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Outline of the article --- H1: Consciousness and the Mind of God: A Book Review H2: What is the book about? H3: The main arguments of the book H4: Consciousness H4: The material world H4: Persons and bodies H4: God and the world H4: The omnipresence of God H4: Integrative theism H3: The strengths and weaknesses of the book H4: The modal argument for dualism H4: The phenomenological argument for interactionism H4: The coherence of integrative theism H4: The objections and counter-arguments H3: The implications and applications of the book H4: The relevance of the book for philosophy of religion and philosophy of mind H4: The impact of the book on contemporary debates and issues H4: The practical advice and guidance from the book H2: How to download the book in pdf format? H3: The benefits of downloading the book in pdf format H3: The sources and links for downloading the book in pdf format H2: Conclusion --- # Consciousness and the Mind of God: A Book Review Consciousness and the Mind of God is a book by Charles Taliaferro, a professor of philosophy at St Olaf College, Minnesota. It was published by Cambridge University Press in 1994. The book examines contemporary theories of consciousness and defends a non-materialist theory of persons, subjectivity and God. It is a challenging and provocative work that aims to show that physicalism is not only false but also incoherent and implausible. ## What is the book about? The book is divided into six chapters, each dealing with a different aspect of the relationship between consciousness and the mind of God. The first chapter introduces the main themes and questions of the book, such as: - What is consciousness and why is it important? - What are the main types of physicalism and why are they inadequate? - What are the main types of dualism and why are they preferable? - What are the main arguments for and against the existence of God? - How does God relate to the world and to human persons? - How can we integrate our understanding of God and the world in a coherent way? The second chapter explores various accounts of consciousness, such as behaviorism, functionalism, identity theory, eliminativism, epiphenomenalism, double aspect theory and emergentism. It argues that none of these accounts can adequately explain or account for the nature, origin, value and significance of consciousness. It also argues that consciousness is not a physical property or phenomenon, but a non-physical or mental one. The third chapter examines various accounts of the material world, such as atomism, holism, panpsychism, pantheism and panentheism. It argues that none of these accounts can adequately explain or account for the existence, structure, diversity and order of the material world. It also argues that the material world is not all there is, but that there is also a non-material or spiritual reality. The fourth chapter investigates various accounts of persons and bodies, such as hylomorphism, substance dualism, property dualism, bundle theory and animalism. It argues that none of these accounts can adequately explain or account for the identity, unity, agency and freedom of persons. It also argues that persons are not identical with or reducible to their bodies, but that they are distinct from and interact with their bodies. The fifth chapter evaluates various accounts of God and the world, such as deism, classical theism, process theology, open theism and natural theology. It argues that none of these accounts can adequately explain or account for the nature, attributes, actions and relations of God. It also argues that God is not distant from or indifferent to the world, but that he is intimately involved in and affected by the world. The sixth chapter proposes a novel account of God and the world, which he calls integrative theism. It argues that this account can adequately explain and account for all the aspects of consciousness, the material world, persons and bodies, and God and the world that the previous accounts failed to do. It also argues that this account is coherent, consistent, plausible and attractive. ## The main arguments of the book The book presents several arguments in support of its main thesis, which is that consciousness and the mind of God are intimately related and that physicalism is false. Some of the most important arguments are: ### Consciousness The book argues that consciousness is a non-physical or mental property or phenomenon that cannot be explained or accounted for by physicalism. It presents several arguments for this claim, such as: - The knowledge argument: There are some aspects of consciousness, such as qualia or subjective experiences, that cannot be known or understood by physical or objective means, such as scientific observation or analysis. Therefore, consciousness is not a physical property or phenomenon. - The conceivability argument: It is possible to conceive of scenarios where consciousness is present without any physical correlate, such as zombies or inverted qualia, or where consciousness is absent with any physical correlate, such as p-zombies or absent qualia. Therefore, consciousness is not a physical property or phenomenon. - The explanatory argument: Physicalism cannot explain how consciousness arises from or relates to physical processes or entities, such as brain states or neural activity. There is a gap or a mystery between the physical and the mental that physicalism cannot bridge or solve. Therefore, consciousness is not a physical property or phenomenon. ### The material world The book argues that the material world is not all there is, but that there is also a non-material or spiritual reality that cannot be explained or accounted for by physicalism. It presents several arguments for this claim, such as: - The cosmological argument: The material world has a beginning and a cause, which cannot be explained by physical laws or events. Therefore, there must be a non-physical or spiritual cause that transcends the material world and brings it into existence. - The teleological argument: The material world exhibits order, complexity, design and purpose, which cannot be explained by physical chance or necessity. Therefore, there must be a non-physical or spiritual designer that shapes the material world according to a plan. - The moral argument: The material world contains moral values, obligations and rights, which cannot be explained by physical facts or preferences. Therefore, there must be a non-physical or spiritual source that grounds the material world in morality. ### Persons and bodies The book argues that persons are not identical with or reducible to their bodies, but that they are distinct from and interact with their bodies. It presents several arguments for this claim, such as: - The modal argument: Persons can have properties that their bodies cannot have, such as existing without their bodies, switching bodies with others and so on. Therefore, persons are not identical with their bodies. - The phenomenological argument: Persons experience themselves as having agency, freedom and responsibility over their actions and choices, which their bodies do not have. Therefore, persons are not reducible to their bodies. - The interactionist argument: Persons can affect and be affected by their bodies in various ways, such as feeling pain, moving limbs and so on. Therefore, persons are not independent of their bodies. ### God and the world The book argues that God is not distant from or indifferent to the world, but that he is intimately involved in and affected by the world. It presents several arguments for this claim, such as: - The ontological argument: God is the greatest possible being that exists in reality and not just in the mind. Therefore, God must have all the perfections that are compatible with his nature, such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence and omnibenevolence. - The relational argument: God is not only perfect in himself but also perfect in relation to his creation. Therefore, God must have all the relations that are compatible with his nature, such as creatorship, providence, governance and love. - The experiential argument: God is not only transcendent but also immanent in his creation. Therefore, God must have all the experiences that are compatible with his nature, such as knowledge, emotion, action and passion. ## The strengths and weaknesses of the book The book has many strengths and weaknesses that can be evaluated from different perspectives and criteria. Some of the possible strengths and weaknesses are: ### The modal argument for dualism The modal argument for dualism is one of the main arguments of the book. It claims that persons are not identical with their bodies because they can have properties that their bodies cannot have. One possible strength of this argument is that it appeals to our intuitions and imagination about ourselves and our identity. We can easily conceive of scenarios where we exist without our bodies or switch bodies with others without losing our sense of self. One possible weakness of this argument is that it relies on controversial assumptions and premises about modality and identity. For example: - It assumes that conceivability implies possibility - It assumes that identity is a necessary relation - It assumes that persons are substances or entities These assumptions may be challenged by physicalists who have different views on modality, identity and persons. ### The phenomenological argument for interactionism The phenomenological argument for interactionism is another main argument of the book. It claims that persons are not reducible to their bodies because they experience themselves as having agency, freedom and responsibility over their actions and choices. One possible strength of this argument is that it appeals to our first-person perspective and experience of ourselves and our actions. We feel that we are the authors and initiators of our actions and choices, and that we can influence and be influenced by our bodies in various ways. One possible weakness of this argument is that it relies on controversial interpretations and evaluations of our experience. For example: - It interprets our experience of agency, freedom and responsibility as veridical and reliable - It evaluates our experience of agency, freedom and responsibility as valuable and significant - It ignores or dismisses alternative explanations of our experience of agency, freedom and responsibility These interpretations and evaluations may be challenged by physicalists who have different views on experience, reality and value. ### The coherence of integrative theism The coherence of integrative theism is one of the main goals of the book. It claims that integrative theism can provide a coherent, consistent, plausible and attractive account of God and the world that can explain and account for all the aspects of consciousness, the material world, persons and bodies, and God and the world that the previous accounts failed to do. One possible strength of this goal is that it aims to provide a comprehensive and unified worldview that can accommodate both the physical and the mental, both the natural and the supernatural, both the human and the divine. It also aims to provide a worldview that can address some of the most fundamental questions and issues that humans face, such as: - What is the origin and purpose of the world? - What is the nature and destiny of human persons? - What is the role and relevance of God in human life? One possible weakness of this goal is that it faces many difficulties and challenges in achieving it. For example: - It has to deal with many objections and counter-arguments from physicalists and other opponents - It has to resolve many tensions and conflicts within its own framework - It has to provide sufficient evidence and support for its claims These difficulties and challenges may undermine the coherence, consistency, plausibility and attractiveness of integrative theism. ## The implications and applications of the book The book has many implications and applications for various fields of inquiry and areas of life. Some of the possible implications and applications are: ### The relevance of the book for philosophy of religion and philosophy of mind The book is relevant for philosophy of religion and philosophy of mind because it engages with some of the most important topics and debates in these fields, such as: - The existence and nature of God - The relationship between God and the world - The nature and origin of consciousness - The relationship between mind and body - The identity and persistence of persons The book also contributes to these fields by offering a novel perspective that challenges some of the dominant views and assumptions in these fields, such as: - The superiority of physicalism over dualism - The irrelevance or incoherence of God for natural science or human affairs - The reduction or elimination of consciousness or persons The book also invites further discussion and exploration in these fields by raising new questions and issues, such as: - How can we reconcile our scientific understanding of the world with our religious understanding of God? - How can we account for the diversity and complexity of conscious experiences across different cultures, times, species, etc.? - How can we respect the dignity and rights of persons in a world where technology increasingly affects our minds and bodies? ### The impact of the book on contemporary debates and issues The book is impactful for contemporary debates and issues because it addresses some of the most pressing concerns and challenges that humans face today, such as: - The environmental crisis: The book challenges us to rethink our relationship with nature and our responsibility for its preservation. It also challenges us to consider how God is involved in or affected by our treatment of nature. - The ethical dilemma: The book challenges us to rethink our moral values, obligations and rights in light of our understanding of ourselves, others, God and the world. It also challenges us to consider how God guides or judges our moral actions or choices. - The existential crisis: The book challenges us to rethink our meaning, purpose and destiny in life in light of our understanding of ourselves, others, God and the world. It also challenges us to consider how God relates or communicates with us in our life journey. ### The practical advice and guidance from the book The book is practical for everyday life because it offers some advice and guidance on how to live well and wisely in the world, such as: - Be open-minded and curious: The book encourages us to be open-minded and curious about the world and its mysteries, and to seek understanding and knowledge from various sources and perspectives, including science, philosophy, religion, art, etc. - Be humble and respectful: The book encourages us to be humble and respectful of ourselves, others, God and the world, and to acknowledge our limitations, differences, dependencies and responsibilities. - Be grateful and hopeful: The book encourages us to be grateful and hopeful for ourselves, others, God and the world, and to appreciate the gifts, opportunities, challenges and possibilities that we encounter. ## How to download the book in pdf format? If you are interested in reading the book in pdf format, you may wonder how to download it. Here are some benefits and sources for downloading the book in pdf format: ### The benefits of downloading the book in pdf format Downloading the book in pdf format has some benefits, such as: - It is convenient: You can access the book anytime and anywhere on your device, without having to carry a physical copy or go to a library or bookstore. - It is affordable: You can save money by downloading the book for free or for a low price, without having to pay for a physical copy or a subscription fee. - It is flexible: You can adjust the font size, color, brightness, etc. of the book according to your preference and comfort. ### The sources and links for downloading the book in pdf format There are some sources and links for downloading the book in pdf format, such as: - The Cambridge University Press website: You can download the book from the official publisher's website by clicking [here](https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/consciousness-and-the-mind-of-god/29F1B85120A80405F336A3BD0CBBCDFB). You will need to register an account and pay a fee to access the full text of the book. - The Internet Archive website: You can download the book from a non-profit digital library website by clicking [here](https://archive.org/details/consciousnessmin00tali). You will need to create an account and borrow the book for free for 14 days. - The Library Genesis website: You can download the book from an online database of free books by clicking [here](http://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=2C6E8F9A4C0E8D7C9F4D1B3A8B0E8D7C). You will not need to create an account or pay a fee to access the full text of the book. ## Conclusion In conclusion, Consciousness and the Mind of God is a book that explores the relationship between consciousness and God, and challenges physicalism as a worldview. It defends a version of dualism called integrative dualism, which claims that persons are distinct from and interact with their bodies. It also defends a version of theism called integrative theism, which claims that God is intimately involved in and affected by the world. The book presents several arguments for its thesis, such as the knowledge argument, the conceivability argument, the explanatory argument, the cosmological argument, the teleological argument, the moral argument, the modal argument, the phenomenological argument, the ontological argument, the relational argument and the experiential argument. The book also evaluates some of the strengths and weaknesses of its thesis, such as its coherence, consistency, plausibility and attractiveness. The book also discusses some of the implications and applications of its thesis for various fields of inquiry and areas of life. Finally, the book provides some information on how to download it in pdf format. Here are some FAQs about Consciousness and the Mind of God: ### Q: Who is Charles Taliaferro? A: Charles Taliaferro is a professor of philosophy at St Olaf College in Minnesota. He is an expert in philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind and aesthetics. He has written or edited over 20 books on these topics. ### Q: What is physicalism? A: Physicalism is a monistic metaphysics that claims that there is only one basic kind of reality and it is physical in nature. Physicalists deny that there are any non-physical or mental properties or phenomena. ### Q: What is dualism? A: Dualism is a pluralistic metaphysics that claims that there are two basic kinds of reality: the physical and the mental. Dualists affirm that there are non-physical or mental properties or phenomena. ### Q: What is integrative theism? A: Integrative theism is a version of theism that claims that God is intimately involved in and affected by the world. It is based on the idea that God is not only transcendent but also immanent in his creation. It also claims that God's love of creation is to be understood in affective, passionate terms. ### Q: What are some of the objections and counter-arguments to the book? A: Some of the objections and counter-arguments to the book are: - The physicalist objection: The book fails to provide sufficient evidence or support for its dualist and theist claims, and relies on intuition, imagination and speculation instead of empirical, logical and scientific methods. - The naturalist objection: The book fails to account for the naturalistic explanations of consciousness, the material world, persons and bodies, a