Jean-Philippe Marceau is a writer and podcaster with an academic background in mathematics, theoretical computer science and philosophy of mind. He is the author of "Post-reductionist Christianity: A Way Out of the Meaning Crisis" published with the Symbolic World Press. He is a regular contributor to the Symbolic World blog and acted as its editor-in-chief for many years since its conception.
Get the Book: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/products/post-reductionist-christianity-a-way-out-of-the-meaning-crisis
In this conversation, Mahon McCann and JP explore the themes of reductive materialism, its critiques, and the implications for understanding consciousness, rationality, and the human condition. They discuss the emergence of higher-level properties in science, the role of classical metaphysics, and how these ideas relate to the meaning crisis in contemporary society. The discussion culminates in the assertion that Christianity, particularly through the lens of the Eucharist, provides a solution to the meaning crisis, offering a path back to community and meaning in a world increasingly dominated by materialism.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Reductive Materialism
04:48 Flaws of Reductive Materialism
10:13 Arguments Against Reductionism
20:35 Emergence in AI and Science
23:11 Philosophical Challenges to Materialism
28:08 Classical Metaphysics vs. Reductive Materialism
39:54 Anthropology and the Human Condition
43:32 Patterns of Existence and Higher Realities
46:13 The Role of Higher Patterns in Overcoming Sin
49:28 Classical Metaphysics and Its Relation to Christianity
52:28 The Limits of Philosophical Arguments for Christianity
56:21 Zombies as a Metaphor for Materialism
01:02:04 The Eucharist: A Solution to the Meaning Crisis
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