Tag: Michael Egnor | Page 9

Inside the brain. Concept of neurons and nervous system.

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News
Date
September 5, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Arjuna Das, Benjamin Libet, Michael Egnor}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor on the Timing of Sensory Processing

_{One neuroscientist, encountering the timing, made up a theory that didn’t really work, but he was a great neuroscientist anyway} _{News
September 5, 2021

11

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with host Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In the previous segment, Dr. Egnor talked about the troubles of being a non-materialist medical scientist, including demands that he be fired and death threats and so forth. In this segment, he talks about the meaning of “soul” in philosophy. Not a “spook” of some kind but common sense reasoning about life and death: Arjuna Das: So there’s a delay in how long it takes for the brain to process visual sensations compared to auditory sensations. So it’s a half second delay and this creates a problem. … We have no free will then. (01:57:50) Michael Egnor: If I can Read More ›

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News
Date
August 29, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Science

Tagged
Arjuna Das, Michael Behe, Michael Egnor}

Non-Materialist Science Is Wanted — Dead or Alive

_{Exploring a non-materialist approach to the mind has included a death threat for neurosurgeon Michael Egnor} _{News
August 29, 2021

13

Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Science}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In the previous segment, they discussed the way in which epilepsy provides a glimpse into the way the mind is not simply the brain but has powers in its own right. In this segment, Dr. Egnor talks about the problems of being a non-materialist physician in a materialist world — death threats and all. Here is a partial transcript and notes for the 1 hour 44 minute mark to the 1 hour 56 minute mark: Arjuna Das: You said how scientists, if they reject physicalism, it doesn’t help their career. They might get less opportunities or less prestige or whatever… I Read More ›

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

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News
Date
August 24, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Arjuna Das, epilepsy, Featured, free will, Michael Egnor, Promissory materialism}

Epilepsy: If You Follow the Science, Materialism Is Dead

_{Continuing a discussion with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, Dr. Egnor talks about how neurosurgery shows that the mind is not the brain} _{News
August 24, 2021

12

Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In the previous segment, they discussed the way in which people’s minds sometimes become much clearer near death (terminal lucidity). Dr. Egnor suggested that that may demonstrate that the brain constrains the mind (rather than creating it). In this segment, they look at objections raised to the view that epilepsy provides evidence for the mind as not merely a function of the brain. Dr. Egnor begins by focusing on the work of Wilder Penfield, the founder of epilepsy surgeries, who worked in Montreal in the mid-twentieth century, “a wonderful scientist, one of the best scientists that neurosurgery has produced”: Here is Read More ›

Caregiver supporting sick woman with cancer dying in the hospital

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News
Date
August 17, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Arjuna Das, Featured, John Searle, Michael Egnor, Stephen Post, Terminal lucidity}

Why Do Some People’s Minds Become Much Clearer Near Death?

_{Arjuna Das and neurosurgeon Michael Egnor discuss the evidence for terminal lucidity at Theology Unleashed “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.”} _{News
August 17, 2021

9

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In the previous segment, they discussed the way in which the brain actually constrains the mind (rather than creating it). In this segment, they look at how the human mind often becomes much more sharp and clear near death. Here is a partial transcript and notes for the 1 hour 26 minute mark to the 1 hour 32 minute mark: Arjuna Das: You’re either doing science or you’re defending your dogma. (01:25:59) Michael Egnor: Exactly. John Searle, a philosopher of mind, who is an atheist and not a dualist has a tremendous distaste for materialism. And he commented one time, ”When Read More ›

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News
Date
August 13, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Arjuna Das, Carol Zaleski, Featured, Michael Egnor, Near-death experiences (and cardiology), Near-death experiences (veridical), Otherworld Journeys (book), Pam Reynolds, Theology Unleashed}

The Brain Does Not Create the Mind; It Constrains It.

_{Near-death experiences in which people report seeing things that are later verified give some sense of how the mind works in relation to the brain} _{News
August 13, 2021

14

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In the previous segment, they discussed the way that the split-brain research that followed Roger Sperry’s findings has increased the evidence for the reality of the mind. In this segment, they discuss the way in which the brain actually constrains the mind. That may seem counterintuitive at first but consider the evidence: Here is a partial transcript and notes for the 1 hour 12 minute mark to the 1 hour 25 minute mark: Arjuna Das: So, this relates to how I understand perception in the brain, despite the mind being non-material: “The brain is a reducer of consciousness rather than a Read More ›

Colorful wooden alphabet letters isolated on white background and texture, top view

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News
Date
August 11, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Arjuna Das, Consciousness (unity), Featured, Michael Egnor, Split brain research}

How the Split Brain Emphasizes the Reality of the Mind

_{Fascinating research following up Roger Sperry’s work — which showed that the mind is not split when the brain is — has confirmed and extended his findings} _{News
August 11, 2021

10

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In the previous segment, they discuss the significance of the fact that there are aspects of the human mind that cannot be split into parts — as demonstrated by the work of Nobelist Roger Sperry (1913–1994). In this segment, they discuss the neuroscientists who followed up on and extended Sperry’s work — one of whom met a tragic end: Here is a partial transcript and notes for the 1 hour 6 minute mark through the 1 hour 12 minute mark: Michael Egnor: There has been some absolutely intriguing work done since Sperry that I think very clearly shows the existence of Read More ›

Models of two brain halves on black background

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News
Date
August 8, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
brain hemispheres, corpus callosotomy, corpus callosum, Featured, Michael Egnor, Roger Sperry, Theology Unleashed}

The Brain Can Be Split But the Mind Can’t

_{Neuroscientist Roger Sperry found that splitting the brain in half does not split consciousness in half. It just gives you a rather interesting, but very subtle set of perceptual disabilities} _{News
August 8, 2021

8

Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In this segment, they discuss the significance of the fact that there are aspects of the human mind that cannot be split into parts — as demonstrated by the work of Nobelist Roger Sperry (1913–1994). Here is a partial transcript and notes for the 57 minute mark to the 1 hour five minute mark: Michael Egnor: If one is to try to understand the mind in a coherent, consistent framework, one wants to have a metaphysical perspective that does the job, that makes sense. I think there are three different metaphysical perspectives that one could consider, materialist, idealist, and dualist… By Read More ›

Empty old opera gala theater stage and red velvet curtains

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News
Date
August 5, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Aristotle (on perception), Arjuna Das, Daniel Dennett, David Hume, Featured, Immanuel Kant, John Locke, Michael Egnor, Thomas Aquinas (on perception)}

How Philosopher John Locke Turned Reality Into Theatre

_{His “little theater in the mind” concept means that you can’t even know that nature exists. It may just be a movie that’s being played in front of your eyes} _{News
August 5, 2021

10

Philosophy of Mind}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In this segment, they discuss the way in which theories of perception that began in the early modern era (17thcentury on) led to doubt about our ability to perceive reality. Here is a partial transcript and notes for the forty-seven to fifty-seven minute mark: The Cartesian theater of the mind Arjuna Das: This is one of [the Vedic] arguments against the brain explaining consciousness. By the time it reaches the end stages of its processing, you have about 20 pixels worth of data. So the information that comes from your senses gives you reference points and then your sensors actually are Read More ›

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News
Date
August 3, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Arjuna Das, Featured, Gilbert Ryle, hylomorphism, Materialism, Michael Egnor, qualia, Rene Descartes, Res extensa}

How Did Descartes Come To Make Such a Mess of Dualism?

_{Mathematician René Descartes strictly separated mind and matter in a way that left the mind very vulnerable} _{News
August 3, 2021

7

Philosophy of Mind}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In this segment, before getting into problems with René Descartes’ understanding of consciousness, they begin by talking about qualia, a topic considered “central to a proper understanding of the nature of consciousness.” For example, I run my fingers over sandpaper, smell a skunk, feel a sharp pain in my finger, seem to see bright purple, become extremely angry. In each of these cases, I am the subject of a mental state with a very distinctive subjective character. There is something it is like for me to undergo each state, some phenomenology that it has. Philosophers often use the term ‘qualia’ (singular Read More ›

Ideas escape from brain of pensive african man

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News
Date
July 31, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Science

Tagged
Arjuna Das, Behaviorism, Dualism, eliminative materialism, Featured, Functionalism, Idealism, Identity theory, Michael Egnor}

Dualism Is Best Option for Understanding the Mind and the Brain

_{Theories that attempt to show that the mind does not really exist clearly don’t work and never did} _{News
July 31, 2021

11

Philosophy of Mind, Science}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor reviews the mind-brain theories for East Meets West: Theology Unleashed. He thinks dualism makes the best sense of the evidence.

How we can know mental states are real?

_{Mental states are always “about” something; physical states are not “about” anything} _{News
July 28, 2021

8

Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Science}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In this section, they talk about how we can know that the mind is real and how materialist philosophy has just plain gone bad: Here is a partial transcript and notes for the twenty to thirty-one minute mark: Michael Egnor: There was a philosopher named Franz Brentano (1838–1917) in the 19th century who proposed what I think is the best definition of what distinguishes a mental state from a physical state. Brentano asks, is there any unique thing that all mental states have that no physical state has? He said, it’s intentionality, and by intentionality he meant that every mental state Read More ›

Pot with beautiful blooming azalea and cup of tea on table

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News
Date
July 27, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Aristotle, Arjuna Das, 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 ›

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News
Date
July 26, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Science

Tagged
Arjuna Das, Big Bang, Black hole, Causal closure, Featured, 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

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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 ›

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News
Date
July 9, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
David Papineau, Featured, Hugh Everett, John Bell, 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}

As a physicalist, Papineau is quite sure that the universe is deterministic and he endorses the many-worlds (multiverse) theory.

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

10

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.

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News
Date
July 7, 2021

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
David Papineau, Dualism, Featured, 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 ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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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 ›