Center Calendar
Panel Discussion: “Do we have an immaterial soul (or mind)?”
Brian McLaughlin, Dean Zimmerman, Mark Baker, Julien Musolino
Monday, October 23, 2017, 07:00pm - 09:00pm
Rutgers University
Many people believe that we possess an immaterial soul that will survive the death of our bodies. Recent advances in science and other fields have caused some to challenge this notion. Drawing on ideas from biology, psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, a set of panel speakers with opposing views will debate this age-old question
Speakers will include: the Director of the Center for Cognitive Science and Distiguished Professor of Philosophy, Brian McLaughlin, Professor and Chair of Philosophy, Dean Zimmerman, Distinguished Professor and Chair of Linguistics, Mark Baker, and the author of the Soul Fallacy and Professor of Psychology, Julien Musolino.
Click here for event photos (will be taken to Google Photos)
UPDATE: We were extremely impressed by the turnout (which exceeded capacity), as well as the quality and thoughtfulness of the questions (which went on well past the end of the event). To say that you all were engaged with the topic was an understatement!
Given the interest in keeping the dialogue going, we wanted to share some additional content with you on the topic.
Background/Overview
- Article: Ancient Theories of Soul, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Article: Descarte and the Pineal Gland, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
For the Soul
- Article: The Creative Aspects of Language Use and Nonbiological Nativism, (Sec 5), Mark Baker
- Article: A Very Brief Review of Arguments for the Existence of the Soul, J. Warner Wallace
- Book: The Mind Doesn’t Work that Way, Jerry Fodor
Against the Soul
- Article: Physics and the Immortality of the Soul, by Sean Carroll
- Article: The Perimeter of Ignorance, by Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Book: The Big Picture: on the origins of life, meaning, and the universe itself, Sean Carroll
Center for Cognitive Science Links
- Follow us on Facebook for upcoming events and course listings
- Learn more about our newly approved major in Cognitive Science
- Join the Cognitive Science Club (next meeting is on Monday Oct. 30th, from 9-10PM)
Professor Brian McLaughlin Professor Dean Zimmerman Professor Mark Baker Professor Julien Musolino
