Book by Matthew Owen
Lexington Books (Rowman & Littlefield), 2021
Toward the end of the previous century, the neuroscience of consciousness set its roots and sprou... more Toward the end of the previous century, the neuroscience of consciousness set its roots and sprouted. Within a materialist milieu that reduces the mind to matter, it seemed sensible to search for the neural correlates of consciousness and a way to measure consciousness. However, materialism is waning, and versions of dualism are being revitalized. This could be seen as a threat to consciousness science aimed at measuring the conscious mind. Contrary to this concern, in "Measuring the Immeasurable Mind," Matthew Owen argues that measuring consciousness, with its corresponding medical benefits, is not ruled out by consciousness being irreducible and nonphysical. Owen proposes the Mind-Body Powers model of neural correlates of consciousness, which is informed by Aristotle’s understanding of causation and a dualist view of human nature inspired by Thomas Aquinas, who often followed Aristotle. In addition to explaining why there are neural correlates of consciousness, the model provides a philosophical foundation for empirically detecting and quantifying irreducible consciousness. Consequently, materialists and dualists can co-labor on one of the most practically pressing issues in consciousness research. En-route to making his case that measuring the “immeasurable” mind is metaphysically possible, Owen rebuts longstanding objections to dualism such as the idea that a nonphysical mind could not cause physical, bodily effects. With scholarly precision and readable clarity, an oft forgotten yet richly developed historical vantage point is applied to contemporary cognitive neuroscience.
Articles & Chapters by Matthew Owen
Synthese, 2019
The causal pairing problem allegedly renders nonphysical minds causally impotent. This article de... more The causal pairing problem allegedly renders nonphysical minds causally impotent. This article demonstrates how a dualist view I call neo-Thomistic hylomorphism can circumnavigate the causal pairing problem. After explicating the problem and hylomorphism, I provide an account of causal pairing that appeals to a foundational tenet of hylomorphism. Subsequently, I suggest that a prominent view of consciousness in theoretical neuroscience—the integrated information theory—can learn from hylomorphism and likewise account for causal pairing.
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 2019
Neural correlates of consciousness (for brevity NCC) are foundational to the scientific study of ... more Neural correlates of consciousness (for brevity NCC) are foundational to the scientific study of consciousness. Chalmers (2000) has provided the most informative and influential definition of NCC, according to which neural correlates are minimally sufficient for consciousness. However, the sense of sufficiency needs further clarification since there are several relevant senses with different entailments. In section one of this article,
we give an overview of the desiderata for a good definition of NCC and Chalmers’s definition. The second section analyses the merit of understanding the sufficiency of neural correlates for corresponding consciousness according to three relevant types of sufficiency: logical, metaphysical, and physical. In section three, a theoretical approach to consciousness studies is suggested in light of the sense in which NCC are sufficient for consciousness. Section four addresses a concern some might have about this approach. By the end, it will become apparent that our conception of NCC has important implications for research methodology, neuroethics, and the vitality of the search for NCC.
Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2019
A leading contemporary theory of consciousness in theoretical neuroscience apparently shares sign... more A leading contemporary theory of consciousness in theoretical neuroscience apparently shares significant common ground with a philosophical system of thought from Antiquity. Although chronologically disparate, the integrated information theory of consciousness and Aristotelian metaphysics seem to be akin with regards to fundamental ontology, epistemic priority, and causal powers. In this article, I explore these areas of common ground. Additionally, I consider an apparent dissimilarity regarding panpsychism and suggest that an Aristotelian understanding of powers provides a natural way for IIT to reasonably regulate its ascription of consciousness.
Topoi, 2018
Neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) are neural states or processes correlated with conscious... more Neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) are neural states or processes correlated with consciousness. The aim of this article is to present a coherent explanatory model of NCC that is informed by Thomas Aquinas's human ontology and Aristotle's metaphysics of causation. After explicating four starting principles regarding causation and mind-body dependence, I propose the Mind-Body Powers model of NCC.
In Mihretu Guta (ed.), Consciousness and the Ontology of Properties (New York: Routledge, forthcoming 2019)
It is often thought that contemporary neuroscience provides strong evidence for physicalism that ... more It is often thought that contemporary neuroscience provides strong evidence for physicalism that nullifies dualism. The principal data is neural correlates of consciousness (for brevity NCC). In this chapter I argue that NCC are neutral vis-à-vis physicalist and dualist views of the mind. First I clarify what NCC are and how neuroscientists identify them. Subsequently I discuss what NCC entail and highlight the need for philosophical argumentation in order to conclude that physicalism is true by appealing to NCC. Lastly, the simplicity argument for physicalism that appeals to NCC is presented, analyzed, and found wanting.
teorema, 2015
The aim of the present work is to demonstrate that physicalism and a priori knowledge are epistem... more The aim of the present work is to demonstrate that physicalism and a priori knowledge are epistemologically incompatible. The possibility of a priori knowledge on physicalism will be considered in the light of Edmund Gettier’s insight regarding knowledge. In the end, it becomes apparent that physicalism entails an unavoidable disconnect between a priori beliefs and their justificatory grounds; thus precluding the possibility of a priori knowledge. Consequently, a priori knowledge and physicalism are epistemologically incompatible.
Classical Trinitarians claim that Jesus—the Son of God—is truly God and that there is only one Go... more Classical Trinitarians claim that Jesus—the Son of God—is truly God and that there is only one God and the Father is God, the Spirit is God, and the Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct. However, if the identity statement that ‘the Son is God’ is understood in the sense of numerical identity, logical incoherence seems immanent. Yet, if the identity statement is understood according to an ‘is’ of predication then it lacks accuracy and permits polytheism. Therefore, we argue that there is another sense of ‘is’ needed in trinitarian discourse that will allow the Christian to avoid logical incoherence while still fully affirming all that is meant to be affirmed in the confession ‘Jesus is God.’ We suggest a sense of ‘is’ that meets this need.
Guest-edited journal issues by Matthew Owen
TheoLogica, 2019
For as long as the Christian church has been working out its understanding of the second person o... more For as long as the Christian church has been working out its understanding of the second person of the Trinity, it has employed analytic philosophical reflection to sharpen theological comprehension. In recent times, there has been a rekindled appreciation for the employment of analytic reflection in the service of theology. Analytic theology has established itself as a way of doing theology that employs analytic philosophical analysis in the project of faith in divinely revealed truths seeking understanding. In this issue, the fresh insights of analytic theology are applied to a theme most central to Christian theology—the Son of God.
Academic Blog Posts by Matthew Owen
Blog of APA, 2017
In her 1985 hit song, Madonna claimed to be a material girl living in a material world. It's ofte... more In her 1985 hit song, Madonna claimed to be a material girl living in a material world. It's often thought that neuroscience provides powerful evidence for physicalism that nullifies dualism, thus substantiating Madonna's claim. The principal evidence comes in the form of neural correlates of consciousness (for brevity NCC). In this short piece I discuss how we identify NCC and what they entail. I conclude that NCC themselves are neutral vis-à-vis physicalism & dualism. Thus neuroscience does not say Madonna is a material girl living in a material world. So if Madonna is going to substantiate her lyrical claims, she can't simply appeal to NCC.
Papers by Matthew Owen
TheoLogica: An International Journal for Philosophy of Religion and Philosophical Theology
Classical Trinitarians claim that Jesus—the Son of God—is truly God and that there is only one Go... more Classical Trinitarians claim that Jesus—the Son of God—is truly God and that there is only one God and the Father is God, the Spirit is God, and the Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct. However, if the identity statement that ‘the Son is God’ is understood in the sense of numerical identity, logical incoherence seems immanent. Yet, if the identity statement is understood according to an ‘is’ of predication then it lacks accuracy and permits polytheism. Therefore, we argue that there is another sense of ‘is’ needed in trinitarian discourse that will allow the Christian to avoid logical incoherence while still fully affirming all that is meant to be affirmed in the confession ‘Jesus is God.’ We suggest a sense of ‘is’ that meets this need.
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Book by Matthew Owen
Articles & Chapters by Matthew Owen
we give an overview of the desiderata for a good definition of NCC and Chalmers’s definition. The second section analyses the merit of understanding the sufficiency of neural correlates for corresponding consciousness according to three relevant types of sufficiency: logical, metaphysical, and physical. In section three, a theoretical approach to consciousness studies is suggested in light of the sense in which NCC are sufficient for consciousness. Section four addresses a concern some might have about this approach. By the end, it will become apparent that our conception of NCC has important implications for research methodology, neuroethics, and the vitality of the search for NCC.
Guest-edited journal issues by Matthew Owen
Academic Blog Posts by Matthew Owen
Papers by Matthew Owen
we give an overview of the desiderata for a good definition of NCC and Chalmers’s definition. The second section analyses the merit of understanding the sufficiency of neural correlates for corresponding consciousness according to three relevant types of sufficiency: logical, metaphysical, and physical. In section three, a theoretical approach to consciousness studies is suggested in light of the sense in which NCC are sufficient for consciousness. Section four addresses a concern some might have about this approach. By the end, it will become apparent that our conception of NCC has important implications for research methodology, neuroethics, and the vitality of the search for NCC.