Brain, Soul, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum Mystery: The Neurophysics of Consciousness, Free Will, Reasoning, and Synergistic Brain-Soul Interaction
by Terrence D. Lagerlund, MD, PhD
This book presents a discussion of the many facets of human consciousness and cognitive abilities from the standpoint of physics, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, computer science (including artificial intelligence), and theology. In particular, we argue that the human mind (unlike animal consciousness) cannot be fully explained only by physical phenomena and cannot be understood as arising merely from algorithmic processing carried out by the neural networks of the brain but requires a spiritual soul.
To solve the dilemma of dualism (that is, how can the spiritual soul influence the physical brain?), we provide a theory based on quantum mechanics of how the spiritual world can influence the physical world. This theory can explain how God can influence the physical world in order to accomplish his will (that is, Divine providence) without violating the laws of nature. The theory can also explain how, through God’s mediation, the human soul can influence the physical systems of the brain without violating the laws of nature. The theory thus bridges the apparent chasm between the spiritual world and the physical world (the so-called “causal closure” of the physical world) and postulates that the soul and the brain are tightly integrated in their function, in keeping with the Judeo-Christian belief that “spirit and matter, in man, are not two natures united, but rather their union forms a single nature” (Catechism of the Catholic Church).
The book concludes with a discussion of the purpose and meaning of human existence and how quantum mechanics is relevant to the theological doctrine of grace by showing how God can influence the moral decision-making that takes place in the frontal lobe of the brain without violating the laws of nature. This also helps to explain how Thomas Aquinas’ “intrinsically efficacious” grace, by which he explains the biblical doctrine of predestination, does not conflict with the doctrine of human free will.
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TESTIMONIALS
TBA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Terrence Lagerlund has been a neurologist in the Division of Epilepsy at Mayo Clinic for 35 years, treating patients with epilepsy and interpreting their electroencephalograms. He also lectures to residents and fellows on electroencephalography including basic principles of electricity and neurophysiology. He has published papers and authored book chapters on electroencephalography and epilepsy, particularly regarding quantitative analysis of electroencephalograms. Prior to becoming a neurologist, he obtained a Ph.D. in physics and worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the MIT Laboratory for Nuclear Science (doing research at Brookhaven National Laboratory and CERN) and as a term physicist at Fermilab.
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