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God Forbid · Friday · 54 min

Will science ever explain the self?

Neuroscience is now spectacularly good at explaining how brains work. But there’s one thing it still can’t explain: why having a brain feels like something. Like anything at all! Philosophers call this the Hard Problem of consciousness. Is this gap in our knowledge something that science can never fully understand? Something intangible, even unknowable? Some say it's a life force, an essence, a soul. What, if anything, can religion offer this intangible? GUESTS: Rev Antonios Caldas Coptic Orthodox priest and lecturer at St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College Prof Neil Levy philosopher at Macquarie University and Oxford University

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show notes

Neuroscience is now spectacularly good at explaining how brains work. 

But there’s one thing it still can’t explain: why having a brain feels like something. Like anything at all!  

Philosophers call this the Hard Problem of consciousness.  

Is this gap in our knowledge something that science can never fully understand? Something intangible, even unknowable?  

Some say it's a life force, an essence, a soul. 

What, if anything, can religion offer this intangible? 

GUESTS:

  • Rev Antonios Caldas Coptic Orthodox priest and lecturer at St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College
  • Prof Neil Levy philosopher at Macquarie University and Oxford University