Do Human Beings Have Souls?
The philosopher Shelly Kagan has gained millions of fans online while arguing that we can embrace physicalism without giving up meaning, morality, or human exceptionalism.
In this episode of The Permanent Questions, David Brooks engages in a philosophical discussion with Shelly Kagan, a Yale University philosophy professor. They explore the question of whether humans possess souls.
David Brooks presents his belief in the existence of souls, which he believes contributes to a sense of human dignity and value. He highlights a Pew Research Center survey indicating that 85% of Americans hold a similar belief. Brooks confesses to being one of those individuals who hold this view.
Shelly Kagan, on the other hand, argues against the existence of souls. He explains that his course on death, which has been viewed by 33 million people on YouTube, aims to present his point of view and invite discussion. Kagan distinguishes between two ways in which thinking about death can influence behavior: providing reasons to act differently, and merely causing people to behave differently.
Kagan's philosophical journey is traced back to his time at Wesleyan University, where he initially studied religion but later applied for rabbinic school. However, upon receiving a rejection letter, he found himself questioning his career path. Despite his initial belief in Judaism, Kagan ultimately pursued philosophy, inspired by his interest in value and ethics.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
