# #73 Why Materialism Can't Explain Consciousness - David Bentley Hart

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-uncertainty-podcast-7089022/73-why-materialism-can-t-explain-consciousness-david-bentley-hart
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-uncertainty-podcast-7089022/73-why-materialism-can-t-explain-consciousness-david-bentley-hart.md
Podcast: [The Uncertainty Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-uncertainty-podcast-7089022)
Published: 2026-02-26T19:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://mileskdonahue.substack.com/p/73-why-materialism-cant-explain-consciousness
Audio file: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/189243961/cd79a1fef8c2201b23ea2df2ba3acc3e.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-uncertainty-podcast-7089022/episodes/73-why-materialism-can-t-explain-consciousness-david-bentley-hart
Duration seconds: 4874

## Resource

Theologian and philosopher David Bentley Hart explains the contours of his argument against materialism is his new book, All Things Are Full of Gods: The Mysteries of Mind and Life. We explore his idealist leanings, the claim that a mechanistic approach to nature could never explain consciousness, and the thesis that atman is brahman, that I am fundamentally identical to infinite consciousness. Video of this interview is available on YouTube . To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating, either via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee . Follow me on X-formerly-Twitter . EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:42 What do we mean by "mind"? 00:09:24 Are you an idealist? 00:15:21 Panpsychism 00:28:18 Convince me that consciousness exists at all. 00:46:09 Sean Carroll's case for naturalism, considered 00:54:14 Is this just a type of "God of the gaps" reasoning? 01:00:34 Do fine-tuning and cosmological arguments for God succeed? 01:07:47 Is atman Brahman? 01:12:50 Does this mean that I am God? 01:19:34 What are you most uncertain of? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe

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