Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagMichael Egnor

big-data-and-artificial-intelligence-concept-human-brain-glo-659545582-stockpack-adobestock
Big data and artificial intelligence concept. Human brain glowing from processor, symbolizing the fusion of human intelligence and machine learning capabilities. Evolution of technology of data.

Bill Dembski: The Power of Information and the Limits of AI

If you’re going to binge anyone, it might as well be Bill Dembski. On this episode of Mind Matters News, get your fill of insight and wisdom from Dr. Dembski, a senior fellow at Discovery Institute and a Distinguished Fellow with the Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Here, he is interviewed by neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor. The Read More ›

meditative-state-of-mind-concept-ai-generative-stockpack-adobe-stock
Meditative state of mind concept. Ai generative

The Immortal Mind: How Neuroscience Points Beyond Materialism

Andrew McDiarmid interviews neurosurgeon Michael Egnor on the ways in which the mind is more than the brain
After defining terms, Egnor begins exploring the compelling evidence he has gathered across four decades of practice in neurosurgery. Read More ›
illustration-showing-a-silhouette-of-a-human-head-surrounded-1174469766-stockpack-adobestock
illustration showing a silhouette of a human head surrounded by expressive thought bubbles with various symbols and punctuation marks representing diverse mental processes.

The Mind Beyond the Brain: Insights from a Neurosurgeon

Dr. Michael Egnor argues, “There’s something about the relationship between the mind and the brain that’s not in the textbooks.”
Egnor’s work invites readers to reconsider the mysteries of the mind, urging a more open and curious approach to understanding human consciousness. Read More ›
mind-body-spirit-soul-and-you-stockpack-adobe-stock-66095758-stockpack-adobestock
mind, body, spirit, soul and you

Michael Egnor: Your Spiritual Soul Has No Off Switch

Here is Dr. Egnor’s talk at the Dallas Conference last February, where he discussed some themes from The Immortal Mind, to be published June 3
He makes the case—based on 40 years of practice and over 7,000 brain surgeries—that science has gotten it all wrong about the soul. Read More ›
sunrise-on-mountain-with-foggy-in-medicine-lake-at-jasper-st-296354410-stockpack-adobestock
Sunrise on mountain with foggy in Medicine lake at Jasper

Here’s Neurosurgeon Mike Egnor on Sean McDowell’s Show

With a couple of revealing excerpts from the transcript
The soul can seem a bit of a mystery because the popular idea of the soul, as a sort of “ghost” is not the traditional philosophical (or Christian) one. Read More ›
Free-Will-Mikhail-Adobe-Stock-285512869

A Neurosurgeon Makes the Neuroscience Case for Free Will

Michael Egnor is concerned about the serious social implications of denying free will
Insisting that there is no free will amounts to declaring “I’m a meat robot, so take seriously what I’m saying.” That’s self-refuting nonsense, Dr. Egnor says. Read More ›
a-human-head-with-glowing-neurons-in-the-brain-generative-ai-561842189-stockpack-adobestock
A human head with glowing neurons in the brain. Generative AI

The Nature of Mind, Free Will, and Human Uniqueness: A Deep Dive

The book Minding the Brain sparks some interesting discussions about what is really unique about the human mind
Many philosophers have concluded both from experience and careful consideration that mental phenomena cannot be reduced to neural mechanisms. Read More ›
brain-psychology-mind-soul-and-hope-concept-art-3d-illustrat-425584963-stockpack-adobe_stock
Brain psychology mind soul and hope concept art, 3d illustration, surreal artwork, imagination painting, conceptual idea

Can Christianity Just Abandon the Idea of the Soul?

Theologian Nancey Murphy thinks that the Christian tradition can do without the idea of a soul, by relying only on faith in a bodily resurrection
The view Murphy outlines at Closer to Truth has more in common with modern materialism than with a traditional Christian understanding of the human soul. Read More ›
brain-psychology-mind-soul-and-hope-concept-art-3d-illustrat-477180129-stockpack-adobe_stock
Brain psychology mind soul and hope concept art, 3d illustration, surreal artwork, imagination painting, conceptual idea

Beyond Materialism: Exploring the Mind-Brain Relationship

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and philosopher Angus Menuge probe the relationship through philosophy, neuroscience, and information theory
Understanding the mind in terms of information processing, rather than as a byproduct of brain activity, could reshape the debate. Read More ›
doctor-writing-on-a-clipboard-in-a-high-tech-medical-environ-955475674-stockpack-adobe_stock
Doctor writing on a clipboard in a high-tech medical environment, monitors displaying vital signs

5. NDEs: The Enduring Mystery of the Pam Reynolds Case

There can be no question that Reynolds was dead when she had an NDE during a risky operation. To succeed, the procedure required her to be dead…
As evidence for NDEs accumulates, we hear from cardiologists rather than mediums on the subject and that is a promising development for future research. Read More ›
illustration-of-synapse-and-neuron-on-a-blue-background-stoc-287514101-stockpack-adobe_stock
Illustration of synapse and neuron on a blue background.

Brain Imaging Study Shows That Intelligence Uses the Whole Brain

A focus on specific regions like the prefrontal cortex can mislead. When we are thinking, we use brain-wide connections between many parts of the brain at once
It’s not that the textbooks are wrong; they are just not telling the whole story. Read More ›
brain-mind-way-soul-and-hope-concept-art-illustration-surreal-mystery-artwork-imagination-painting-conceptual-idea-of-success-stockpack-adobe-stock
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 ›

a-stunning-visual-of-a-brain-split-into-two-halves-showcasing-electric-energy-in-contrasting-colors-symbolizing-creativity-and-logic-stockpack-adobe-stock
A stunning visual of a brain split into two halves, showcasing electric energy in contrasting colors, symbolizing creativity and logic.

What Did Splitting Human Brains in Half Tell Us About the Mind?

How did split brain study subjects compare things when no part of their brains saw both things?
As Michael Egnor told Pat Flynn, research of this sort — where split brains provide united perceptions — is an unacknowledged problem for materialism. Read More ›
epilepsy-awareness-concept-human-face-with-copy-space-epilepsy-or-seizure-disorder-stockpack-adobe-stock
Epilepsy awareness concept: human face with copy space. epilepsy or seizure disorder.

What Brain Surgery for Epilepsy Taught Us About the Human Mind

Michael Egnor continues his discussion with Pat Flynn, noting that neither seizures nor Penfield’s brain stimulation provoked abstract thought
The claim that we will find a materialist explanation some day, no date specified, means that we never reckon with failure to do so. Read More ›
ai-robot-profile-section-showing-the-brain-and-internal-working-system-ai-generated-stockpack-adobe-stock
AI robot profile, Section showing the brain and internal working system, AI generated.

Science Writer: No Way To Tell If AI Is Conscious

Absent a definition of consciousness, it might not be possible to prove extravagant claims wrong
The difficulty of defining consciousness could very well be one of the reasons why tech moguls can get away with extravagant claims about conscious AI. Read More ›
mind-burst-stockpack-adobe-stock
Mind Burst

Could Consciousness Have Evolved?

Michael Egnor takes a hard look at the evidence in this classic podcast episode.

On a classic episode of ID the Future, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor interviews Bernardo Kastrup, a philosopher with a background in computer engineering, about consciousness, evolution, and intelligent design. Did consciousness evolve? What does the evidence suggest? And how do materialists deal with the seemingly immaterial reality that is consciousness?  Enjoy this guest episode from Mind Matters, a podcast of Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Dig Deeper Cross-posted at Evolution News.

concept-of-artificial-general-intelligence-achieving-human-l-1057608663-stockpack-adobe_stock
Concept of artificial general intelligence achieving human-level understanding

Debunking the Hype of Artificial General Intelligence

In this episode, host Michael Egnor speaks with Dr. William Dembski, a senior fellow at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, about his essay titled “Artificial General Intelligence as an Idol for Destruction.” Dembski argues that the belief in the imminent arrival of artificial general intelligence (AGI) is unachievable and destructive. He points out that while AI has made Read More ›

woman-on-a-futuristic-fantasy-backdrop-portrait-with-selective-focus-and-copy-space-stockpack-adobe-stock
Woman on a futuristic fantasy backdrop. Portrait with selective focus and copy space

The Primacy of Information Over Matter

In this episode, host Michael Egnor continues a conversation with Dr. William Dembski, a senior fellow at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, about the relationship between the mind and the body. Dembski argues that if information is considered fundamental rather than matter, it dissolves the mind-body problem. He suggests that information is not constrained by the speed of Read More ›

mystical-awakening-unleashing-the-power-of-consciousness-the-mind-body-connection-stockpack-adobe-stock
Mystical Awakening, Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, The Mind-Body Connection

William Dembski on Information and the Mind-Body Relationship

On this episode, host Michael Egnor speaks with Bill Dembski about the concept of information and its role in understanding the mind-body relationship. Dembski explains that information is a verb, representing the narrowing of possibilities and the constraining of contingency. He discusses how information can be understood in different contexts and how it relates to concepts such as meaning and communication. Read More ›

an-individual-journeys-up-the-stairway-to-heaven-transcending-mortality-and-entering-the-afterlife-ascending-through-celestial-clouds-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
An individual journeys up the stairway to heaven, transcending mortality and entering the afterlife. Ascending through celestial clouds. Generative AI

Evaluating Popular Theories of the Mind-Brain Relationship

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the most common mind-brain theories? On today’s episode, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor concludes his conversation with Dr. Angus Menuge about the mind-brain relationship and the popular dualistic theories of Cartesian dualism and Thomistic dualism. Cartesian dualism posits that the mind and body are fundamentally different substances, with the mind being immaterial and the body Read More ›