Dr. Michael R. Egnor discusses the intersection of philosophy and neuroscience in today’s episode. He is a research professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics at the State University of New York. As an award-winning brain surgeon, Dr. Egnor brings a unique perspective to our discussion about the difference between the mind and the brain. You can find additional articles written by Dr. Egnor at discovery.org. Key takeaways: While operating on brains becomes easier with time, the interpersonal and emotional challenges of the job persist throughout the years. Modern materialism takes materialism to the extreme and suggests that we’re “just the machine.” The mind transcends the material. Aristotle suggested that one comes to know things by knowing both their form and matter. Humans are both body, soul, and spirit. What to listen for: 01:45 Dr. Egnor describes what it is like to operate on a person’s brain. While he likens the operation to typing or playing the piano, he acknowledges the emotional and interpersonal challenges in his job. 09:01 Dr. Egnor explains his dualistic understanding of the mind vs. the brain. 16:29 The mind differs from the brain because it has the property of intentionality. 22:08 Dr. Egnor provides a thought experiment to explain that minds must transcend materials—the zombie problem. 24:02 How do human minds differ from other species? 28:41 Dr. Egnor explains the Aristotelian-Thomistic understanding of the mind. Reference materials: Articles by Dr. Michael Egnor Quotes: “My wife jokes with me that meeting me is always the worst part of a person’s life.” 03:45 “The mind is the antithesis of computation.” 16:29 “We are a soul and body as one unit. The soul has powers of intellect and will. Though they are involved with the body, they do not come from the body.” 38:30 “Human beings have a spirit in the sense that there are powers of the human mind that do not come from matter.” 44:20 Thank you for being a dedicated listener. Without you--we would not be here. I would love to hear from you--WhatsApp me at +1-202-922-0220 Here you can ask question about anything that happened on the show. I look forward to hearing from you. Until next time… Be a change maker, take responsibility, own the future. Thank you for listening, and as always you can find me at: WhatsApp: +1-202-922-0220 LucasSkrobot.com Tiktok LinkedIn Instagram
In Weaver and Loom, we unravel the wonderment of the spiritual, natural, fate, and the divine through mythic and sacred story, biblical parables, ancient fables, and Christ-haunted narratives--getting lost in the mysteries of the our human creation so that we might grope our way to Christ and become illuminated in midsts of the mundane and sufferings of life.