Ep. 270 - How Does God Make Souls? (5 Views w/Dr. Joshua Farris)
Nov 23, 2024
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Dr. Joshua Farris is a philosopher of mind and theology, co-editor of 'The Origin of the Soul.' In this enlightening conversation, he explores five views on how God creates souls. The discussion contrasts physicalism with theimmaterial nature of the soul. Farris delves into hylomorphism, panpsychism, and their implications for personal identity and consciousness. He also addresses the historical decline of soul discussions and challenges to traditional theology, prompting a deep reflection on the interplay between faith and modern science.
The podcast discusses five philosophical views on the origin of the soul, underlining diverse thoughts within Christian theism regarding its nature and creation.
It highlights the decline of the soul discourse in contemporary scholarship due to the rise of modern philosophy and empirical science, challenging its necessity in explaining consciousness.
The conversation emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary engagement between philosophy and theology to deepen the understanding of personhood and the implications for divine-human relations.
Deep dives
The Nature of the Soul
The podcast explores different philosophical views regarding the origin and nature of the soul among Christian theists. Various perspectives are presented, including theistic neocartesianism, theistic quantum informational idealism, panpsychist traditionism, emergentism, and hylomorphism. The conversation emphasizes that despite differences, these views engage in a respectful dialogue, which highlights the deep spiritual and philosophical implications of each perspective. The discussion reveals how understanding the soul's nature is interconnected with broader theological and philosophical inquiries.
Decline of Soul Discussion
The decline of discourse around the origin of the soul is attributed to the rise of modern philosophy and empirical science, which have become more dominant in explaining human consciousness. With a focus on mechanistic explanations, many scholars began to question the necessity of the soul's existence, leading to skepticism about immaterial substances. Historical skepticism, particularly from the likes of Voltaire, along with a growing acceptance of physicalism, have contributed to the marginalization of the soul discussion in contemporary scholarship. This shift has significant implications for a theological understanding of human existence and identity.
Interdisciplinary Exchange
The conversation emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinarity in discussions of the soul, where both philosophy and theology must interact to develop a comprehensive understanding of personhood. It critiques the notion that theologians frequently dismiss dualistic thinking or the philosophical discourse surrounding the soul without adequate examination of its theological underpinnings. Engaging with nuanced philosophical perspectives fosters a richer theological conversation about the nature of humanity and the divine. The discussion paves the way for exploring how these intertwined disciplines can inform one another.
Emerging Perspectives
Recent intellectual shifts have led to a resurgence in interest regarding immaterial views of the mind, prompting the discussion of origins in philosophical and theological frameworks. Scholars like David Chalmers and Thomas Nagel have reiterated that contemporary science struggles to fully account for consciousness, adding weight to dualistic explanations in philosophy. This encourages a re-examination of earlier debates surrounding the nature of the soul and supports the exploration of possibilities beyond purely materialistic views. The dialogue reflects an evolving landscape where ancient questions about the soul gain newfound relevance.
Traducianism and Panpsychism
The podcast examines the contrasting views of traducianism as proposed by Joanna Leidenhag and panpsychism, addressing the implications of each on the understanding of the soul. Leidenhag's idea posits that souls can experience fission and fusion, which raises questions about the continuity of personal identity. The panpsychist perspective approaches consciousness as a fundamental property of all matter, suggesting a deep interconnectedness of beings. These views are not without criticism, especially regarding their ability to coherently address phenomena such as the intermediate state of the soul after death.
Creationism and Theological Implications
The discussion touches on the compatibility of creationism with the notion of original sin, questioning how a direct divine creation of souls interacts with the concept of inherited corruption. Though creationism may seem to struggle with explaining original guilt, several arguments suggest that it's possible to maintain a theological understanding without reductionist implications. Philosophical complexities around the nature of human existence further the dialogue about how God’s nature allows for the creation of each soul within a framework of divine sovereignty. This theological inquiry highlights the ongoing relevance of ancient and contemporary perspectives on the relationship between the divine and humanity.
In episode 270 of the Parker's Pensées Podcast, I'm joined once again to by Dr. Joshua Farris. This time we discuss 5+ views on the origin of the soul, that is, how is it that God actually goes about making souls. Read my summary of the views on my Substack here:
https://parknotes.substack.com/p/how-does-god-make-souls
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