Neuroscience and the Soul: The Human Person in Philosophy, Science, and Theology

by Thomas M. Crisp (Editor), Steven Porter (Editor), Gregg A. Ten Elshof (Editor)

Overview

An interdisciplinary look at arguments both for and against traditional belief in the soul

It is a widely held belief that human beings are both body and soul, that our immaterial soul is distinct from our material body. But that traditional idea has been seriously questioned by much recent research in the brain sciences.

In Neuroscience and the Soul fourteen distinguished scholars grapple with current debates about the existence and nature of the soul. Featuring a dialogical format, the book presents state-of-the-art work by leading philosophers and theologians--some arguing for the existence of the soul, others arguing against it--and then puts those scholars into conversation with critics of their views. Bringing philosophy, theology, and science together in this way brings to light new perspectives and advances the ongoing debate over body and soul.

CONTRIBUTORS:
Robin Collins
John W. Cooper
Kevin Corcoran
Stewart Goetz
William Hasker
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
Eric LaRock
Brian Lugioyo
J. P. Moreland
Timothy O'Connor
Jason D. Runyan
Kevin Sharpe
Daniel Speak
Richard Swinburne

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467445658
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/20/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	294
File size:	424 KB

About the Author

Thomas M. Crisp is professor of philosophy at Biola University.
Steven L. Porter is professor of theology and philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and at Rosemead School of Psychology.
Gregg A. Ten Elshof is professor of philosophy at Biola University.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part 1 Recent Debate in Philosophy about the Mind-Body Problem

1 Do My Quarks Enjoy Beethoven? William Hasker 13

2 Materially-Composed Persons and the Unity of Consciousness: A Reply to Hasker Timothy O'Connor 41

3 A Rejoinder to O'Connor William Hasker 47

4 Why Top-Down Causation Does Not Provide Adequate Support for Mental Causation J. P. Moreland 51

5 Emergence and Causal Powers: A Reply to Moreland Jason D. Runyan 74

6 A Rejoinder to Runyan J. P. Moreland 85

Part 2 Recent Debate about the Bearing of Contemporary Brain Sciences on the Mind-Body Problem

7 The Impossibility of Proving That Human Behavior Is Determined Richard Swinburne 93

8 On the Import of the Impossibility Daniel Speak 109

9 A Rejoinder to Speak Richard Swinburne 117

10 Neuroscience and the Human Person Kevin Corcoran Kevin Sharpe 121

11 Saving Our Souls from Materialism Eric LaRock Robin Collins 137

12 Saving Materialism from a "Souler" Eclipse Kevin Corcoran Kevin Sharpe 147

13 Neuroscience and the Hard Problem of Consciousness Eric LaRock 151

14 Explaining Consciousness Kevin Corcoran Kevin Sharpe 181

15 From Non-Reductive Physicalism to Emergent Subject Dualism: A Rejoinder to Corcoran and Sharpe Eric LaRock 190

Part 3 Recent Debate in Theology about the Mind-Body Problem

16 "Multidimensional Monism": A Constructive Theological Proposal for the Nature of Human Nature Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen 201

17 "Multidimensional Monist": A Response to Karkkainen Stewart Goetz 228

18 A Rejoinder to Goetz Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen 235

19 Whose Interpretation? Which Anthropology? Biblical Hermeneutics, Scientific Naturalism, and the Body-Soul Debate John W. Cooper 238

20 Whose Interpretation? Which Anthropology? Indeed: A Response to John W. Cooper Brian Lugioyo 258

21 OK, But Whose Misunderstanding? A Rejoinder to Brian Lugioyo John W. Cooper 269

Contributors 274

Index 276

Editorial Reviews

Charles Taliaferro
-- St. Olaf College
"This is a superb collection of outstanding essays and critical exchanges that will enrich the debate surrounding dualist and materialist conceptions of persons. It is an exceptionally important work as the contributors each work to carefully engage each other and avoid the usual deliberated misunderstandings that can mar current philosophy of mind."

From the Publisher