2018/09/03 by Joshua R. Farris
Arts and Humanities · Psychology · #Evolution and Science Education #Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs #Theology and Philosophy of Evil
paper · doi:10.1515/nzsth-2018-0023
crossref issued 2018/09/03 · crossref published 2018/09/03 · crossref published-print 2018/09/03 · openalex publication_date 2018/09/03 · crossref created 2018/09/06 · crossref deposited 2021/02/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/07/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Summary Discussions on soul origins are perceived as antiquated at best. However, there is a recent resurgence of interest in the nature and origins of the mind. This is due in part to the recent developments on the nature of “emergent” properties and/or substances in the contemporary literature on the philosophy of mind. As a contribution to this discussion, I examine the two most prominent theories of mental origins (e. g., Timothy O’Connor and William Hasker) and find that each encounter some noteworthy problems. With these in mind, I recommend that some form of Creationism deserves our attention. It provides a solution to the various philosophical and theological concerns associated with the previously mentioned emergence theories of the mind. Finally, I lay out a more satisfying theory of the soul’s creation in a way that accounts for the benefits of emergentism.