236. Materialism & The Human Person | The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

236. Materialism & The Human Person | The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Author: Nick Jamell August 3, 2021 Duration: 19:52

According to Wikepedia, "Materialism is a form of philosophical monism that holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all things, including mental states and consciousness, are results of material interactions. According to philosophical materialism, mind and consciousness are by-products or epiphenomena of material processes (such as the biochemistry of the human brain and nervous system), without which they cannot exist. This concept directly contrasts with idealism, where mind and consciousness are first-order realities to which matter is subject and material interactions are secondary."

Valid Concerns and Good Points

At first, it seems to make sense. Much of what we encounter is material. Our food, light, furniture, etc. is all material. It would be easy at first glance to think everything boils down to what is material. But, does that really comport with what we experience and know?

Errors of Materialism

Materialism leaves out a large chunk of the human experience. First, it fails, like naturalism, to fully account for the supernatural and the spiritual. And, in doing so, it denies free will and many other parts of our experience that are products of the spirit.

Also, materialism doesn't allow for the abstract truths we know to be. Moral truths, natural laws, beauty, and even some mathematical truths can't exist if everything is material. So, materialism fails to explain all that we know about the world.

Corrections

There is more to the world than just the material. It doesn't fit with our understanding of the world. We experience more than just the material in art and music, as well as abstract concepts. We also experience the phenomenon of free will, which is impossible in a materialist world.

In order to fully comport with reality, we need to take into account more than material things. In order to fully experience the world, we have to take account for the non-material parts of our lives.

Related Episodes in this Series


Nick Jamell hosts Conversation of Our Generation, a space where urgent contemporary questions meet enduring ideas from history and philosophy. Rather than reacting to the noise of daily headlines, this podcast deliberately steps back to examine the deeper currents shaping our society and culture. Each episode is a long-form dialogue that treats topics like politics, religion, and social change not as fodder for debate, but as puzzles to be understood with patience and intellectual humility. The aim is to move beneath entrenched partisanship and surface-level takes, searching instead for clearer perspectives and foundational truths. What you’ll hear are thoughtful explorations that connect modern dilemmas to the wisdom of ancient and modern thinkers, asking how we might navigate today’s complexities with a more grounded sense of principle. This isn’t about quick answers; it’s about cultivating a more meaningful and less reactive way of engaging with the world. For anyone feeling adrift in a polarized age, this podcast offers a sustained, earnest conversation that values depth over speed, and understanding over winning an argument. Tune in for a respite from the frantic news cycle and a chance to consider what it means to be part of this particular moment in time, armed with the best ideas from across the ages.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 245

Conversation of Our Generation
Podcast Episodes
240. What happened to yesterday's episode? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:10
So sorry to miss the episode yesterday! Here's an update on what's going on with me, and an apology for not keeping my schedule.
239. Neo-paganism & The Human Person | The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:12
I've noticed a revival of pagan ideas and rituals that have caught on in numerous movements. The climate movement, racial movements (on both the right and the left), and other ostensibly secular movements have neo-pagan…
238. Postmodernism & The Human Person | The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:05
The postmodernist movement is a reaction to the ideas of the enlightenment, often referred to as modernity. Basically, it developed in the mid 20th century, largely due to the developments of the 19th and early 20th cent…
237. Scientism & The Human Person | The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:28
Why Science is Good Science is a tremendous gift, and has led to incredible human flourishing. The advancements we've seen due to science allow us to live radically more comfortable lives than our ancestors. Because of s…
235. Naturalism & The Human Person | The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:39
According to Wikipedia, Naturalism is "the idea or belief that only natural laws and forces (as opposed to supernatural or spiritual ones) operate in the universe. Adherents of naturalism assert that natural laws are the…
233. Is Patriotism Good? | Reflections on the 4th of July [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:11
Today, I'd like to take a break from the series I've been rolling out to discuss patriotism in honor of Independence Day. We should always be grateful for our country and what it affords us, but I think the 4th of July i…
232. Unity of Subject and Object [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:05
In today's episode, I want to talk more about the marriage of object and subject in the human person, and what that means. Find out more here: Unity of Subject and Object We are Body & Soul Composites We experience the o…
231. What is Subjective Reality? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:52
Last week, I discussed objective reality and why we can trust our intuitions that the world around us is there. And, we can come to know things about the world, even if limited. Today, I want to discuss subjective realit…