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Arguments for the existence of the soul, Part III: Free will and near-death experiences

Shelly KaganDistinguishedYale University

Professor of Philosophy

48:02·2008·introductory level

Professor Kagan critically examines arguments for an immaterial soul, focusing on the incompatibility of free will with determinism and the explanatory challenges posed by near-death experiences. The lecture introduces Descartes's dualist argument for the distinction between mind and body.

PhilosophyMetaphysics, Mind & MortalityPhilosophy of MindFree WillDualism

Professor Kagan discusses in detail the argument of free will as proof for the existence of an immaterial soul. The argument consists of three premises: 1) We have free will. 2) Nothing subject to determinism has free will. 3) All purely physical systems are subject to determinism. The conclusion drawn from this is that humans are not a purely physical system; but Professor Kagan explains why this argument is not truly compelling. In addition, near-death experiences and the Cartesian argument are discussed at length.

Source: YaleCourses via YouTubeWatch on YouTube
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Shelly KaganDistinguished

Author of "Death" · Yale University

Shelly Kagan is a Professor of Philosophy at Yale University, widely recognized for his influential work in normative and applied ethics, particularly on the topic of death.

1 course · 22 lecturesCanon
Previous · Lecture 4

Plato's Phaedo, Theory of Forms & Epistemic Arguments

Next · Lecture 6

Arguments for the existence of the soul, Part IV; Plato, Part I

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