Neuroscience and Human Identity: Are We Just Our Brains?

What exactly are human beings? Are we advanced apes? Are we machines? Are we souls confined to a body? Questions of core human identity are central to many contemporary discussions. One often expressed view is that human beings are their brains. Our behaviours, choices, personality, even religious beliefs are dictated by the chemical and electrical activity in our neurons. Is this true? Or is there more to us than simply matter? If God is real, does that change how we think about this topic? In this talk we address these questions and others, drawing upon clinical neuroscience, philosophy and theology as we think about who we really are.