Theologian and philosopher David Bentley Hart explains the contours of his argument against materialism is his new book, All Things Are Full of Gods: The Mysteries of Mind and Life. We explore his idealist leanings, the claim that a mechanistic approach to nature could never explain consciousness, and the thesis that atman is brahman, that I am fundamentally identical to infinite consciousness.

Video of this interview is available on YouTube.

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EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:42 What do we mean by "mind"?

00:09:24 Are you an idealist?

00:15:21 Panpsychism

00:28:18 Convince me that consciousness exists at all.

00:46:09 Sean Carroll's case for naturalism, considered

00:54:14 Is this just a type of "God of the gaps" reasoning?

01:00:34 Do fine-tuning and cosmological arguments for God succeed?

01:07:47 Is atman Brahman?

01:12:50 Does this mean that I am God?

01:19:34 What are you most uncertain of?

David Wallace, professor of philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh, explains why he finds the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics convincing. We discuss probability, what it means for persons to "split", whether teleportation means death, and the role of philosophy in assessing science.

Video of this interview is available on YouTube.

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EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:22 What is the difference between quantum and classical mechanics?

00:08:12 The measurement problem

00:14:16 The many-worlds interpretation

00:19:46 Why can't I see other branches of reality?

00:33:13 Is many-worlds crazy and absurd?

00:37:57 The probability problem

00:50:58 Do people split in two when the universe branches?

01:00:11 Does many-worlds explain fine-tuning?

01:04:56 Should many-worlds change the way we live?

01:16:30 Of what are you most uncertain?

Philosopher, author, and intelligent-design advocate Stephen Meyer joins me to discuss the arguments of his recent book, Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries that Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe. While we only got around to two of those three discoveries, our conversation was robust, engaging, and will interest both advocates and critics of Stephen's work.

Check out video of our discussion on YouTube.

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EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:11 Interview with Joe Rogan

00:03:19 Stephen's basic case for God

00:12:05 Data point #1 - Origin of the universe

00:17:26 The limits of singularity theorems

00:25:45 Quantum cosmology and theories of quantum gravity

00:32:36 What if spacetime is emergent?

00:36:45 Why is a beginning more likely under theism?

00:41:22 Data point #2 - Cosmic fine-tuning

00:46:40 Why is fine-tuning unlikely under naturalism?

00:53:31 Why is fine-tuning likely under theism?

00:57:55 Technical objection: No background information

01:03:04 The multiverse hypothesis

01:08:19 Do we need a "scientific" theory of the multiverse?

01:13:20 Richard Dawkins' argument: God is complex

01:17:24 But what about evil and suffering?