Why Materialism Cannot Be True.

Howard Taylor.

Physical Science examines physical things.

It cannot tell you that non-physical reality does not exist.

Can it tell you that all physical effects have physical causes?

Only if it reaches the TOE (Theory of Everything.)

However as science and knowledge advance mystery increases rather than decreasing.

Godel’s Theorem, TFT, Peter Hodgson (and now Hawking?) say that a result of Godel is to show that a TOE will always be out of reach.

Bertrand RussellBertrand Russell:(:(in hisin his History of Western PhilosophyHistory of Western Philosophy. P. 13. P. 13))

““All definite knowledge belongs to science; All definite knowledge belongs to science; 1. Self-refuting? 1. Self-refuting? This statement above This statement above

cannot itself be verified by science. So if it cannot itself be verified by science. So if it is true, it is not true!is true, it is not true!

2. Friendship - 2. Friendship - leads, surely, to a definite leads, surely, to a definite knowledge of other persons - a genuine knowledge of other persons - a genuine knowledge of realities. Such knowledge knowledge of realities. Such knowledge could not be obtained by science.could not be obtained by science.

all dogma as to what surpasses definite knowledge belongs to all dogma as to what surpasses definite knowledge belongs to theology. But between theology and science there is a No Man's theology. But between theology and science there is a No Man's Land, .. this No Man's Land is philosophy. Almost all the Land, .. this No Man's Land is philosophy. Almost all the questions of most interest to speculative minds are such as questions of most interest to speculative minds are such as science cannot answer, and the confident answers of theologians science cannot answer, and the confident answers of theologians no longer seem convincingno longer seem convincing.” .” (The questions are: [Next slide]). (The questions are: [Next slide]). ““To such questions no answer can be found in the laboratory. To such questions no answer can be found in the laboratory. …. The studying of these questions, if not the answering of them, …. The studying of these questions, if not the answering of them, is the business of philosophyis the business of philosophy.”.”

Is the world divided into mind and matter, and, if so what is mind and what is matter? Is mind subject to matter, or is it possessed of independent powers? Has the universe any unity or purpose? Is it evolving towards some goal? Are there really laws of nature, or do we believe in them only because of our innate love of order? Is man what he seems to the astronomer, a tiny lump of impure carbon and water impotently crawling on a small unimportant planet? Or is he what he appears to Hamlet? Is he perhaps both at once? Is there a way of living that is noble and another that is base, or are all ways of living merely futile? If there is a way of living that is noble. In what does it consist, and how shall we achieve it? Must the good be eternal in order to deserve to be valued, or is it worth seeking even if the universe is inexorably moving towards death? …

We consider just three mysteries that he identifies:

1.What is matter?

2.What is mind?

3.Does the noble life exist – does goodness exist or is everything futile?

What is the source of matter’s rational structure?

Einstein:

“The Only thing incomprehensible about the universe is that it is comprehensible.”

Hume.He held that we cannot be certain (from nature) that it is governed by ‘laws’.

However without that certainty science would be impossible.

Wherever we look in nature we cannot find the origin of nature’s creation or its rational structure.

Job 28.12 “But where shall wisdom be found?

And where is the place of understanding?13 Man does not know its worth,

and it is not found in the land of the living.14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’

and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

28 And he said to man,‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,

and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

A Mystery: What is matter?Or What is everything made of?

If matter is made of particles •What are the particles made of?

•Leibniz•Matter is made of souls.

•The ghostly world of the atom.•EPR, Uncertainty.•Karl Popper: Materialism transcends itself.

Is matter ‘frozen’ energy/wave/force? But•Energy is matter in motion! or•Energy is a force within matter.

Energy or wave or force in what medium?So saying matter comes from energy does not solve the mystery.

If science could, one day, fully examine my brain, would If science could, one day, fully examine my brain, would the scientist know what I am thinking?the scientist know what I am thinking? Not the results of my thinking in the neurons – but my Not the results of my thinking in the neurons – but my

actual thoughts.actual thoughts. If not, my If not, my mindmind must be more than the must be more than the mattermatter of my brain. of my brain. My mind (i.e. my thoughts and ideas) affects my body's My mind (i.e. my thoughts and ideas) affects my body's

behaviour - therefore it is real.behaviour - therefore it is real. So we have something that it real but is not subject to So we have something that it real but is not subject to

scientific investigationscientific investigation.. Godel: Godel: That the mind is purely material is the “great That the mind is purely material is the “great

prejudice of our time”.prejudice of our time”. Mind over matter and matter over mind.Mind over matter and matter over mind.

Mind acts on matter. Matter acts on mind.Mind acts on matter. Matter acts on mind.

What is mind?• Something that is conscious and also free to have purposes

and also free to think and reason.• Or, alternatively, are my thoughts merely controlled by the

previous distribution of particles/forces in the universe?

A hierarchy of mysteries:

The nature of:

• Conscious life - such as the higher animals have.

• Life - anything that is alive - such as plants. (We refer to this again soon.)

• Matter - material or physical existence.

•Conscious life (human) that can:

•reason (think abstractly and universally),

•ponder its own life, death, and possible life after death.

•be aware of good and evil,

•know that it is responsible (partly) for its own behaviour.

What is the primary substance – matter or mind?

When we consider matter/energy as a wave or field we find that it is a wave understandable by Mathematics.

Galileo: “Mathematics is the language with which God wrote the universe.”

Consider a message in a letter or a formulae in a mathematical treatise.

Is the message/formulae explained by the chemistry of the matter (the ink and paper with which it is written), or the mind who wrote the letter/treatise?

In one of his non-religious books on Quantum theory, John Polkinghorne says it is intelligibility from which all physical existence emerges.

So information, (in the form of mathematics?) lies in and behind all physical reality.

Information and Word?Information and Word? Recently the theoretical physicist Paul Davies wrote:Recently the theoretical physicist Paul Davies wrote:

"Normally we think of the world as composed of "Normally we think of the world as composed of simple, clod-like, material particles, and simple, clod-like, material particles, and information as a derived phenomenon attached information as a derived phenomenon attached to special, organised states of matter. to special, organised states of matter.

But maybe it is the other way around: perhaps But maybe it is the other way around: perhaps the Universe is really information the Universe is really information (a frolic of (a frolic of primal information),primal information), and material objects a and material objects a complex secondary manifestation.”complex secondary manifestation.” (New Scientist, Jan 30, (New Scientist, Jan 30,

1999),1999), (Not information from mindless matter arranged in a particular order, but matter (Not information from mindless matter arranged in a particular order, but matter

coming from information (coming from mind?).coming from information (coming from mind?).

If Paul Davies is right then it resonates with the Bible’s teaching that ‘Word’ If Paul Davies is right then it resonates with the Bible’s teaching that ‘Word’ is the foundation of all things.is the foundation of all things.

Peter Bussey: Peter Bussey: While Geneticists are looking for material explanationsWhile Geneticists are looking for material explanations (of (of biological phenomena) biological phenomena) physicists are seeing that matter itself comes from physicists are seeing that matter itself comes from mind.mind.

Bertrand Russell (atheist/agnostic) believed the most powerful argument for God’s existence comes from the nature of Mathematics.

Pythagoras: Numbers: 1. have properties; 2. don’t exist in our space-time.

Penrose:

Numbers exist in a transcendent world.

Human consciousness accesses this transcendent world and can therefore make discoveries about numbers.

But Is Mathematics discovery or is it merely invention?

Russell and ‘The Principles of Mathematics.’

Godel.

(Electrons etc are not picturable as ‘things’ in space-time. Some say it is consciousness that gives them the property of particles in space-time.)

Consider this from Bertrand Russell’s ‘Study of Mathematics’:

Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty - a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show. The true spirit of delight, the exaltation, the sense of being more than Man, … is to be found in mathematics as surely as in poetry.

And consider this from Paul Dirac (Nobel Prize: Quantum Theory):

.. fundamental physical laws are described in terms of a mathematical theory of great beauty and power … One could perhaps describe the situation by saying that God is a mathematician of a very high order and He used very advanced mathematics in constructing the universe.

Eugene Wigner, (Dirac’s brother-in-law - who received the equivalent of a Nobel Prize for Maths), wrote of the “unreasonable effectiveness of Mathematics in understanding nature”.

He said: “It is a wonderful gift which we neither understand nor deserve.”

I am reminded of what guided Einstein who said:"We are in the position, of a little child entering a huge library, whose walls are covered to the ceiling with books in many different languages. The child knows that someone must have written those books. It does not know who or how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child notes a definite plan in the arrangement of the books, a mysterious order, which it does not comprehend but only dimly suspects." (Emphasis added). (Quoted by David Bodanis in his book: E=MC2)

Beyond mere matter – what is life?

The Atheist Richard Dawkins writes:

What lies at the heart of every living thing is not a fire, warm breath, nor a 'spark of life'. It is information, words, instructions . . . Think of a billion discrete digital characters . . . If you want to understand life, think about information technology.

Subjectivist EthicsSubjectivist Ethics.. There is no goodness independent of our physical bodies There is no goodness independent of our physical bodies

and environment.and environment. Our idea of goodness comes from: Our idea of goodness comes from:

Our biology.Our biology. The results of evolution.The results of evolution.

Our physical environment. Our physical environment. (The atheist (The atheist assumes there is nothing non-physical)assumes there is nothing non-physical)

Each individual person OR each individual Each individual person OR each individual society decides the difference between good society decides the difference between good and evil.and evil.

To return to BR’s questions: Is there such a thing as a noble life? If so how shall we attain it?

In other words: Does real goodness exist independently of our own opinions – individual or collective? If goodness does exist how to we partake in it?

..A major problem for A major problem for Subjectivist EthicsSubjectivist Ethics:: How do you settle disputes How do you settle disputes

about what is good?about what is good? There is nothing to appeal to.There is nothing to appeal to.

In 1960, Bertrand Russell wrote: In 1960, Bertrand Russell wrote: 'I cannot see how to refute arguments for 'I cannot see how to refute arguments for

the subjectivity of moral values, but I the subjectivity of moral values, but I find myself incapable of believing that all find myself incapable of believing that all that is wrong with wanton cruelty is that that is wrong with wanton cruelty is that I don't like it.'I don't like it.'

(Notes on Philosophy, January 1960, (Notes on Philosophy, January 1960, Philosophy,Philosophy, 35, 146-147.) 35, 146-147.)

Am I saying that God’s Word is the foundation of nature so that God is part of nature?

No!

We have to distinguish between Creating Word and Created Information.

So how is mind known? I can only know your mind by hearing you speak or communicate in words.

Words express minds.

By examining your brain I could never discover your thoughts - your mind. I need to hear your ‘word’.

However if I have a personal relationship with you, listening to what you say, I can learn something of your mind.

Surely that which lies behind the existence of all things cannot be less that us.

We are personal beings who (however imperfectly) know something of the meaning of love.

He (we dare no longer say ‘it’) must be at least personal and very great love.

Love is self-giving – even to the undeserving.

So how do we find the Mind of God and how is it expressed?

John 1:-3,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Mind - Consciousness - Soul

1 Corinthians 2:11-1611 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no-one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Not only is the existence of God necessary to make sense of the grandeur and beauty of reality but so also is the Cross of Christ in whom He makes Himself known in the midst of the suffering, ugliness and evil of the world.I am reminded of these words from 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” (NIV)

What is the source of life? Psalm 36:9: For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we

see light. John 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 1John 1:1:That which was from the beginning, which we have

heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.

Do we have a non-material soul? If so does it need a body? 1 Kings 17:21-23 Then he stretched himself upon the child three

times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again.” 22 And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.”

2 Cor 12:2-4: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

2 Cor 4:6-7 10-11, 14, 16,18For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus God in the face of Jesus   But we have this treasure in jars of But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.10. always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that to us.10. always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 11 For For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. mortal flesh. 14 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. presence. 16 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 18 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.the things that are unseen are eternal.

Matt 10:28: Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

James 2:26: For as the body apart from the spirit is dead …

James 4:5: He yearns jealously over the spirit that He has made to dwell in us.

2 Cor 5:1-4, 8. 5:1 For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we

groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on [1] we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are

still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is

mortal may be swallowed up by life.  Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the

Lord.