what the brain does?” Today, we look at the portion which starts roughly at 36 min where Papineau and Egnor start to talk about traditional philosophical ways of thinking about the soul and the body (partial transcript): Note: Dr. Papineau is a “physicalist.” On that view, “the mind is a purely physical construct, and will eventually be explained entirely by physical theory, as it continues to evolve.” (Philosophy basics) He is considered to be one of the best defenders of naturalism (nature is all there is), often called “materialism.” Michael Egnor: In the Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 4, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Aristotle, Arjuna, Consciousness, David Papineau, Featured, Franz Brentano, Michael Egnor, Physicalism, qualia, Thomas Aquinas}

Neurosurgeon Egnor Takes on Philosopher Papineau Round 1

_{In the debate, Egnor begins by offering three fundamental reasons why the mind is not the brain} _{News

July 4, 2021

7

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Recently, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor debated philosopher David Papineau at Theology Unleashed. Papineau is considered “one of the best defenders of naturalism” (actually, as he admits, physicalism). Egnor talks about how science and the practice of medicine persuaded him that there is a God and that the mind is real. The host is Arjuna and the show is billed as “Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” What follows is a partial transcript of the first portion, with notes: Michael Egnor: Just as a little background about where I’m coming from, I was raised as a functional atheist, and I was educated as a scientific atheist, so I was an atheist for most of my life. I was a biochemistry major in college, Read More ›

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
May 27, 2021

Tagged
addiction, Adrian Owens, Aquinas, Aristotle, Benjamin Libet, Cartesian dualism, Coma, Consciousness, corpus callosotomy, corpus callosum, Dualism, eliminative materialism, Emergence, free will, frontal lobotomy, Hebb's Law, hylomorphism, Materialism, mind, mind-body dualism, mind-body problem, Neuroscience, non-overlapping magisteria, open brain operations, Panpsychism, predestination, qualia, Roger Sperry, soul, Spirit, split-brain surgery, Terri Schiavo, Wilder Penfield}

Bingecast: Michael Egnor on the Human Brain

_{Robert J. Marks

May 27, 2021

4}

In this Bingecast episode, Dr. Robert J. Marks and Dr. Michael Egnor explore the human brain and its relationship to the mind. Is the mind an emergent property of the brain? Is there neurological evidence for the soul? What have brain experiments taught us about free will and the human person? Can you still think in a coma? Show Notes Read More ›

^{Type
podcast

Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
May 6, 2021

Tagged
Angus Menuge, Aristotle, Artificial Intelligence, Daniel Wagner, epiphenomenal, Jaegwon Kim, Materialism, mind-body dualism, mind-body problem, Near-death experiences, Rene Descartes, Richard Swinburne, substance dualism, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Hobbes}

Dr. Angus Menuge: The Mind-Body Problem (Part I)

_{Robert J. Marks

May 6, 2021

2}

The mind-body problem is much like the chicken-and-egg dilemma: Which came first? In today’s episode, Dr. Robert J. Marks sits down with Dr. Angus Menuge to discuss the basics of the mind-body problem, its philosophical history, and whether artificial intelligence ever has a chance at truly replicating the human mind. Show Notes Additional Resources

Purple transparent molecule model over purple

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
April 22, 2021

Categorized
Mathematics, Science

Tagged
Aristotle, Bruce Gordon, Macroscopic superposition, Michael Egnor, Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Physics, Thomas Aquinas}

Could the World Above the Level of the Particle Be Superposed?

_{It’s been done with molecules. After that, there are barriers} _{News

April 22, 2021

6

Mathematics, Science}

In last week’s podcast,,” our guest host, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, interviewed idealist philosopher of science and physicistBruce Gordon on how the quantum physics that underlies our universe makes much more sense if we have a non-materialist view of reality. Even then, it challenges our conventional view of how nature “must” work: We were introduced to the quantum eraser experiment, which showed that what happens at the level of individual particles depends on whether you choose to measure it or not and to non-locality, the Cheshire Cat’s science of being in no one particular place at any time. Particles can do that even if we can’t. But wait: Is it possible that things larger than particles can in fact do that Read More ›

Creative background, the human brain on a blue background, the hemisphere is responsible for logic, and responsible for creativity. different hemispheres of the brain, 3D illustration, 3D render

^{Type
podcast

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
April 22, 2021

Tagged
Aristotelianism, Aristotle, Idealism, metaphysics, Near-death experiences, Neuroscience, out-of-body experiences, Plato, soul, Thomas Aquinas, Thomism}

Bruce Gordon on the Meaning of Neuroscience (Part III)

_{Michael Egnor

April 22, 2021

1}

In this third and final episode with Dr. Bruce Gordon, host Michael Egnor picks Gordon’s brain on the overlaps between historical metaphysical perspectives and modern neuroscience. What does St. Thomas Aquinas have to say about metaphysical realities, and how does that compare to Plato’s idealism? Who is right? And what can near-death experiences and other phenomena tell us about the Read More ›

Dark energy with quantum waves, scientific concept

^{Type
podcast

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
April 15, 2021

Tagged
Aristotle, Idealism, Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Physics, Thomas Aquinas}

Bruce Gordon on Idealism and Quantum Physics (Part II)

_{Michael Egnor

April 15, 2021

1}

Continuing their discussion on idealism and the nature of reality, Michael Egnor and Bruce Gordon delve into the mystifying realm of quantum physics. What does quantum physics say about the nature of our reality? And how does this relate to philosophical theories about the world around us? Show Notes Additional Resources

^{Type
post

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
March 21, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Aristotle, Benjamin Libet, Blindsight, Brain transplants (partial), Eye and visual cortex transplant, Featured, Michael Egnor, senses}

What if only part — not all — of your brain were transplanted?

_{You might end up seeing double out of an eye a thousand miles away} _{Michael Egnor

March 21, 2021

7

Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind}

Recently, we’ve been discussing the concept of total or partial human brain transplants. What about transplanting an eye and the parts of the visual cortex it needs from one person to another? Which of the two people would be seeing out of that eye? The answer is not simple. As noted earlier, researchers may never succeed in transplanting both an eye and the hemisphere brain parts that the eye needs to function from one human being to another. But let’s assume a science fiction scenario — a thought experiment — in which there is an exchange. Jack gets Mary’s right eye/hemisphere and Mary gets Jack’s right eye/hemisphere. Both parties, who live on different parts of the planet, survive. For simplicity, Read More ›

Vice grip tool squeezing a plank with the word free will

^{Type
post

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
February 7, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Aristotle, Benjamin Libet, brain, Featured, free will, Hylemorphic dualism, Meat robots, Sam Harris, Thomas Aquinas}

A Reader Asks: Does Neuroscience Disprove Free Will?

_{Materialists sometimes misrepresent the evidence for free will, especially Benjamin Libet’s work} _{Michael Egnor

February 7, 2021

6

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Here’s the question: I have a question regarding free will. Sam Harris in his interview with Dan Dennett said that “If we decide to do go to somewhere we experience it later but our brain decided it much earlier than our experience to this decision. If we scan the brain at that time we will tell you before you came to know” Now it raise a question because we decide through intellect. You said that free will is due to intellect so intellect is challenged here. It’s an excellent question. The answer in brief is that we most certainly do have free will. We can see this from three perspectives: scientific, philosophical, and logical. The scientific evidence The scientific evidence Read More ›

Asian women travel relax in the holiday. Standing on the mountain. Thailand

^{Type
podcast

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
August 20, 2020

Tagged
Aristotle, Bernardo Kastrup, Consciousness, cosmopsychism, decomposition problem, dissociative identity disorder, endogenous, Michael Egnor, mind, Panpsychism, Physics, Quantum Physics, Sabine Hossenfelder, Sense of smell, Sense of touch, senses, soul, Thomas Aquinas}

Bernardo Kastrup on Panpsychism and Cosmopsychism

_{Michael Egnor

August 20, 2020

1}

How do we know what happens around us? Is the whole universe conscious? Dr. Michael Egnor and Dr. Bernardo Kastrup discuss panpsychism, cosmopsychism, and conciousness. Show Notes Additional Resources

Incognito warrior in iron helmet and red cloak.

^{Type
post

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
August 3, 2020

Categorized
Ethics, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
___longform, Aristocracy, Aristotle, Darwinism, democracy, Edward Feser, Featured, government, Hannah Arendt, Karl Marx, Mob rule, Oligarchy, Plato, Republic (book), soul, Spirit, Timocracy, totalitarianism, Tyranny}

What would Plato Say About Antifa? Or Darwin?

_{A careful reading of Plato and Arendt goes a long way toward explaining the current scene—but it is unsettling reading} _{Michael Egnor

August 3, 2020

8

Ethics, Philosophy of Mind}

In college, I hated Plato. We read his Republic, and, as a patriot and an idealistic young (small “d”) democrat, I was appalled at the hegemony of the Guardians and at Plato’s disdain for democracy. It seemed to me that his Guardians were the archetypal totalitarians, and that it was a fundamental human right — enshrined in the Constitution — to be ruled only by consent of the governed. In my dotage, I am more sympathetic to Plato — it’s remarkable how much smarter the old philosopher has gotten in the past 40 years! I am still uncomfortable with Guardians, at least of the secular sort. But I think John Adams got it right when he observed that “our Constitution Read More ›

Baby girl in surprise talking on a vintage phone

^{Type
post

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
August 1, 2020

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
___longform, Aristotle, B. F. Skinner, Behaviorism, Featured, Grammar, Language, Noam Chomsky, semantics, Syntax, Wilhelm von Humboldt}

Why Linguist Noam Chomsky Is a Great Scientist of Our Era

_{He singlehandedly rid linguistics of a stultifying (and technically mistaken) behaviorism} _{Michael Egnor

August 1, 2020

9

Philosophy of Mind}

Noam Chomsky (right, in 2017) is, in my view, the best scientist of the past half-century. His work fascinates me, which is not a necessary criterion for being a great scientist—but it helps! I hasten to add that I do not share his politics—I’m of a conservative bent. But his theory of linguistics is brilliant and represents an anthropological, biological, and even metaphysical insight unrivaled in science since relativity and quantum mechanics. A case can be made that Chomsky’s insights are more profound than even those of modern physics, because they plumb the human soul in ways that physics cannot. To understand Chomsky’s achievement, it’s helpful to understand what linguistics was until Chomsky transformed it in the 1950s. Philosophers and Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
July 27, 2020

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Accidental form, Aristotle, Featured, Form, Personal continuity, pre-Socratic philosophers, Problem of change, Ship of Theseus, soul, Substantial form, Susan Blackmore}

Interview With a Woman (or Women) Formerly Called Susan Blackmore

_{A professor of psychology argues that there is no continuity between our present selves and our past selves} _{Michael Egnor

July 27, 2020

6

Philosophy of Mind}

Much of modern philosophy of mind is a compendium of New Age gibberish. An exemplar of this mess is Susan Blackmore, a Visiting Professor (Psychology) at the University of Plymouth. She is an atheist, a “skeptic,” and a prolific author. When she was interviewed in 2016 about her philosophy of mind, remarkably, in addition to the usual atheist denial of immortality of the soul and of free will, she denied personal continuity over time. How does Blackmore account for the doggedly persistent sense we have of personal continuity? “Parallel processing” is her explanation. Blackmore points out that there are many brain pathways that are active simultaneously when we perceive, think, and act. What does that have to do with personal Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
June 8, 2020

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Aristotle, Augustine, Duns Scotus, Featured, Immanuel Kant, Nominalism, Noumena, Phenomena, Plato, Realism, Thomas Aquinas, William of Ockham}

Nominalism: The Stubble Left by Ockham’s Razor

_{Ockham was a methodological minimalist, not a philosophical minimalist} _{Michael Egnor

June 8, 2020

6

Philosophy of Mind}

Ockham did not say that complex metaphysical realities don’t exist. He said that we should trim our understanding of reality to the use of as few concepts as possible for reasons of efficiency, even at the cost of absolute precision. Ockham may thus be said to be a methodological minimalist. Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Michael Egnor
Date
March 22, 2020

Categorized
Religion

Tagged
Aristotle, Atheism, Five Ways, Jerry Coyne, Logic, Philosophy, science, Theism, Thomas Aquinas}

God’s Existence Is Proven by Science

_{Arguments for God’s existence can be demonstrated by the ordinary method of scientific inference} _{Michael Egnor

March 22, 2020

10

Religion}

If we approach the arguments logically, as the ancient philosophers did, we will see that it is more certain that God exists than that anything else does. Atheist evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne should consider the arguments more carefully before assuming that prayer is foolish.

Why Pioneer Neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield Said the Mind Is More Than the Brain

_{He gave three lines of reasoning, based on brain surgery on over a thousand patients} _{News

February 29, 2020

6

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Michael Egnor points out that Penfield offered three lines of evidence: His inability to stimulate intellectual thought during brain operations, the inability of seizures to cause intellectual thought, and his inability to stimulate the will. … So he concluded that the intellect and the will are not from the brain. Which is precisely what Aristotle said.