Consciousness and Agency: A Critique of Methodological Naturalism
Mar 21, 2024
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Exploration of methodological naturalism in science, challenging the idea of non-natural causes being beyond scientific inquiry. Discussion on the limitations of methodological naturalism in understanding consciousness and agency, highlighting the hard problem of consciousness and the role of physical sciences in explaining mental states.
Methodological naturalism limits scientific exploration by favoring only naturalistic explanations over non-physical causes.
The 'hard problem' of consciousness challenges physical explanations, highlighting the importance of investigating non-physical aspects of reality.
Deep dives
Challenges to Methodological Naturalism
Some argue that methodological naturalism has gained popularity due to claims that non-natural causes are unknowable by scientific inquiry. The discussion points out logical fallacies in justifying methodological naturalism, highlighting the assumptions made without sufficient evidence. By restricting science to naturalistic explanations, the argument suggests that it limits the scope of scientific exploration and can lead to overlooking non-physical causes that might be valid.
Debates on Science Stoppage and Rationality
The argument against non-physical causes often mentions concerns about science stoppage where simpler, naturalistic explanations might be dismissed in favor of more complex non-physical causes. However, this viewpoint is countered by the assertion that non-physical explanations can be challenged and evaluated like any other explanation, preventing any stagnation in scientific inquiry. The distinction between nomological and historical science is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of considering non-physical causes in certain historical events.
Exploration of Consciousness and Rationality
Methodological naturalism's limitations become particularly evident in discussions surrounding consciousness and agency. The 'hard problem' of consciousness poses a significant challenge to solely physical explanations, leading even materialistic philosophers to acknowledge the limitations of physical sciences in addressing subjective experiences. By insisting on purely physical accounts of consciousness, there's a risk of undermining rationality and limiting the scope of investigating non-physical aspects of reality.
In this episode, host Angus Menuge continues a discussion with Dr. Robert Larmer about his chapter on methodological naturalism in the recent volume Minding the Brain. In this segment of the conversation, Menuge and Larmer examine the justifications for methodological naturalism and critique some of the common arguments. They discuss the claim that non-natural causes are unknowable by scientific inquiry and Read More ›