Tag: Idealism | Page 2 | Mind Matters

Illustration of synapse and neuron on a blue background.

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post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
July 14, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Consciousness, Daniel Dennett, David Chalmers, Dualism, Idealism, Integrated Information Theory (IIT), Materialism, Michael Graziano, Naturalism, Panpsychism, Quantum Collapse}

Will We Soon Be Able to Test Theories of Consciousness?

_{Proponents of two leading theories of consciousness are trying to develop tests for their models, in a hitherto baffling field} _{Denyse O'Leary
July 14, 2021

7

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Science journalist and author Anil Ananthaswamy has written a thoughtful piece at New Scientist on the leading models of consciousness and their relationship to quantum mechanics (quantum physics). Are we reaching the point where we can test at least one of them? Ananthaswamy is well qualified to assess the arguments. He is the author of both Through Two Doors at Once (2018) on quantum physics and The Man Who Wasn’t There (2015) on the nature of the self. Models of consciousness that assume that “consciousness isn’t separate from the material reality that physics explains” (materialist or naturalist theories) fall into three general classes, as he explains. Analysts like Tufts philosopher Daniel Dennett and Princeton neuroscientist Michael Graziano argue that consciousness Read More ›

Light rays through the black window. Toned photo

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post

Michael Egnor
Date
May 23, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Aldous Huxley, Dualism, Featured, Idealism, LSD, Mysticism, Near-death experiences (recall), Psychedelics, William James}

Can LSD Help Us Understand the Mind–Brain Relationship?

_{Is the mind generated by the brain or does the brain merely focus the mind on the current scene? An experiment sheds some light} _{Michael Egnor
May 23, 2021

5

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

In a fascinating article inThe Guardian titled “Acid test: scientists show how LSD opens doors of perception,” science editor Ian Sample discusses recent research on the mechanism by which LSD alters the brain and the mind. He begins by quoting Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) who noted that LSD “lowers the efficiency of the brain as an instrument for focusing the mind on the problems of life.” Remarkably, recent work in neuroscience supports Huxley’s view. The research, conducted at Cornell University, confirms what has been called the Rebus model of psychedelics. Rebus is a rough acronym for “relaxed beliefs under psychedelics”; the model proposes that the brain is essentially a prediction engine for daily life. In this model, the brain processes information 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

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podcast

Bruce Gordon and Michael Egnor
Date
April 22, 2021

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

Bruce Gordon on the Meaning of Neuroscience (Part III)

_{Bruce Gordon and 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 ›

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News
Date
April 16, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Bruce Gordon, Consciousness, Cosmopanpsychism, Featured, Franz Brentano, Idealism, Materialism, Michael Egnor, Panpsychism, Panpsychism (vs. materialism), Thomas Nagel}

A Physicist and Philosopher Examines Panpsychism

_{Idealism says everything is an idea in the mind of God. Panpsychism says everything participates in consciousness (thus is not just an idea)} _{News
April 16, 2021

9

Philosophy, Science}

Bruce Gordon thinks that, for a thing to be conscious, there must be something that it “is like” to be that thing. Can panpsychism demonstrate that?

Bruce Gordon on Idealism and Quantum Physics (Part II)

_{Bruce Gordon and 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

Side view of young man brain and thinking concepts

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podcast

Bruce Gordon and Michael Egnor
Date
April 8, 2021

Tagged
cosmopsychism, Franz Brentano, George Berkeley, Idealism, Immanuel Kant, Panpsychism, Plato, Thomas Aquinas}

Bruce Gordon On Idealism and the Nature of Reality (Part I)

_{Bruce Gordon and Michael Egnor
April 8, 2021

1}

What is the fundamental nature of reality? Is reality more like a mind, or more like a physical object? What is panpsychism? Tune in to this week’s podcast to hear guest host Michael Egnor interview Dr. Bruce Gordon on idealism. Gordon explores different varieties of idealism, the insights of past philosophers, and the theories of contemporary thinkers. Show Notes Additional Read More ›

Laboratory mice in the experiment test. Blue filter.

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post

Michael Egnor
Date
December 1, 2020

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
David Chalmers, Dualism, Dunning-Kruger effect, Featured, hard problem of consciousness, Idealism, Materialism, Mind-Brain Distinction, Roger Sperry, Steven Novella, Thomistic dualism}

Has Neuroscience “Proved” That the Mind Is Just the Brain?

_{This is hardly the first time that bizarre claims have been made for minimal findings. In neuroscience, materialism is the answer only if you don’t understand the questions.} _{Michael Egnor
December 1, 2020

7

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Last month, materialist neurologist Steven Novella made a rather astonishing claim in a post at his Neurologica blog: A recent open-access study of learning and decision-making in mice shows that the human mind is merely what the human brain does. That’s a lot for mice to prove. In the study, the mice were trained to choose holes from which food is provided. Their brain activity was measured as they learned and decided which holes were best. The research looks specifically at quick and intuitive decision-making vs. decision-making that is slower and involves analysis of the situation. The investigators found that analysis-based decisions in the mice involve brain activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, which is a region of the brain Read More ›

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post

News
Date
September 3, 2020

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion

Tagged
Bernardo Kastrup, cosmopsychism, Featured, free will, George Berkeley (1685–1753), god, Idealism, Materialism, Michael Egnor, Naturalism}

Does Physics Today Point to Mind Rather Than Matter Only?

_{A cosmopsychist looks at the universe, God, and free will} _{News
September 3, 2020

12

Philosophy of Mind, Religion}

Bernardo Kastrup tells Michael Egnor that he does not think God is self-reflective. That, he thinks, is a unique job for humans.

Does the Moon Exist if No One is Looking at It?

_{Bernardo Kastrup and Michael Egnor
August 13, 2020

1}

Is our physical reality purely subjective or is it objective? Why has materialism been around for so long? Do we have free will? Dr. Michael Egnor and Dr. Bernardo Kastrup discuss physics, idealism, materialism, and free will. Show Notes Additional Resources