Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagRene Descartes

statue-of-descartes-stockpack-adobe-stock
statue of descartes
Type
post
Author
News
Date
August 30, 2023
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
, , ,

Was Descartes Right About the Mind?

In which a neurosurgeon and anthropologist discuss the nature of the mind
News
August 30, 2023
1
Philosophy of Mind

In case you missed it, earlier this month we released a podcast featuring a provocative conversation between Stony Brook neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and Dr. Joshua Farris, who specializes in the theological anthropology and philosophy of mind. Together they discuss a range of issues, including the thought of the philosopher René Descartes, Thomistic dualism, materialistic explanations for consciousness, and the inevitability of metaphysics when discussing the “mind-body problem.” Follow this link to listen to it for free.

person-light-woman-sunset-wave-contemplation-930123-pxhere.com
Type
podcast
Author
Michael Egnor
Date
March 10, 2022
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hinduism, Reincarnation, and the Mind-Body Problem

Michael Egnor
March 10, 2022
1

Arjuna Gallagher is the host of the YouTube Channel called Theology Unleashed and a Hindu. He discusses Hinduism, reincarnation, karma, and other religious subjects as they pertain to the relationship between the mind and the body with Michael Egnor. Show Notes 00:05 | Introducing Arjuna Gallagher 01:33 | What is Hinduism? 03:03 | Central Themes of Hinduism 04:09 | Is Read More ›

new-life-2d-echo-stockpack-adobe-stock
new life, 2d echo
Type
post
Author
News
Date
October 27, 2021
Categorized
Ethics, Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

How a Theory of the Soul Drives Abortion Activism

Descartes’ theory that the soul and the body are utterly distinct, while mostly rejected in philosophy, is still part of popular culture
News
October 27, 2021
7
Ethics, Philosophy of Mind

Every now and then, it’s useful to look at the philosophical underpinnings of current thought and what implications they have for engineering ethics. In a recent post on the website of the journal First Things, professor of biblical and religious studies Carl Trueman noted that Cartesian dualism — a way of looking at the human person promulgated by René Descartes (1596-1650) — is enjoying a comeback in the popular mind, although modern philosophy has long since discarded it as an inadequate model. (This article by Karl D. Stephan originally appeared at Engineering Ethics Blog (October 11, 2021) under the title “Against Cartesian Dualism,” and is reprinted with permission.) If you know anything about Descartes, you will probably recall his most famous saying: “I think, Read More ›

futuristic-got-stockpack-adobe-stock
futuristic got
Type
post
Author
News
Date
August 3, 2021
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , ,

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 ›

young-bearded-man-opens-the-bottle-of-milk-standing-near-fridge-at-home-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
young bearded man opens the bottle of milk standing near fridge at home
Type
post
Author
News
Date
May 7, 2021
Categorized
Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Science
Tagged
, , , , , ,

If the Mind and Body Are So Different, How Can They Interact?

A look at different models of the mind–body problem
News
May 7, 2021
5
Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Science

In this week’s podcast, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks interviewed Concordia University philosopher Angus Menuge on the notoriously difficult mind–body problem. In the first part, they talked about we know we are not just bodies, citing the immateriality and indivisibility of the mind and the evidence from near-death experiences. But then how does the immaterial mind interact with the material body? Menuge offers some initial thoughts: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-133-Angus-Menuge.mp3 This portion begins at 12:30 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Angus Menuge: Many philosophers, materialists like Hobbs, but even people sympathetic with Descartes, raised this issue — they couldn’t really see what was the mechanism or the medium by which mind and matter could interact. When Read More ›

double-multiply-exposure-abstract-portrait-of-a-dreamy-cute-young-woman-face-with-galaxy-universe-space-inside-head-human-spirit-astronomy-life-zen-concept-elements-of-this-image-furnished-by-nasa-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Double multiply exposure abstract portrait of a dreamy cute young woman face with galaxy universe space inside head. Human spirit, astronomy, life zen concept Elements of this image furnished by NASA.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
May 6, 2021
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

How Do We Know We Are Not Just Physical Bodies?

The mind–body problem is one of the most difficult issues in modern philosophy
News
May 6, 2021
8
Philosophy of Mind

In this week’s podcast, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks interviews Concordia University philosopher Angus Menuge on the notoriously difficult mind–body problem. Dr. Marks asks, “Is there a part of you that is not physical? Are we meat puppets limited to scientific analysis described totally by the laws of nature? “ That’s the mind–body problem! It’s more complex today because some claim we will build computers that have minds like humans (but not bodies like humans). But first, how do we know we are not just bodies? https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-133-Angus-Menuge.mp3 This portion begins at 04:06 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Angus Menuge (pictured): Well, the real question is how two such different realms can relate. If Read More ›

chicken-eggs-in-hands-selective-focus-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Chicken eggs in hands. Selective focus.
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
May 6, 2021
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dr. Angus Menuge: The Mind-Body Problem (Part I)

Robert J. Marks
May 6, 2021
2

The mind-body problem is much like the chicken-and-egg dilemma: Which came first? In today’s episode, Dr. Robert J. Marks sits down with Dr. Angus Menuge to discuss the basics of the mind-body problem, its philosophical history, and whether artificial intelligence ever has a chance at truly replicating the human mind. Show Notes 01:12 | Introducing Dr. Angus Menuge, professor and Read More ›

guerilla-urbaine-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Guérilla urbaine
Type
post
Author
Jonathan Bartlett
Date
December 31, 2020
Categorized
Education
Tagged
, , ,

Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems: The Cause—and Cure—of Wokeness?

Why do so many people today think there are only arguments, not facts?
Jonathan Bartlett
December 31, 2020
6
Education

In modern “woke” ideology, there are no facts, only arguments which express cultural power— based on the acceptance of those arguments by current society. In such ideologies, it is not important whether or not the arguments are logically consistent or if they are true in any real sense. What is important is whether or not they achieve the desired results in politics and society. This is not a criticism. It is a description of their methodology (for a review of the academic literature on the subject, see the book Cynical Theories by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay. Many people wonder how we got here. Why do so many scholars actively reject logic as a method of finding the truth, and Read More ›

vintage-tone-beautiful-pedestrian-stone-bridge-and-knee-wobbling-vantage-point-over-the-second-tier-69-foot-drop-of-multnomah-falls-lower-in-winter-time-natural-and-seasonal-waterfall-background-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Vintage tone beautiful pedestrian stone bridge and knee-wobbling vantage point over the second tier 69-foot drop of Multnomah Falls lower in winter time. Natural and seasonal waterfall background
Type
post
Author
Michael Egnor
Date
September 15, 2020
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion
Tagged
, , , , , ,

How Do You Know You Are Not the Only Human Who Ever Existed?

Can evidence or logic help you decide? You might be surprised…
Michael Egnor
September 15, 2020
6
Philosophy of Mind, Religion

Solipsism is the belief that you are the only human being who has ever existed; all others are the inventions of your imagination. G.K. Chesterton famously received a letter from a reader who commented (I paraphrase), ‘Solipsism is a compelling metaphysical position. I’m surprised more people don’t believe it.” At Scientific American, columnist John Horgan describes solipsism as a central dilemma of human life. In a recent essay, “How do I know I’m not the only conscious being in the universe?”, he writes, It is a central dilemma of human life—more urgent, arguably, than the inevitability of suffering and death. I have been brooding and ranting to my students about it for years. It surely troubles us more than ever Read More ›

if-then-logic-statement-written-in-white-chalk-on-a-black-chalkboard-isolated-on-white-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
If Then logic statement written in white chalk on a black chalkboard isolated on white
Type
post
Author
News
Date
May 10, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, Religion
Tagged
, , , , , , , , ,

Gödel and God: A Surprising History

A thought-provoking account of master logician Gödel’s largely unknown proof of the existence of God
News
May 10, 2020
11
Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, Religion

In an unsanitized, politically incorrect (but factual) history, Selmer Bringsjord talks about how the tormented genius Kurt Gödel took up a quest that dated back a thousand years to prove the existence of God by formal logic. His original version didn’t quite work but his editor’s version passed an important logic test.

Read More ›
Double personality long exposure artistic creative portrait. Young handsome man profile. looking side. Ghost. abstract conceptual artistic view. representation of subconscious feelings and thoughts
Type
post
Author
News
Date
February 21, 2020
Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

The Mind’s Reality Is Consistent with Neuroscience

A neglected “dualist” theory offers some insights
News
February 21, 2020
9
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor thinks that the explanation of the relationship of the mind to the brain that best fits today’s neuroscience is that certain powers, particularly the intellect and will, are not generated by matter but are immaterial. However, other properties of the mind, like perception, memory and imagination are physical, generated by brain matter.

Read More ›
Arrangement mit Zitrusfrüchten, citrus fruits
Type
post
Author
Michael Egnor
Date
December 12, 2019
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
, , , , ,

How Can Mind Interact with Matter?

Nature itself provides examples of how the immaterial interacts with the material
Michael Egnor
December 12, 2019
4
Philosophy of Mind

Nature is pervaded by immaterial forms like chirality that determine the properties of matter. This interaction is well recognized in science. It is in this sense that spirit and matter can and do interact.

Read More ›
Photo by Julien-Pier Belanger
Type
post
Author
Michael Egnor
Date
September 23, 2019
Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
, , , , ,

Neuroscientist Michael Graziano Should Meet the P-Zombie

To understand consciousness, we need to establish what it is not before we create any more new theories
Michael Egnor
September 23, 2019
6
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

A p-zombie (a philosopher’s thought experiment) behaves exactly like a human being but has no first-person (subjective) experience. The meat robot violates no physical principles. Yet we KNOW we are not p-zombies. Think what that means.

Read More ›