#61: Are We More Than Our Brains? Free Will and the Nature of Reality | Dr. Nathan Hawkins

Is consciousness the foundation of reality? Or is it merely a by-product of the brain? And if free will is an illusion, what happens to morality, responsibility, and rational thought?

In this episode of The Prometheans, I sit down with Dr. Nathan Hawkins, philosopher at the University of Cambridge, for a deep dive into two of philosophy's most fascinating debates: metaphysical idealism and free will.

Dr. Hawkins presents the case for idealism—the view that consciousness is more fundamental than matter. He critiques physicalism for its inability to fully explain subjective experience, morality, reason, and aesthetic values, arguing that while science is an extraordinary tool for understanding the physical world, it cannot answer every philosophical question about reality.

The conversation then turns to free will, where Dr. Hawkins challenges the growing claim that neuroscience has disproved human agency. We explore why brain scans reveal correlations rather than causes, the differences between compatibilism, hard determinism, and event-causal libertarianism, and why the ability to deliberate and choose cannot simply be reduced to neural activity.

We also discuss why rejecting free will has far-reaching consequences. If our actions are nothing more than the inevitable outcome of physical laws, can moral responsibility survive? Can concepts such as "ought," "should," and rational deliberation still make sense? Dr. Hawkins explains why these questions remain philosophical rather than purely scientific.

The episode concludes with Dr. Hawkins recommending five books that have profoundly shaped his thinking, spanning theology, metaphysics, logic, analytic philosophy, and literature.

Whether you're interested in consciousness, philosophy of mind, neuroscience, metaphysics, ethics, or the science-religion dialogue, this conversation offers a thoughtful and accessible exploration of some of the deepest questions human beings can ask.

Dr Nathan Hawkins teaches and lectures at Cambridge University's Faculty of Philosophy. His PhD on the nature of truth passed with no corrections. He won the Gates Cambridge Scholarship for his postgraduate research and has published peer-reviewed work in philosophy of language and logic. He runs the YouTube channel Absolute Philosophy and the podcast Think Through, where he interviews leading academics on metaphysics, consciousness, and the philosophy of religion.

Subscribe to Dr Hawkins: @drnathanhawkins

The Prometheans is a podcast and YouTube channel hosted by Ali Zaka — writer, educator, and lecturer in English Literature — exploring philosophy of religion, interfaith dialogue, and the deepest questions about mind, meaning, and existence.