The Ontological, Temporal, and Teleological Unity of Consciousness and the Body: A Response to Reductionism and Dualism
Christian Perspectives on Science and Technology January 1, 2025 Walter B. Huddell
A philosophical analysis of David Chalmers' hard problem of consciousness—how to explain subjective experience in physical terms—is examined through the lens of John Paul II's Theology of the Body. After reviewing Cartesian dualism, the article argues that reductionist approaches fail to account for the essential unity of the human person. This unity is described as possessing ontological, temporal, and teleological continuity, providing sacramental meaning and affirming the redemptive significance of the resurrection. The analysis carries implications for debates about engineering strong artificial intelligence from nonbiological substrates and for transhumanist ambitions.