^TagMichael Egnor

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 26, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Science

Tagged
Arjuna Das, Big Bang, Black hole, Causal closure, Featured, General theory of relativity, Materialism, Michael Egnor, Quantum Entanglement, Singularity, Theology Unleashed}

Why Neurosurgeon Mike Egnor Stopped Being a Materialist Atheist

_{He found that materialism is just not working out in science} _{News

July 26, 2021

11

Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Science}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did another podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” Among other things, Egnor talked about why he ceased to be an atheist as he learned more about science and its dependence on mathematics, which is not a material thing. A partial transcript follows, taking us down to 15 minutes, with notes (more in a further installment): Arjuna Das: (00:01:49) Today, I’ve got Michael Egnor on. I’m very delighted to have him on for a second time. He’s a neurosurgeon, a Christian, and he’s quite good at arguing philosophy too… W So we’ll start out with him telling a little bit of a story, how he changed his metaphysical views through things Read More ›

Adult and child hands holding encephalography brain paper cutout, Epilepsy awareness, seizure disorder, mental health concept

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 15, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Abstract thought, Adrian Owen, Arjuna, David Papineau, Dualism, epilepsy, Featured, Michael Egnor, Persistent vegetative state (PVS), Physicalism, Theology Unleashed, Wilder Penfield}

The Reality of the Mind: The Argument From Epilepsy

_{Why do epileptic seizures evoke many odd behaviors but not abstract thought?} _{News

July 15, 2021

9

Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

In the recent debate between neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and philosopher David Papineau, “Atheist Philosopher and Christian Neurosurgeon Debate Materialism” at Theology Unleashed, there was sort of digression at 49:30 on the nature of thought. Dr. Egnor talks about what he learned from his experiences with treating epilepsy and Dr. Papineau responds. 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: There are three metaphysical questions that I think can be answered in an inferential way, Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 9, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
David Papineau, Featured, Hugh Everett, John Bell, Many Worlds, Michael Egnor, Multiverse, Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Physics}

Quantum Physics: Is Everything Determined? Egnor vs. Papineau

_{Physicalist philosopher David Papineau is clearly unhappy with the implications of quantum mechanics, as neurosurgeon Michael Egnor sets them out} _{News

July 9, 2021

8

Philosophy, Science}

Yesterday, we published the fifth portion of the debate between materialist philosopher David Papineau and neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, where the key issue was “Can traditional philosophy help us understand the mind vs. the brain?” In this final instalment, we look at the portion which starts roughly at 47 min where Papineau and Egnor start to talk about quantum physics, the physics that governs electrons, which famously do not obey the same rules as larger particles and are also the most basic level of the brain (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 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 ›

Psychology concept. Sunrise and woman silhouette.

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 7, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
David Papineau, Dualism, Featured, Metaphysics of Sensory Experience (book), Michael Egnor, Mind vs. brain, Physicalism, Theology Unleashed}

Egnor vs. Papineau, Round 4: Egnor Defends the Mind vs. the Brain

_{Philosopher David Papineau does not feel that neurosurgeon Michael Egnor is being “entirely helpful” at this point…} _{News

July 7, 2021

9

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Yesterday, we published the third portion of the debate between materialist philosopher David Papineau and neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, where the key issue was “Could there have been a material cause for the Big Bang that is held to have started our universe?” For Egnor’s opening statement, go here. Here’s Papineau’s reply. Today, we look at the portion which starts roughly at 26:30 where they start to talk about the human mind. Is the mind simply “what the brain does”? Papineau begins: 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 Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 6, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Big Bang, Black holes, Causal closure, David Papineau, Featured, Michael Egnor}

Round 3: Egnor vs Papineau: The Big Bang Has No Natural Beginning

_{In the debate between theistic neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and naturalist philosopher David Papineau, the question gets round to the origin of the universe itself} _{News

July 6, 2021

6

Philosophy, Science}

Michael Egnor begins this portion of the discussion by asking What caused the Big Bang? What causes the singularities at the core of black holes? (Yesterday, we published materialist philosopher David Papineau’s reply to neurosurgeon Michael Egnor. For Egnor’s opening statement, go here. Starts, roughly, at 21:30 min: David Papineau: I don’t think it’s a coherent question. It’s like asking what causes the number five. I mean, you’re misapplying the notion of cause to the beginning of the material universe. … I’m not following. I said all physical effects have a physical cause, and you’re going to give me a counterexample of a physical effect that doesn’t have a physical cause, so what would that be? Note: The Big Bang, Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
July 5, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Consciousness, David Papineau, Dualism, Michael Egnor, Naturalism, Physicalism}

Round 2: Philosopher Papineau Replies to Neurosurgeon Egnor

_{Dr. Papineau is considered to be one of the best defenders of naturalism (nature is all there is), often called “materialism.”} _{News

July 5, 2021

12

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Yesterday, we published a portion of the transcript of the debate between materialist philosopher David Papineau amd neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, in which Egnor explains how, despite early atheism, the practice of medicine led him to believe that there is a God and that the mind is not simply what the brain does. He offered three reasons. Today, here’s a transcript of David Papineau’s reply. Starts, roughly, at 9:00 min: Note: Dr. Papineau is a “physicalist,” a form of materialism according to which “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 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
post

Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
June 17, 2021

Categorized
Ethics, Natural Intelligence, Neuroscience

Tagged
Ed Yong, Intelligence (genesis), Laboratory animals (ethics), Michael Egnor, Nautilus, Octopus intelligence, Pain, Pain in animals, Pain in humans, Rats (laboratory rats), Robyn Crook}

Octopuses Get Emotional About Pain, Research Suggests

_{The smartest of invertebrates, the octopus, once again prompts us to rethink what we believe to be the origin of intelligence} _{Denyse O'Leary

June 17, 2021

7

Ethics, Natural Intelligence, Neuroscience}

The octopus is becoming a popular creature among neuroscientists. It is a very smart invertebrate with an unusually complex nervous system, organized in a fundamentally different way from that of, for example, mammals. Recently, a researcher has found the first strong evidence that octopuses feel pain, as opposed to merely reacting to it. There are two parts to pain: The natural physical reaction, like a sophisticated alarm system, sets off a chain of involuntary responses. But that chain of responses, by itself, doesn’t prove that any “self” is feeling anything. The alarm system would work just the same in an empty building as in a populated one. The second component can be called “emotional.” The life form experiences the pain Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
June 5, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Benjamin Libet, free will, Free won't, Michael Egnor, Robert J. Marks}

New Paper Provides Further Evidence for Free Will

_{According to the new research, many of the busy brain signals on which the “no free will” position depends on were system noise} _{News

June 5, 2021

6

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

We all sense that free will is real. We know that we could have stopped ourselves from making some mistakes. For decades, some neuroscientists have claimed that free will is an illusion, based on some well-publicized experiments. Some recent research challenges that: Experiments spanning the 1960s and 1980s measured brain signals noninvasively and led many neuroscientists to believe that our brains make decisions before we do—that human actions were initiated by electrical waves that did not reflect free, conscious thought. However, a new article in Trends in Cognitive Science argues that recent research undermines this popular case against free will. “This new perspective on the data turns on its head the way well-known findings have been interpreted,” said Adina Roskies, Read More ›

Human skull with a syringe holds in the mouth and vaccine bottle on space of brown paper, Bad side effect concept

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
May 31, 2021

Categorized
Ethics, Medicine and Health

Tagged
Abortion, Conscience rights, Euthanasia, Human embryos (14-day rule), Michael Egnor}

Michael Egnor: Stop Making Killing a Form of Cure

_{Euthanasia and abortion are not forms of medicine, he says} _{News

May 31, 2021

5

Ethics, Medicine and Health}

Recently, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor pleaded with medical colleagues to take a stronger stand on the rapid normalization of killing as a form of “cure” in our society: The medical profession should take a clear stand on this issue: doctors who deliberately kill — whether by abortion or by physician-assisted suicide or by euthanasia — are not practicing medicine when they kill. Medical practice always entails the maintenance of health, the treatment of disease, and the relief of suffering. Ending the life of a patient or of the child in his mother’s womb is neither the maintenance of health nor treatment of a disease nor the alleviation of any suffering. It is simply the killing of an innocent unwanted child. I Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
May 29, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Abby and Brittany Hensel, Angus Menuge, Conjoined twins, Dualism (and personal identity), Featured, Individuality, Michael Egnor, Personal identity, Robert J. Marks, Too-Many-Thinkers Problem in philosophy}

Life in the Plural: If There Were Two of You, Would “You” Exist?

_{According to philosopher Angus Menuge, there can’t be two of you, because two things cannot be one thing.} _{News

May 29, 2021

5

Neuroscience, Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind}

In the third podcast of the series, “Unity of Consciousness,” Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks interviews Angus Menuge, professor and chair of philosophy at Concordia University, on unique features of human consciousness, including the fact that our experiences are a unity, which has prompted some interesting thought experiments, for example those of Richard Swinburne. But here’s another one: What if there really were two of you? https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Angus-Menuge-Episode-3-rev1.mp3 This portion begins at 06:49 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Robert J. Marks: What is the idea of “too many thinkers” in philosophy? Angus Menuge (pictured): The simple view of personal identity is that your soul or your mind is always you. That’s a dualist view. Read More ›

Double exposure. A curly-haired brunette is standing in the doorway of the theater. Poster events, personality psychology. Cloak and reincarnation. Fasting alcoholic fears. Bifurcation. Made in camera

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
May 27, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Angus Menuge, Consciousness, Consciousness (thought experiments), Consciousness as unity, Featured, Michael Egnor, Richard Swinburne, Robert J. Marks}

Why Do We Stay the Same Person Over Time? Why Not Split Up?

_{It would be a total fluke if all the different clouds of atoms that produce your brain would always produce the same consciousness. But they do} _{News

May 27, 2021

6

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

In the third podcast of the series, “Unity of Consciousness,” Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks interviews Angus Menuge, professor and chair of philosophy at Concordia University, on unique features of human consciousness, including the fact that our experiences are a unity, despite being scattered across many brain regions and even if our brains are split in half: But now let’s do some thought experiments, as proposed by Oxford philosopher Richard Swinburne: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Angus-Menuge-Episode-3-rev1.mp3 This portion begins at 04:55 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Angus Menuge: There’s another problem raised by [philosopher] Richard Swinburne: He imagines that he’s going to have an operation where each of his cerebral hemispheres is placed in another person. So Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
May 26, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Angus Menuge, Consciousness (unity of consciousness), Michael Egnor, Robert J. Marks, split-brain surgery, Sybil (1976 film)}

How Split-Brain Surgery Underlines the Unity of Consciousness

_{At one time, some thought that if the brain were split, consciousness would be too, but that did not turn out to be true} _{News

May 26, 2021

6

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

In the third podcast of a series, “Unity of Consciousness,” Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks interviews Angus Menuge, professor and chair of philosophy at Concordia University, on unique features of human consciousness. They started with the fact that our experiences are a unity despite being scattered across many brain regions. But it’s a remarkable fact that our consciousness remains single even when our brains are split in half: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Angus-Menuge-Episode-3-rev1.mp3 This portion begins at 03:04 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Robert J. Marks: Let’s talk about the split brain operation where a neurosurgeon goes in and separates the right and left hemispheres. As I understand it, the signal for the epileptic fits starts on Read More ›

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 ›

Mad wide smile with many teeth on black background. Deco element, card-, flyer- base, clip art

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
April 21, 2021

Categorized
Mathematics, Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Bruce Gordon, David Mermin, Featured, Idealism (philosophy), Michael Egnor, Non-locality, Quantum Cheshire cat, Quantum mechanical formulism, Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Physics}

IS the Moon There If No One Looks? Or Is There No “There” There?

_{Elementary particles do not need to be in a particular place until they are observed and then that's where they are} _{News

April 21, 2021

7

Mathematics, Philosophy, Science}

In last week’s podcast,,” our guest host, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, interviewed idealist philosopher of science and physicist Bruce 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 or not. This segment looks at non-locality, the science of being in no one particular place. Elementary particles can do that too: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-130-Bruce-Gordon.mp3 This portion begins at 12:36 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Bruce Gordon: So another Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
April 20, 2021

Categorized
Mathematics, Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Bruce Gordon, Featured, Measurement (in quantum physics), Michael Egnor, Particle (in quantum physics), Quantum eraser experiment, Quantum eraser experiment (delayed choice), Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Physics, Schrödinger wave equation, Wave function (in quantum physics)}

In Quantum Physics, “Reality” Really Is What We Choose To Observe

_{Physicist Bruce Gordon argues that idealist philosophy is the best way to make sense of the puzzling world of quantum physics} _{News

April 20, 2021

7

Mathematics, Philosophy, Science}

In last week’s podcast,,” our guest host, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, interviewed idealist philosopher of science and physicist Bruce 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: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-130-Bruce-Gordon.mp3 A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Michael Egnor: When I was in college, I was a biochemistry major and I took some courses in quantum mechanics. It was noted in the course that when you look at the most fundamental properties of subatomic particles, matter seems to disappear. That the reality of the subatomic particles is that they’re mathematical concepts. It utterly fascinated me Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
April 16, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Bruce Gordon, Consciousness, Cosmopanpsychism, Featured, Franz Brentano, Idealism, Materialism, Michael Egnor, Micropsychism, 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}

In last week’s podcast,” our guest host, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, interviewed philosopher of science Bruce Gordon on “Idealism and the Nature of Reality.” Idealism is the view that “something mental (the mind, spirit, reason, will) is the ultimate foundation of all reality, or even exhaustive of reality” – Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. As Gordon noted in the earlier portion of this podcast, idealism is actually a practical philosophy. It originated with Plato (c. 424–347 BC) but the modern form, which he himself holds, is that of George Berkeley (1685–1753). In Berkeley’s view everything that exists is an idea in the mind of God. Thus, Dr. Egnor asked him what he thinks of panpsychism, the view that everything in the universe Read More ›

Bench on scenic overlook in Oklahoma, southeastern region in the Ouachita Mountains, scenic vistas of the mountains

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
April 15, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Bruce Gordon, Featured, George Berkeley (1685–1753), Idealism (philosophy), Immanuel Kant, Michael Egnor, Noumenal vs. phenomenal, Panpsychism, Plato}

Why Idealism Is Actually a Practical Philosophy

_{Not what you heard? Philosopher of science — and pianist — Bruce Gordon says, think again} _{News

April 15, 2021

9

Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind}

In last week’s podcast,,” our guest host, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, interviewed philosopher of science Bruce Gordon on “Idealism and the Nature of Reality.” Idealism is “something mental (the mind, spirit, reason, will) is the ultimate foundation of all reality, or even exhaustive of reality” – Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Gordon thinks that idealism is defensible, reasonable, and too easily discarded: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-129-Bruce-Gordon.mp3 A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Michael Egnor: At its most fundamental level, is reality more like a mind? Or is it more like a physical object? That question — and questions like that — are fundamental to our understanding of nature and our understanding of ourselves, and our understanding of God. I should point out Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
April 11, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Religion, Science

Tagged
Atheism, Big Bang, Biological information, Carl Sagan, Contact (book), Contact (film), Cosmic fine-tuning, DNA, Featured, Fine-tuning, Michael Egnor, Multiverse, Return of the God Hypothesis (book), Steve Meyer}

Why Should We Believe Atheists on the Subject of God?

_{Logic and evidence both point to the existence of God, whatever atheists may think} _{News

April 11, 2021

4

Philosophy, Religion, Science}

Noting a recent article by philosopher Steve Meyer at The Federalist, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor comments, The public square is replete with books and articles written by atheist scientists claiming that cosmology or genetics or evolution properly understood disproves the existence of God. These atheist scientists profoundly misunderstand the implications of their science; they couldn’t be more wrong. As in his new book, The Return of the God Hypothesis, Dr. Meyer points to three particularly clear advances in modern science. Michael Egnor, “The God Hypothesis Versus Atheist Science Denial” at Evolution News and Science Today (April 5, 2021) The three arguments he addresses are ● The Big Bang: “The existence of a moment of beginning of our universe in an almost Read More ›