A new book authored by Talbot School of Theology professor and renowned philosopher Dr. J.P. Moreland alongside coauthor alumnus Brandon Rickabaugh (‘13) seeks to address the question “What is a human being?” The book, The Substance of Consciousness: A Comprehensive Defense of Contemporary Substance Dualism, according to Moreland is his “magnum opus” — a culmination of 30 years studying the topic of consciousness.

“It's importance resides in the fact that the number one most fundamental question of our culture — especially our academic and elite culture — is what is a human being,” said Moreland.

Aimed to answer the most fundamental question of our culture, “What is a human being?,” the authors present a defense for contemporary substance dualism, which makes the claim that the human person is an embodied fundamental, immaterial, and unifying substance.

“[We] produce[d] what we believe will be the best defense of the soul in print. Reviewers so far have agreed,” said Moreland.

In addition to providing a comprehensive, up-to-date, and rigorous work on substance dualism, the book provides a detailed history of how property and substance dualism have been presented and evaluated over the last 150 years. The authors developed new and updated positive arguments for substance dualism and discuss key metaphysical notions and distinctions that inform the examination of substance dualism and its alternatives.

“This book is a tour de force on the topic of consciousness. The authors offer a depth of analysis that interacts with the latest and best work on this topic in recent years,” said author and professor of Philosophy at Azusa Pacific University Joshua Rasmussen (‘04).

Published by Wiley Blackwell in