First Things Podcast John Searle's Minds and Machines (ft. Edward Feser)
Jan 2, 2026
In this engaging conversation, philosopher Edward Feser shares insights on John Searle's influence within analytic philosophy. He details Searle's defense of common sense against reductionist views and critiques eliminative materialism. Feser discusses the implications of the Chinese Room argument, asserting that mere symbol manipulation lacks true understanding. The dialogue also touches on the complex relationship between language and reality, Searle's stance on social facts, and his political moderation regarding free speech and campus radicalism.
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Language Is More Than Description
- Ordinary language performs many functions beyond description, so reducing language to empirical verification is misguided.
- Searle and Austin argue meaning primarily resides in ordinary use, not a narrowed scientific vocabulary.
Don't Equate Scientific Success With Total Explanation
- Avoid treating scientific explanatory success as proof it covers every domain of reality.
- Do not infer nonexistence when scientific reduction currently fails to explain a phenomenon.
Behavior Isn't Understanding
- Passing a behavioral test doesn't prove understanding because rule-following can mimic comprehension.
- Searle's Chinese Room shows symbol manipulation alone lacks the subjective grasp of meaning.
