Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagMinding the Brain (book)

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Steine im See bei Sonnenuntergang

Beyond the Physical: Exploring the Nature of the Mind

A recent podcast panel challenged the prevailing materialist assumptions about the mind and explored better accounts of the richness of human consciousness
Minding the Brain, to which the panelists contributed, challenges skeptical readers to move beyond physicalism, which is not producing useful results. Read More ›
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Profile of a young man with mental activity

Consciousness, Materialism, and the Limits of Reductionism

On this episode, host Pat Flynn concludes a three-part conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about all things related to AI, consciousness, and rationality. In Part 3, Flynn and Bringsjord summarize their points about integrated information theory and an alternative view, cognitive consciousness. The discussion explores the challenges of explaining consciousness from a materialist or physicalist perspective, noting the apparent qualitative Read More ›

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image that represents the concept of expanded psychedelic consciousness

The Unique Relationship Between Consciousness and Its Bearer

What kind of being must exist for consciousness to exist? On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge conclude their discussion with Dr. Mihretu Guta about his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. The first half of this conversation centered on the amazing nature of consciousness and how it really doesn’t reduce to anything physical. In Part Read More ›

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Individual experiencing schizophrenia glowing depiction of brain showing disrupted thought processes and hallucinations

Exploring Personal Identity: More from Dr. Jonathan Loose

In this episode of Mind Matters News, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge continue their discussion with Dr. Jonathan J. Loose, author of the chapter “The Simple Theory of Personal Identity and the Life Scientific” in the book Minding the Brain. They explore thought experiments that challenge the idea that personal identity is solely determined by physical and psychological continuity. Read More ›

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Conceptual abstraction of brain neurons. Insight concept. Portrait with selective focus and copy space

Dr. Jonathan Loose on Personal Identity and the Life Scientific

In this episode of Mind Matters News, co-hosts Robert J Marks and Angus Menuge interview Dr. Jonathan Loose, another featured author included in the recent volume Minding the Brain. The book delves into the age-old question is the mind more than the brain? Loose’s chapter is titled “The Simple Theory of Personal Identity and The Life Scientific.” The trio discuss the Read More ›

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Dreamy Thoughts: A Vector Background with a Dreamy Representation of a Human Head, Incorporating Dreamlike Imagery and Soft Colors, Ideal for Dream Interpretation Themes

The Relational Person: Challenging the Dominant Model in Psychology

On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks interviews Dr. Eric Jones, a professor of psychology at Regent University, about the concept of the relational person. Jones contributed a chapter on the topic to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Jones explains that the dominant view in psychology is the atomistic individual, which sees individuals as self-contained entities Read More ›

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Decorative wedding ceremony at the beach with beautiful sunset view. Generative AI

Beyond the Physical: Embracing an Idealistic Worldview

In this episode of the Mind Matters Podcast, Hosts Robert J. Marks and Brian Krouse conclude their discussion with Dr. Doug Axe about idealism. They explore the question of where the mind exists in an idealistic worldview and how it differs from physicalism and substance dualism. They also discuss the implications of idealism for various scientific fields, such as neuroscience Read More ›

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group of wildlife animals in the jungle together

Unpacking Idealism: Animals and Consciousness

In this episode, co-hosts Robert J. Marks and Brian R. Krouse continue to discuss the concept of idealism with guest Dr. Doug Axe. The topic this time is idealism and its implications for animals and quantum mechanics. Idealism suggests that reality consists of thinkers and their thoughts, with physical objects perhaps being the thoughts of God. When it comes to Read More ›

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The duality of light as wave and particle background. Generative AI.

The Self and the Body: Substance Dualism Explored

In this episode of Mind Matters, host Pat Flynn continues his discussion about substance dualism with experts Dr. Stewart Goetz and Dr. Charles Taliaferro. They explore arguments in favor of substance dualism, focusing on the primacy of self-awareness and the first-person point of view. They argue that our sense of self as substantial beings over time is more convincing than the Read More ›

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Soul or Aura

A Brief History of the Soul

In this episode of Mind Matters, host Pat Flynn begins a discussion about substance dualism with experts Dr. Stewart Goetz and Dr. Charles Taliaferro. They provide a brief history of the soul, explaining that the concept of the soul is universal and not limited to Greek philosophy. They discuss how Plato and Descartes contributed to the understanding of the soul, with Read More ›

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Two Scientists in the Brain Research Laboratory work on a Project, Using Personal Computer with MRI Scans Show Brain Anomalies. Neuroscientists at Work.

On the Limitations of Cutting-Edge Neuroscience

Neuroscientist Joseph Green separates the hype from reality when it comes to current brain research.
The current dogma that pervades neuroscience is established by intellectual pressure rather than solid scientific evidence. Read More ›
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Adult and child hands holding encephalography brain paper cutout, Epilepsy and alzheimer awareness, seizure disorder, mental health concept

From Physicalism to Idealism: Challenging Assumptions about Reality

Can the mind be understood independently of physical matter? On today’s episode, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor continues his conversation with Dr. Angus Menuge, Chair of Philosophy at Concordia University, about his book Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. They discuss various models of the mind-brain problem, including idealism, which posits that matter does not exist and that Read More ›

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Visualizatipon of human consciousness in artificial intelligence, process of thinking robot. Humanoid android on dark background with neurals connection. Created with Generative AI

Minding the Brain: Unraveling the Mystery of Consciousness

Are the mind and brain distinct? What is the connection between our physical brain and our mental thinking? On today’s episode, podcaster Pat Flynn concludes his conversation with the editors of the new book Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. After discussing an overview of the philosophy of mind and the range of physicalist perspectives in previous Read More ›

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planet with stars

Minding the Brain: Why Science and Philosophy Need Each Other

Does science have to stay within a materialistic framework? It turns out, materialism itself isn’t science — it’s philosophy.  In this episode, Pat Flynn interviews Brian Krouse, Angus Menuge, and Robert J. Marks about alternatives to materialism and how scientific exploration leads us to deeper questions that science alone can never answer. Additional Resources

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Neurons cells concept

Minding the Brain: Discussing the Groundbreaking New Book on the Mind-Brain Problem

Is the mind more than the brain? If so, what’s the difference? In today’s episode, Pat Flynn interviews the editors of the brand-new book Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. Together, they discuss different perspectives on the mind-brain problem, consciousness, and the limits of materialism. Additional Resources

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Stump of tree felled - section of the trunk with annual rings. Slice wood.

An Introduction to Minding the Brain

Is your mind the same thing as your brain? Or are there aspects of mind that are external to the biology of the brain?

Editor’s note: We are delighted to welcome the new book from Discovery Institute Press, Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science, edited by Angus J. Menuge, Brian R. Krouse, and Robert J. Marks. Below is an excerpt from the Introduction. Look for more information at MindingtheBrain.org. Is your mind the same thing as your brain? Or are there aspects of mind that are external to the biology of the brain? This question, referred to as the mind-body problem or the mind-brain problem, has been debated for centuries and has captivated curious minds since the dawn of human contemplation. What is the relationship between our mental life and physical body? Intuition suggests our subjective experience of the world is tightly Read More ›