

Mind Matters
Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence
On the Mind Matters podcast, Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence considers the implications and misconceptions, the opportunities and limitations, and the applications and challenges presented by intelligent agents and their algorithms. Episode notes and archives available at mindmatters.ai/podcast.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 1, 2024 • 37min
Doug Smith on The Pitfalls of Virtual Reality (VR)
On this episode, software engineer and author Doug Smith discusses the growing problem of virtual reality (VR) pornography and its negative effects. He also talks about Apple’s new VR headset, Vision Pro, and raises concerns about its potential impact on users. Smith criticizes Apple’s marketing of Vision Pro, highlighting the false vision, false connection, and false control it promotes. He Read More ›
Source

Jul 25, 2024 • 1h 16min
Caring for the Deeply Forgetful: An Interview with Dr. Stephen Post
How can we best compassionately relate to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease? Is there more to the mind than just the brain? On this episode of Mind Matters News, neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor interviews Dr. Stephen Post. They discuss topics such as memory, consciousness, medical ethics, and the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Post emphasizes the importance of Read More ›
Source

Jul 18, 2024 • 1h 5min
Robert Marks & Zoltan Istvan Debate AI and Transhumanism
Are we on the verge of an era of incalculable human progress because of the power of AI, or are we threatened with being made obsolete and perhaps extinguished in an age of intelligent machines? In this episode, Robert J. Marks and author Zoltan Istvan debate secular transhumanism and artificial intelligence (AI). Marks argues that AI can never be creative Read More ›
Source

Jul 11, 2024 • 31min
Exploring Personal Identity: More from Dr. Jonathan Loose
In this episode of Mind Matters News, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge continue their discussion with Dr. Jonathan J. Loose, author of the chapter “The Simple Theory of Personal Identity and the Life Scientific” in the book Minding the Brain. They explore thought experiments that challenge the idea that personal identity is solely determined by physical and psychological continuity. Read More ›
Source

7 snips
Jul 4, 2024 • 49min
Dr. Jonathan Loose on Personal Identity and the Life Scientific
Dr. Jonathan Loose, an insightful author featured in Minding the Brain, shares his thoughts on personal identity and its connection to science. He explores the debate on whether the mind transcends mere neurological activity, delving into how memories shape our selfhood. The discussion challenges materialistic views, advocating for consciousness's essential role in understanding identity. Loose also highlights the tension between subjective experiences and scientific observation, offering a rich dialogue on the nature of self across time.

Jun 27, 2024 • 1h 4min
Trail Life: An Antidote for Digital Addiction in Boys
Are there any trusted organizations today that can help boys avoid the pitfalls of digital technologies while encouraging them to develop positive character traits? On this double episode from the archive, host Robert Marks speaks to former Eagle Scout and businessman Kent Marks about the problems facing young men today and the organization he co-founded to help remedy those problems. Read More ›
Source

Jun 20, 2024 • 31min
A Case for the Relational Person: More From Dr. Eric Jones
In this episode, Dr. Eric Jones, a professor of psychology at Regent University, concludes his discussion of the concept of the relational person and its implications for psychology. He explains that the traditional materialistic and atomistic view of the individual is insufficient to explain social thought and behavior. Instead, he argues for a relational model that emphasizes the interconnectedness of Read More ›
Source

Jun 13, 2024 • 38min
The Atomistic vs. Relational Model of Personhood
In this episode, host Robert J. Marks and guest Dr. Eric Jones continue to discuss the concept of the relational person and its implications for psychology research. They explore two competing models of the person: the atomistic, egoistic model and the relational model. Dr. Jones highlights examples of researchers who approach psychology research from an atomistic, egoistic perspective, rooted in Read More ›
Source

Jun 6, 2024 • 30min
The Relational Person: Challenging the Dominant Model in Psychology
On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks interviews Dr. Eric Jones, a professor of psychology at Regent University, about the concept of the relational person. Jones contributed a chapter on the topic to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Jones explains that the dominant view in psychology is the atomistic individual, which sees individuals as self-contained entities Read More ›
Source

May 30, 2024 • 44min
The Limits and Possibilities of Artificial Intelligence
Join George Montañez, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science, and William Dembski, a mathematician and philosopher, as they tackle the multifaceted world of artificial intelligence. Montañez dives into generative AI models, discussing how they encode relationships between text and images while highlighting the risks of model collapse. Dembski brings philosophical insights about human consciousness versus AI's limitations. Together, they explore digital immortality and the paradoxes of AI creativity, raising crucial questions about the future of humanity and technology.