The brain filters consciousness | Alex Gomez-Marin

The brain filters consciousness | Alex Gomez-Marin

From Philosophy For Our Times by IAI

May 5, 2026 · 30 min

About this episode

Neuroscientist Àlex Gómez-Marín discusses the brain's role in consciousness and the implications of near-death experiences.

Is the brain actually productive? Or is it instead permissive, simply acting as a filter through which consciousness passes? Can near death experiences help us to get closer to understanding the true nature of the brain? Neuroscientist and theoretical physicist Àlex Gómez-Marín argues that the brain may not produce consciousness, but instead filter or permit it. Tracing a provocative history from Galileo to modern consciousness science, he argues that scientific progress came by prioritising what can be measured, leaving inner experience behind. Using his own near-death experience and cases like terminal lucidity, he calls for a more open, rigorous “Science 2.0” that takes anomalous experiences seriously. Don't hesitate to email us at  podcast@iai.tv  with your thoughts or questions on the episode! To witness such debates live buy tickets for our upcoming festival:  https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/ And visit our website for many more articles, videos, and podcasts like this one:  https://iai.tv/ You can find everything we referenced here:  https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California…

People in this episode

Guest: Àlex Gómez-Marín

Topics covered

  • consciousness
  • neuroscience
  • philosophy
  • science
  • near-death experiences
  • terminal lucidity

Keywords

  • brain
  • consciousness
  • neuroscience
  • near-death experience
  • Science 2.0
  • terminal lucidity
  • philosophy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IAI

Books & works: Science 2.0

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