Marvin Minsky, author of The Society of Mind, was one of the founders of the mathematical theory of computation, artificial intelligence, and robotics. He was the Donnor Professor of Science at M.I.T., where he established the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Here he proposed that conscious intelligence may be viewed as a computer system composed of many smaller [...]

In this video from 2017 he maintains that Plato’s great work, The Republic, is primarily about the soul and philosophy and only secondarily about politics. He describes the Allegory of the Cave in detail and how it depicts the imprisonment of the soul. He suggests that Plato’s emphasis on the Self has been misinterpreted, and [...]

Here he defines spiritual metaphysics as a structured approach with both an ontology and epistemology, designed to be tested in the contemplative and ritual practices of aspirants in different traditions. Because of its practical application and testing, it differs from conventional academic metaphysics. Spiritual metaphysics always starts with the ground of being, or the divine. [...]

John shares how he became a sangoma – a traditional priest and healer in the Xhosa tribe – the same tribe as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. The name he was given, Ucingolwendamba, means messenger or connector between people and cultures. A shaman is a spirit doctor of humanity who can help heal the split [...]

Will computers ever achieve consciousness? John Searle is a professor of philosophy and cognitive science at U.C. Berkeley and author of Intentionality and Minds, Brains and Science. He challenges the notion that the human mind operates like a computer, pointing out that intentionality and other human faculties are not achievable through artificial intelligence.