John Searle’s Humility and Objectivity in Understanding Consciousness, Free Will, Soul and Afterlife

Epigraph: Before, they overindulged in luxury and persisted in great sin, always saying, ‘What? When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be raised up? And our earliest forefathers too?’ Say [Prophet], ‘The earliest and latest generations will all be gathered on a predetermined Day and you who have gone…

November 27, 2024

3–5 minutes

allah, hadith, islam, Quran, religion

Epigraph:

Before, they overindulged in luxury and persisted in great sin, always saying, ‘What? When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be raised up? And our earliest forefathers too?’ Say [Prophet], ‘The earliest and latest generations will all be gathered on a predetermined Day and you who have gone astray and denied the truth will eat from the bitter tree of Zaqqum, filling your bellies with it, and drink scalding water, lapping it like thirsty camels.’ This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgement. (Al Quran 56:45-56)

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

The two fundamental beliefs of Abrahamic faiths are Monotheism and Afterlife. If we take these as a given we may arrive at a more wholesome understanding of consciousness, freewill and soul.

The militant or fundamentalist atheists like Daniel Dennett and Richard Dawkins take a strict physicalist or materialist view of the world and keep categorically denying what does not fit their contemporary understanding of the material world.

We need more flexible paradigms to appreciate reality while we wait for the theory of everything and the convergence of the theory of relativity and quantum physics, in other words better and more wholistic understanding of physics.

John Searle in the above video does not want to be caught in nomenclature or fixed paradigms. He wants to understand the reality of consciousness and freewill; I applaud him for that.

We may never know the intricate details of consciousness, freewill and the human soul. This is not my idea, rather a verse of the holy Quran, a prediction from the All Knowing God:

And they ask you concerning the soul. Say, ‘The soul is by the command of my Lord; and of the knowledge thereof you have been given but a little.’ (Al Quran 17:85)

So, as we scientifically and philosophically keep investigating these subjects, we should try to appreciate total reality in light of Monotheism and Afterlife and not in their denial. There are so many other proofs for both of these Abrahamic doctrines that are examined in other articles and videos.

Does the mystery of mind require that our brains operate in extra dimensions or physics yet unknown? Physicalists and materialists at the time of the revelation of the Quran were asking how can they have an Afterlife when they become dust and bones? The Quran did reply in principle:

‘What! when we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then be raised up again?’ (Al Quran 37:16)

‘When we are dead, and have become dust and bones, shall we indeed be requited?’ (Al Quran 37:52)

It is God who endowed you with hearing, sight, and hearts–how seldom you are grateful! It is He who made you multiply on earth. It is to Him that you will be gathered: it is He who gives life and death; the alternation of night and day depends on Him; will you not use your minds? But, like others before them, they say, ‘What? When we die and turn to dust and bones, shall we really be resurrected? We have heard such promises before, and so did our forefathers. These are just ancient fables.’ Say [Prophet], ‘Who owns the earth and all who live in it, if you know [so much]?’ and they will reply, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Will you not take heed?’ Say, ‘Who is the Lord of the seven heavens? Who is the Lord of the Mighty Throne?’ and they will reply, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Will you not be mindful?’ Say, ‘Who holds control of everything in His hand? Who protects, while there is no protection against Him, if you know [so much]?’ and they will reply, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Then how can you be so deluded?’ (Al Quran 23:78-89)

In trying to understand the total ontology and reality, we may be better guided by looking at the world from a theist perspective. Is there an Afterlife? Are there extra dimensions? Is our understanding of physics incomplete? Where is the theory of everything? Let us not draw hasty conclusions based on our limited knowledge and ignorance.

A lot of complexity in philosophical discussions about consciousness, free will, and soul arises from denying Monotheism and Afterlife. If we take these as a given a lot in contemporary philosophy and understanding of quantum physics falls into place.