6:45 to 8:45 PM, Monday, October 27th, 2025
Rice University
DEBATE
Can we explain the human mind in purely material terms?
Some philosophers–both historical and contemporary–hold that, in principle, this is impossible. Similarly, many religious traditions hold that there is a “soul” that is immaterial and persists after death. By sharp contrast, explaining the mind in purely material–“naturalistic”–terms has been a major research project of many contemporary philosophers who continue to offer theories with increasing sophistication. Moreover, such a naturalistic explanation is often what is presupposed by the best science we have available.
This debate will feature two philosophers dialoguing deeply and respectfully about this question. Prof. Josh Weisberg (University of Houston) defends the view that the human mind can be explained in purely material terms. By contrast, Prof. Alexander Pruss (Baylor) argues that the mind cannot be explained in purely material terms.
