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On the Mind Matters podcast, Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence considers the implications and misconceptions, the opportunities and limitations, and the applications and challenges presented by intelligent agents and their algorithms.

The Bradley Center


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 344 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Mind Matters

    Bill Dembski: The Power of Information and the Limits of AI

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 0:01


    If you’re going to binge anyone, it might as well be Bill Dembski. On this episode of Mind Matters News, get your fill of insight and wisdom from Dr. Dembski, a senior fellow at Discovery Institute and a Distinguished Fellow with the Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Here, he is interviewed by neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor. The Read More › Source

    The Immortal Mind: An Interview with Neurosurgeon Dr. Michael

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 0:46


    Is the mind more than the brain? Is there a scientific case for the existence of the soul? On this episode, host Dr. Robert J. Marks speaks with neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor about his new book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul. Dr. Egnor is an experienced brain surgeon who previously held materialist views but Read More › Source

    Why Our Minds Are More Than “Meat Computers”

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 0:30


    Some scientists and philosophers hold the view that our brains are basically brains made of meat. Today, Dr. Eric Holloway and Dr. Robert J. Marks explain what’s wrong with this idea in the concluding segment of their conversation with guest host Patrick Flynn. For starters, the computational theory of mind may be incompatible with materialism or physicalism, as formal, abstract Read More › Source

    AI Language Models: Real Intelligence Or Creative Thievery?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 0:28


    Are AI language models like ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity actually intelligent? Or are they getting away with a creative kind of thievery? Welcome to the Mind Matters News podcast, your source for discussions on all things philosophy of mind and artificial intelligence. Today, guest host Patrick Flynn continues his conversation with Dr. Eric Holloway and Dr. Robert J. Marks. The Read More › Source

    Can Evolutionary Processes Take Credit for Human Creativity?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 0:36


    On today’s episode, guest host Pat Flynn welcomes Dr. Eric Holloway and Professor Robert J. Marks to the podcast to discuss the information cost of creativity. Today’s conversation is based on a chapter in the book Minding the Brain authored by Dr. Holloway and Marks. Essentially, they are addressing the following question: Can the marvels of human creativity, like novels, speeches, and Read More › Source

    Is There a Mind Behind the Math Behind the Material World?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 0:01


    What does it mean for something to exist? Today, we’re joined by Doug Axe to talk about idealism and what it means for understanding the world around us. Idealism is the belief that reality exists exclusively of minds and their ideas, rather than a physical, material world. This contrasts with physicalism/materialism which views the physical world as the only true Read More › Source

    The Unique Properties of the Human Mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 0:01


    Today’s episode is a special rebroadcast of an episode of Humanize, a Discovery Institute podcast that discusses the issues that impact human personhood and to defend the unique and intrinsic moral worth of human life. Here, Humanize host Wesley J. Smith speaks to three contributors of the recent volume Minding the Brain to explore from both philosophical and scientific viewpoints why the Read More › Source

    The Ship of Theseus and the Philosophy of Identity

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 0:29


    Host Robert J. Marks welcomes back Walter Myers to discuss the philosophical concept of the Ship of Theseus, a paradox about whether an object remains the same after all of its original components have been gradually replaced. Myers explains the history and origins of the paradox and explores how it relates to questions of personal identity, the mind-body problem, and Read More › Source

    Piloting the Cloud: A Technical Tour with Walter Myers III

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 0:41


    Like many, you may be storing important files and photos in the cloud. But just where is this magical cloud? How is it powered? Is it safe? To answer these questions and more, host Robert J. Marks is joined by Walter Myers III, a principal engineering manager for Microsoft’s Azure Cloud and a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute. Their conversation Read More › Source

    Soul Searching: The History and Motivations of Substance Dualism

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 0:01


    Guest host Pat Flynn welcomes Stewart Goetz and Charles Taliaferro to discuss substance dualism as an explanation for the nature of the human soul. The conversation draws from their contributions to the recent volume Minding the Brain. After a brief history of how the concept of the soul has been understood, Goetz and Taliaferro explain the main motivations for substance dualism: Read More › Source

    Transforming Industries with AI: Insights from Entrepreneur David Copps

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 0:33


    On this episode, host Robert J. Marks concludes a three-part conversation with entrepreneur, technologist, and thought leader David Copps. Copps has over two decades of experience pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence and other technologies. In this final segment, Copps discusses how his companies have harnessed emerging AI technologies. He discusses Brainspace, a company Copps founded that created one of the Read More › Source

    How to Build a Successful Startup in the Age of AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 0:33


    Artificial intelligence is changing how businesses operate. But some best practices remain, no matter what the technology landscape looks like. On this episode, host Robert J. Marks continues his conversation with renowned entrepreneur, technologist, and thought leader David Copps. Copps has over two decades of experience pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. In this segment, Copps advises Read More › Source

    Perspectives of a Different Kind of AI Entrepreneur

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 0:26


    How can entrepreneurs incorporate the benefits of AI while maintaining their dedication to serving fellow human beings? On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks welcomes David Copps, a renowned entrepreneur, technologist, and thought leader with over two decades of experience pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. He’s the founder and CEO of a Read More › Source

    Rethinking the Relationship Between Mind and Brain: Dr. Angus Menuge

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 0:01


    On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Dr. Michael Egnor speaks with Dr. Angus Menuge to discuss the mind-brain problem and his work on the recent volume exploring this topic, Minding the Brain. Egnor and Menuge explore various perspectives on the relationship between the mental and the physical. They cover the problems with materialist and physicalist views, which seek Read More › Source

    Dr. Winston Ewert: The Limits of Artificial Intelligence

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 0:16


    On this episode of Mind Matters News, guest host Pat Flynn concludes a conversation with Dr. Winston Ewert about his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. This segment explores the implications of the view that human cognition can be reduced to a sophisticated algorithm, as Ewert argues. Ewert contends that an algorithm can only construct an algorithm less sophisticated than Read More › Source

    Dr. Winston Ewert: The Human Mind’s Sophisticated Algorithm And Its Implications

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 0:26


    On this episode of Mind Matters News, guest host Pat Flynn begins a conversation with Dr. Winston Ewert about Ewert’s chapter in the recent volume Minding the Brain. In his contribution, titled “The Human Mind’s Sophisticated Algorithm and Its Implications,” Dr. Ewert argues that the human mind’s problem-solving cognition can be modeled as a sophisticated algorithm. Ewert explains that any cognitive task Read More › Source

    How AI Can Complement Human Capabilities: More with Dr. Joe McDonald

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 0:21


    On this episode, host Robert J. Marks concludes a conversation with psychologist Dr. Joe McDonald exploring the relationship between cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence (AI). The age of AI is upon us and is already changing the way we conduct our lives. What is the optimal division of tasks between humans and machines? In Part 2 of this interview, Dr. Read More › Source

    Beyond the Physical: A Panel Discussion on the Nature of the Mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 0:02


    Many proponents of artificial intelligence operate from an assumption that our own minds and conscious experience can be solely attributed to our physical brains. But is this assumption true? This question is the key focus of the book Minding the Brain, edited by our guests: Angus Menuge, Brian Krouse, and Robert J. Marks. Joining them to discuss this volume is today’s Read More › Source

    Cognitive Psychology and the Limits of AI: An Interview with Dr. Joe McDonald

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 0:26


    On this episode, host Robert J. Marks begins a conversation with Dr. Joe McDonald exploring the relationship between cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. Joe McDonald is an expert in cognitive psychology and human factors research. He is the CEO and Principal at Jumpseat Research, a firm that applies cognitive science principles to improve technology design and user experiences. Read More › Source

    The Hype and Limitations of Generative AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 0:30


    On this episode, host Robert J. Marks concludes his conversation with economics professor and author Gary Smith about the hype and limitations of generative AI. Smith is the Fletcher Jones Professor of Economics at Ponoma College and a frequent contributor to Mind Matters News. In this portion of the conversation, Smith and Marks explore the hype around artificial general intelligence Read More › Source

    The AI Bubble: Lessons from Past Financial Bubbles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 0:41


    In this installment of the Mind Matters News podcast, host Robert J. Marks begins a conversation with economics professor and author Gary Smith about the hype of generative AI and its impact on the market. Smith is the Fletcher Jones Professor of Economics at Ponoma College and a frequent contributor to Mind Matters News. Smith argues that generative AI, embodied Read More › Source

    Semper Fi: A Marine’s Perspective on Faith, Duty, and Service

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 0:29


    In  this episode, host Robert J. Marks continues his conversation with retired major general Bobby Hollingsworth about his experiences in the U.S. Marines and his work advocating for reservists at the Pentagon. Hollingsworth unpacks the meaning of “Semper Fi” in the Marine Corps and the importance of supporting his fellow marines as riflemen on the pointed end of the spear. Read More › Source

    The Radio Frequency Spectrum as a Finite Natural Resource

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 0:01


    On this episode of Mind Matters News from the archive, hosts Robert J. Marks and Austin Egbert welcome Andrew Clegg to the show to discuss the radio spectrum as a finite natural resource and how to best manage it. The conversation kicks off with an overview of the electromagnetic spectrum and the different frequency bands used for various wireless technologies. Read More › Source

    From Dairy Farm to Fighter Pilot: More With Veteran Bobby Hollingsworth

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 0:43


    Major General Bobby Hollingsworth discusses his life journey from growing up on a dairy farm to becoming a fighter pilot in the U.S. Marines. He describes how he was inspired to pursue aviation from a young age after seeing his uncle, a WWII Hellcat pilot. Hollingsworth discusses the discipline and work ethic he developed from growing up on a farm, Read More › Source

    Military Preparedness and the Path to Peace: An Interview with Veteran Bobby Hollingsworth

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 0:46


    Major General Bobby Hollingsworth had a distinguished 38-year career as a U.S. Marine fighter pilot and in leadership roles including commanding the Marine Corps Reserve Support Command and serving as vice commander of Marine forces in the Pacific. After retiring, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to lead the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Read More › Source

    Flashes of Genius: An Interview with Touch Screen Inventor Hal Philipp

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 0:01


    On this episode of Mind Matters News out of the archive, we share a memorable conversation with Hal Philipp, an inventor and entrepreneur who pioneered the capacitive touch screen technology that is now used in billions of devices worldwide. Philipp shares the story of his early work on optical sensors for automatic doors and faucets and how it led to Read More › Source

    A Case for the Soul: An Interview with Joshua Farris

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 0:01


    Is the mind the same thing as the brain? Recently, we’ve been tackling this question known as the mind-brain problem with several of the contributing authors to our recent book Minding the Brain. In a similar fashion, we can also ask if there’s more to the human person than just our bodies. This week we have neurosurgeon Michael Egnor talking about Read More › Source

    soul brain minding joshua farris michael egnor
    The Significance of Mirror Neurons: More With Dr. Mihretu Guta

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 0:45


    On this episode, host Dr. Robert J. Marks continues his chat with Dr. Mihretu Guta about exploring the philosophical challenges surrounding the neuroscientific research on mirror neurons. What the heck is a mirror neuron you ask? As described in Part 1, it’s a type of brain cell that fires when a person observes an action being performed, as well as Read More › Source

    Mirror Neurons, Consciousness, and the Bearer Question

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 0:47


    For the last several months, we’ve been interviewing authors featured in the recent Bradley Center volume Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. The book delves into the age-old question: is the mind more than the brain? What was once solely a philosophical and metaphysical discussion has attracted the attention of science and is a much more Read More › Source

    Consciousness, Materialism, and the Limits of Reductionism

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 0:26


    On this episode, host Pat Flynn concludes a three-part conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about all things related to AI, consciousness, and rationality. In Part 3, Flynn and Bringsjord summarize their points about integrated information theory and an alternative view, cognitive consciousness. The discussion explores the challenges of explaining consciousness from a materialist or physicalist perspective, noting the apparent qualitative Read More › Source

    How Human Trafficking Flourishes in the Age of Social Media and How We Can Push Back

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 0:01


    It’s tempting to think that human trafficking is a problem in a far-away land. Unfortunately, it’s much closer. Like in our back yard closer. On this episode, host Robert J. Marks speaks with Charlie Crockett, head educational trainer with Unbound Now, an organization that works to combat human trafficking through education, training, victim services, and partnerships with law enforcement. The Read More › Source

    Consciousness Conundrum: Integrated Information Theory vs. Cognitive Consciousness

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 0:24


    On this episode, host Pat Flynn continues a three-part conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about all things related to AI, consciousness, and rationality. In Part 2, the discussion turns to Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and its claims about consciousness. IIT proposes that consciousness arises from the degree of informational integration in a system, so more integrated systems would have higher Read More › Source

    Exploring the Capabilities and Limitations of AI with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 0:23


    On this episode, host Pat Flynn begins a three-part conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about all things related to AI, consciousness, and rationality. Dr. Bringsjord has been studying and debating issues related to AI and the nature of consciousness for decades, and he shares his predictions about the capabilities and limitations of AI systems. He believes that while AI systems Read More › Source

    The Unique Relationship Between Consciousness and Its Bearer

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 0:43


    What kind of being must exist for consciousness to exist? On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge conclude their discussion with Dr. Mihretu Guta about his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. The first half of this conversation centered on the amazing nature of consciousness and how it really doesn’t reduce to anything physical. In Part Read More › Source

    In What Sense is Consciousness a Property?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 0:46


    On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge welcome Dr. Mihretu Guta to discuss his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Dr. Guta discusses the nature of consciousness and the challenges in understanding it from a philosophical perspective. He argues that consciousness is a unique property that is deeply subjective and personal, making it difficult to study Read More › Source

    The Impact of Descartes on the Philosophy of Mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 0:01


    On this episode out of the vault, neuroscientist Dr. Michael Egnor welcomes Dr. Joshua Farris for a discussion about his recent published paper “Descartes’ New Clothes: Cartesian Thought in Philosophy, Neuroscience and Theism.” Descartes is famous for his dictum “I think, therefore I am.” Farris and Egnor discuss this statement and its implications for the mind-body debate. They also talk Read More › Source

    Dr. Robert J. Marks Reads From Minding the Brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 0:08


    Is your mind the same thing as your brain? Or are there aspects of mind that are external to the biology of the brain? This is the mind-body problem, and it has captivated curious minds since the dawn of human contemplation. Today many insist that the mind is completely reducible to the brain. But is that claim justified? On this Read More › Source

    brain reads minding robert j marks
    AI’s Boundaries and Human Creativity: A Conversation with Dr. Robert J. Marks

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 0:27


    In this recent radio interview, prefaced by a brief introduction from Discovery Institute representative Dr. Tom Winkler, host Mark Davis speaks with Dr. Robert Marks, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Baylor University and director of the Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Marks discusses his book Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Read More › Source

    The Rational Soul: Rethinking Materialism with Neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 25:29


    In this episode, Pat Flynn and Dr. Michael Egnor conclude their discussion of Dr. Egnor’s contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Flynn and Dr. Egnor discuss Thomistic dualism and its relation to neuroscience and the soul. Thomistic dualism is the belief that the soul is a separate entity from the body and that the rational aspects of the soul, Read More › Source

    Richard Stevens on All Things AI and Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 110:06


    In this episode, lawyer and Mind Matters News contributor Richard W. Stevens is on the show to discuss the legal issues and challenges around copyright, fair use, and the use of copyrighted material by AI systems. They discuss the implications of a recent Supreme Court case, Warhol vs. Goldsmith, that tackles the legal concepts of “derivative work” and “transformative work.” Read More › Source

    Dr. Michael Egnor: Neuroscience, the Soul, and the Limits of Materialism

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 33:39


    In this episode, Pat Flynn and Dr. Michael Egnor continue their discussion of Dr. Egnor’s contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Flynn and Egnor discuss various criticisms of materialism in neuroscience. They touch on topics such as near-death experiences, the limitations of the computational theory of mind, and the nature of artificial intelligence. Dr. Egnor also addresses common questions Read More › Source

    The Science of Mind: Debunking Materialism, with Dr. Michael Egnor

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 41:21


    On this episode, host Pat Flynn begins a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Michael Egnor about topics such as mind, brain, dualism, the nature of the human person, neuroscience, and the soul. Dr. Egnor argues for dualism, stating that there are aspects of the mind that are not generated by the brain. They also discuss research on split-brain patients and its Read More › Source

    How to Rise Above Addictive Technologies to Find Real Freedom

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 29:01


    On this episode, software engineer and author Doug Smith concludes his conversation with host Robert Marks about the false promises of technologies like VR (virtual reality) and AI. Smith and Marks discuss the Apple Vision Pro VR headset and the promotion of spirituality in its marketing. They explore the idea of AI spirituality and the belief in the singularity. The Read More › Source

    Doug Smith on The Pitfalls of Virtual Reality (VR)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 36:32


    On this episode, software engineer and author Doug Smith discusses the growing problem of virtual reality (VR) pornography and its negative effects. He also talks about Apple’s new VR headset, Vision Pro, and raises concerns about its potential impact on users. Smith criticizes Apple’s marketing of Vision Pro, highlighting the false vision, false connection, and false control it promotes. He Read More › Source

    Caring for the Deeply Forgetful: An Interview with Dr. Stephen Post

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 75:33


    How can we best compassionately relate to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease? Is there more to the mind than just the brain? On this episode of Mind Matters News, neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor interviews Dr. Stephen Post. They discuss topics such as memory, consciousness, medical ethics, and the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Post emphasizes the importance of Read More › Source

    Robert Marks & Zoltan Istvan Debate AI and Transhumanism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 65:03


    Are we on the verge of an era of incalculable human progress because of the power of AI, or are we threatened with being made obsolete and perhaps extinguished in an age of intelligent machines? In this episode, Robert J. Marks and author Zoltan Istvan debate secular transhumanism and artificial intelligence (AI). Marks argues that AI can never be creative Read More › Source

    Exploring Personal Identity: More from Dr. Jonathan Loose

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 31:18


    In this episode of Mind Matters News, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge continue their discussion with Dr. Jonathan J. Loose, author of the chapter “The Simple Theory of Personal Identity and the Life Scientific” in the book Minding the Brain. They explore thought experiments that challenge the idea that personal identity is solely determined by physical and psychological continuity. Read More › Source

    Dr. Jonathan Loose on Personal Identity and the Life Scientific

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 48:32


    In this episode of Mind Matters News, co-hosts Robert J Marks and Angus Menuge interview Dr. Jonathan Loose, another featured author included in the recent volume Minding the Brain. The book delves into the age-old question is the mind more than the brain? Loose’s chapter is titled “The Simple Theory of Personal Identity and The Life Scientific.” The trio discuss the Read More › Source

    Trail Life: An Antidote for Digital Addiction in Boys

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 64:02


    Are there any trusted organizations today that can help boys avoid the pitfalls of digital technologies while encouraging them to develop positive character traits? On this double episode from the archive, host Robert Marks speaks to former Eagle Scout and businessman Kent Marks about the problems facing young men today and the organization he co-founded to help remedy those problems. Read More › Source

    A Case for the Relational Person: More From Dr. Eric Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 30:41


    In this episode, Dr. Eric Jones, a professor of psychology at Regent University, concludes his discussion of the concept of the relational person and its implications for psychology. He explains that the traditional materialistic and atomistic view of the individual is insufficient to explain social thought and behavior. Instead, he argues for a relational model that emphasizes the interconnectedness of Read More › Source

    The Atomistic vs. Relational Model of Personhood

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 37:58


    In this episode, host Robert J. Marks and guest Dr. Eric Jones continue to discuss the concept of the relational person and its implications for psychology research. They explore two competing models of the person: the atomistic, egoistic model and the relational model. Dr. Jones highlights examples of researchers who approach psychology research from an atomistic, egoistic perspective, rooted in Read More › Source

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