Discussion with Diana Walsh Pasulka on her new book 'Encounters' exploring encounters with non-human intelligences, influences of Plato's Cave on UFO perspectives, and philosophical dialogues on alien life, perception, and societal views.

James Madden, philosophy of mind expert, discusses the loss of self as an embodied and embedded person and its impact on nihilism. They explore materialism, dualism, and Hylomorphism. Topics include trans-humanism, neuroscience, Aristotle's ethics, and Heidegger's critique of technology.

Dr. James Madden, expert on the phenomenon, returns for a third episode to discuss UFO experiences, unseen organisms in our environment, the deception of old categories, challenging shared agreement, weight loss, disclosure, and unveiling hidden truths.

James Madden, a psychoanalyst specializing in the psychological motivations behind ufology, dives into the intriguing relationship between belief systems and skepticism. He sheds light on Freudian concepts like the death drive and trauma reenactment, linking them to our cultural obsession with UFOs. The duo navigates the complexities of trust and language within the UFO community, discussing how personal experiences shape beliefs. Their conversation reveals the psychological patterns that drive both societal outrage and fanatical loyalty, making for a thought-provoking exploration.

Prof. James Madden discusses the soul's relation to neuroscience, questioning its relevance if neuroscience can explain consciousness. He uses analogies like touring a university and delves into category mistakes, forms, and logical reasoning. The conversation also covers ethics in life support, human cognitive abilities, and the potential existence of immortal souls in humans and animals.

Philosophy expert Prof. James Madden challenges modern views on consciousness and self-awareness, exploring traditional Aristotelian and Thomistic beliefs on the soul not being connected to consciousness. He discusses the concept of the soul as form in philosophy, distinguishing living beings from their physical components. The podcast also delves into the limitations of AI in understanding consciousness, using the Chinese room experiment to illustrate the difference between mimicking and truly possessing self-awareness.

Prof. James Madden discusses the compatibility of neuroscience and the soul, exploring the traditional view of the soul, Aristotle's concept of the unmoved mover, and the distinction between matter and form. The conversation extends to deductive reasoning, the relationship between the soul and the body, and perspectives on self-identity, touching on topics like personal narratives, defining death, and rejecting bodily desires for spiritual goodness.

Neuroscience and the Soul | Prof. James Madden talks about the compatibility of neuroscience with the concept of the soul, exploring Aristotle's perspective on the soul and discussing the philosophical views on realism, nominalism, and universals. The podcast also delves into the mind, soul, and forms in philosophy, and explores the implications of the soul on humanity and ethical debates like abortion.

Dr. James Madden, Professor of Philosophy at Benedictine College, discusses his latest book on mind and meaning in the era of Techno-Nihilism. Topics include the limitations of materialist perspectives on the mind, the relationship between faith and science in creation, the distinction between reasons and causes, and the role of self-discovery and authenticity in overcoming anxiety. They also explore the difference between artificial and human intelligence.

Today we welcome James Madden back to the show. As “spooky season” draws to a close, I didn’t want to miss the chance to explore some of the darker themes that have been inspiring both Jim’s recent work, and our ongoing conversation about the nature of the UFO phenomenon—specifically the paranoia that comes from our uncanny encounters with things that lie just beyond the limits of our own personal caves. You can find Jim’s most recent musings on his substack in a piece entitled Specters of the Thinking Machine: The Uncanny Suggestion of the Non-human within the Human, which I have linked up in the episode brief. In this episode we’ll be exploring the themes of that article, as well as exploring a work that has become something of a touchstone for me in my exploration of the darker contours of the UFO phenomenon, the phenomenal docuseries, Hellier.NEW Class from Dr. James MaddenUnidentified Flying Hyperobject: UFOs, Philosophy, and the End of the WorldFour-week online class via ZoomWednesdays, March 27 – April 24 (skips April 10), 20247 – 9 pm ETLearn More About the ClassSign Up NowEPISODE BRIEFFOLLOW JAMES MADDEN GET THE BOOK: Unidentified Flying HyperobjectSubstackTwitterWATCH HELLIERBECOME A PATRONPatrons get lots of great perks like early and ad-free episodes, access to the private The UFO Rabbit Hole Discord server, and twice-monthly Patron Zoom calls with Kelly Chase. Memberships start at just $5/month.GET THE BOOKGet a SIGNED COPYGet it on AmazonFOLLOWWebsiteTwitterFacebookMUSICTheme: Cabinet of Curiosities by Shaun FrearsonBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-ufo-rabbit-hole-podcast--5746035/support.