Neuroscience, Emergence, and Personhood: Toward a Relational Ontology

Presented by Professor Tom Fikes, Psychology and Neuroscience, Westmont College   Whether a person is purely physical or is an immaterial-material composite will influence the study of the body-mind relationship. The lecture by Professor Tom Fikes examines these theological and philosophical ideas and argues that neuroscience offers a pathway beyond the dualism-materialism debate and toward a better understanding of human persons. Replacing substance ontology with a relational ontology is more in accord with current practice in neural, cognitive, and social sciences, and comports well with traditional Christian theology. A discussion follows the lecture. The meeting welcomes all Neuroscience attendees.