Ep. 246 - Souls Are Back, And You Are One! w/Dr. Joshua Farris
Sep 1, 2023
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Dr. Joshua Farris, an expert on souls and the mind, dives deep into the philosophy of substance dualism and the complexities surrounding personal identity. He explores the relationship between the soul and mind, discussing their definitions and roles in understanding reality. Farris weaves in humor and insightful anecdotes while examining the impact of Cartesian thought on contemporary philosophy and theology. The conversation also touches on the implications of divine creation, near-death experiences, and how these ideas relate to artificial intelligence and personhood.
The podcast explores substance dualism, emphasizing the distinct nature of mind and body while challenging materialistic perspectives on consciousness.
Dr. Farris discusses the concept of individual souls being created by God, differentiating it from biological transmission and examining the implications for personal identity.
The conversation highlights the interplay between philosophy and theology, particularly around consciousness and the essence of personhood in a contemporary context.
Deep dives
The Concept of Substance Dualism
Substance dualism posits that the mind and body are fundamentally distinct substances, each with different properties. The discussion highlights the immateriality of the mind, which is central to the understanding of personal identity, consciousness, and the self. Arguments for substance dualism include cognitive access and the uniqueness of first-person experiences that cannot be fully explained by physical processes alone. This perspective challenges materialistic views by insisting that there is something about the mind that cannot be reduced to physical descriptions, thus calling for a careful examination of human existence beyond mere biology.
The Creation of Self and the Soul
The concept of the 'creation of self' asserts that individual souls are created directly by God, distinguishing this belief from traducianism, which suggests souls are passed down biologically. The discussion introduces various philosophical and theological implications of how souls come into existence, emphasizing the mystery surrounding personal identity and origins. It questions whether consciousness can emerge from purely physical processes, leaving open the possibility that souls possess properties that resist empirical measurement. This nuanced view helped frame a distinctive position within the larger discourse of the philosophy of mind, especially in relation to divine creation.
Intersections of Philosophy and Theology
The interplay between philosophy and theology is illustrated by the way one explores questions regarding the nature of self and the essence of personhood. The conversation highlights how traditional theological anthropology has moved away from purely materialistic constructs toward a more robust understanding of the soul's immaterial nature. It examines how sociocultural factors, empirical research, and philosophical inquiry converge on topics like personal identity, cognition, and emergentism. Through this dialogue, the relationship between consciousness and divine creation is reaffirmed, emphasizing the need for further exploration at this intersection.
Revisiting Cartesian Dualism
A contemporary revisit of Cartesian dualism invites a reassessment of Descartes' ideas, suggesting that his views remain relevant in modern philosophical debates. The discussion reflects a neo-Cartesian perspective that emphasizes the fundamental distinction between mind and body while integrating insights from analytic philosophy. This perspective presents Cartesian attributes such as the irreducibility of the self and the unique nature of first-person experience as critical to the understanding of human existence. Moreover, this philosophical lineage encourages a reconsideration of how we might articulate and defend the concept of dualism against emerging scientific and philosophical challenges.
AI, Consciousness, and the Soul
The implications of artificial intelligence for discussions about the soul and consciousness emerge as a significant focal point, raising questions about the possibility of imbuing machines with human-like qualities. The argument suggests that unlike the divine act of creating a soul, technological advancements potentially simplify the complexity of personhood by relying on mechanistic processes. The conversation contemplates whether an artificial construct could ever truly possess consciousness as defined by substance dualism. This critical analysis of AI underscores the need for careful reflection on what it means to be a 'self' in contrast to a programmed entity.
In episode 246 of the Parker's Pensées Podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Joshua Farris to discuss his work on souls and the mind in his new book, The Creation of Self.
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