Podcast Summary: "The End of Materialism" with Àlex Gómez-Marín

Philosophy For Our Times – IAI, Feb 17, 2026

Main Theme Overview

This episode centers on a deep challenge to the dominance of materialism in science and philosophy, particularly in the study of consciousness and the mind. Neuroscientist and theoretical physicist Àlex Gómez-Marín argues that materialism—the idea that only matter is fundamentally real—cannot adequately account for consciousness, near-death experiences, and the richness of human mental life. Sharing both scientific perspectives and personal experience, Gómez-Marín calls for a "Science 2.0": one that is pluralistic, open to mystery, and better aligned with the fullness of the human condition.

Key Discussion Points

1. Defining Materialism and Its Limits

- Fundamental Tenets of Materialism

• Materialism: the view that only matter is real, an idea originating in the scientific revolution with Galileo (03:28).
• Gómez-Marín criticizes the way materialism has become a gatekeeping ideology in science, limiting exploration of consciousness, meaning, and subjective experience (02:10–05:06).

- Pluralism in the Philosophy of Mind

• Advocates for considering alternative metaphysical frameworks: idealism, dualism, and dual aspect monism (02:10).
• "I'm only asking for pluralism, actually. I'm only asking for having more options on the table and taking them seriously." (04:44, Àlex Gómez-Marín)

2. Consciousness: The Productive vs. Permissive Brain

- Mainstream Neuroscience's "Productive" Model

• The prevailing view: The brain produces consciousness (like a lamp producing light) (05:21).
• Materialists claim given enough time and research, science will explain how consciousness emerges from the brain.

- The "Permissive" Model

• William James’ idea: the brain acts more as a filter or prism, permitting or modulating consciousness rather than producing it (05:21–07:11).
• This framework allows for phenomena like near-death experiences, which the productive model cannot accommodate.

- "If consciousness survives, materialism dies. It's game over for materialism if something of us continues after we die."
(09:06, Àlex Gómez-Marín)

3. Near-Death Experiences and Survival of Consciousness

- Scientific and Anecdotal Evidence

• 50 years of near-death experience (NDE) research since Raymond Moody (07:45).
• Clinical observations: Patients declared clinically dead report vivid, structured experiences—sometimes with verifiable content.

- "The evidence suggests that the mind can survive the activity of the brain. When brains are broken or shut off, there can still be mind going on, and that's revolutionary."
(09:06, Àlex Gómez-Marín)

- Personal Testimony

• Àlex Gómez-Marín describes his own NDE: "I saw those beings at the end of the tunnel, three beings, and there was yellow light..." (09:47–10:48).
• Stresses the importance of integrating first-person experience into scientific inquiry.

- Reincarnation Studies

• Reference to Ian Stevenson’s research: children recalling verifiable past lives, adding further pressure on the materialist paradigm (11:02–13:01).

4. Stigma and the Politics of Scientific Inquiry

- Science as a Human Endeavor

• Gómez-Marín points out that science is entangled with sociopolitical and economic interests (13:06).
• Materialism, secularism, and the fear of association with religion create taboos that limit open investigation.

- "There's usually stigma upon the enigma. And this is so unfortunate."
(12:57, Àlex Gómez-Marín)

- "The backstage of science":

• Funding, career pressures, and ideological conformity shape what can be studied or published (13:06–14:43).

5. Materialism, Progress, and Society

- Why Materialism Persists

• It's a deeply embedded cultural assumption taught in education (14:48).
• Has historical roots replacing religious frameworks (15:10).
• Science’s divorce from philosophy and marriage with technology has reinforced materialist progress narratives.

- Critique of "Progress"

• Cites Paul Kingsnorth’s "the Machine": the modern conflation of more = better and relentless extraction from nature (17:00).

• Transhumanism as a "pseudo-religion":

  • "They promise immortality, they promise redemption... but it's done by our means..." (17:44, Àlex Gómez-Marín)

6. Science, Ethics, and the Neglected Dimensions

- The Pruning of Value-Centric Disciplines

• Science often omits aesthetics, politics, ethics, and metaphysics, leading to "unconscious science" (18:14).
• Scientists should acknowledge the metaphysical assumptions they hold (18:14–19:16).

- "Science needs to be in service of mankind, not in service of a few ideas... or just dominate upon nature."
(19:24, Àlex Gómez-Marín)

- Progress as a Double-Edged Sword

• Acknowledges benefits of technology and modern medicine, but cautions against overlooking "the dark side of the moon"—side effects, disasters, and loss of meaning (20:05–20:59).

7. Enlightenment, Spirituality, and the Future

- Critique of Enlightenment's Uncritical Narratives

• Steven Pinker's optimism on moral progress is only "one side of the moon" (21:09).
• Science capital, "Reason," and "Enlightenment" can become abstractions that are worshipped, leading to an incomplete or destructive worldview (21:37).

- Rise of Spirituality and Pluralism

• As religion declines, spirituality rises.
• Gómez-Marín: Instead of returning to the past, advocate for "Science 2.0"—a reconciliation between science, spirituality, and religion (22:41–24:41).
• Emphasis on dialogue, pluralism, and an acceptance of mystery rather than dogmatism.

8. Living with Contradictions and Embracing Mystery

- Reconciling Incompatible Worldviews

• Suggests that true pluralism might mean holding space for "incompatible differences" rather than forcing synthesis (25:01–26:31).

- "Maybe we need to learn to live with incompatible differences, and that entails true pluralism... borrowing a metaphor from quantum mechanics..."
(25:52, Àlex Gómez-Marín)

- True Contradictions and the Limits of Reason

• Sometimes contradiction signals the limits of reason; imagination and intuition may offer other ways forward (26:31–27:08).

- Are We Projecting Meaning on an Indifferent Universe?

• Gómez-Marín rebuts the idea that humans are merely projecting meaning: "We human beings feed on meaning. It's the other way around if you're a materialist..." (27:21–28:18).

9. Death, the Fear of the Unknown, and the Call to Openness

- Death and Its Implications

• Our society is "thanatophobic" (phobic of death).
• Changing the concept of death changes life itself (29:18–30:37).
• Accepts the uncertainty about what persists after death, but stresses that openness about these possibilities is essential.

- The Value of Mystery

• Advocates for a shift from "solving" reality as an enigma to revering it as a mystery (30:55).
• "If we liberate ourselves from this prison of materialism, the way we will explore those questions will be freer, it will be more creative, and it would be in service of mankind." (31:36, Àlex Gómez-Marín)

- On Why We Are Here

• Offers a poetic speculation: "The one, the absolute, if there's such a thing, had everything except limitation. So we are that absolute, experiencing contingency... it's a wonderful adventure..." (32:05–33:14).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "When brains are broken or shut off, there can still be mind going on, and that's revolutionary." (00:21/09:06, Àlex Gómez-Marín)
• "If consciousness survives, materialism dies." (00:21/09:06, Àlex Gómez-Marín)
• "Materialism is good to study certain things. But then when it ossifies... Now it's preventing us from understanding these key questions that everybody wants to know." (04:09, Àlex Gómez-Marín)
• "There's usually stigma upon the enigma." (12:57, Àlex Gómez-Marín)
• "Transhumanism is this pseudo-religion dressed in techno scientific language whose goal is very religious." (17:19, Àlex Gómez-Marín)
• "Science needs to be in service of mankind." (19:24, Àlex Gómez-Marín)
• "True pluralism... maybe borrowing a metaphor from quantum mechanics... when you can have a cat that's both dead and alive." (25:52, Àlex Gómez-Marín)
• "We human beings feed on meaning. It's the other way around if you're a materialist..." (27:57, Àlex Gómez-Marín)
• "Death and dying is scary... But if you change your notion of what death is or may be, you live differently." (29:18, Àlex Gómez-Marín)
• "We should stop treating reality, I believe, as a great sudoku... and treat it more like a mystery." (30:55, Àlex Gómez-Marín)
• "Maybe my invitation... Hey, materialist friends, come here. Let's work on Materialism 2.0." (33:27, Àlex Gómez-Marín)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Materialism defined and critiqued: 02:10–05:06
• Brain as filter vs. producer of consciousness: 05:21–07:31
• Near-death experiences and evidence: 07:45–13:01
• Stigma and politics in science: 13:01–14:43
• Materialism and progress critique: 14:48–18:10
• Science, ethics, and lost dimensions: 18:14–19:16
• False dichotomy of Luddism vs. technocracy: 20:05–20:59
• Pluralism, spirituality, and reconciliation: 22:15–24:41
• Living with contradictions: 24:45–27:08
• On meaning, death, and mystery: 27:21–33:37

Tone & Style

Gómez-Marín speaks candidly and with poetic passion, weaving personal anecdotes (his own NDE), historical context, scientific argument, and philosophical openness. The discussion is measured, exploratory, and occasionally irreverent—especially in challenging entrenched scientific attitudes. There’s a persistent call for humility before the mystery of existence and a plea for science to expand beyond materialist dogma.

Conclusion

Àlex Gómez-Marín advocates for a post-materialist, pluralistic science capable of embracing mystery, spirituality, and the lived realities of consciousness. Noting that materialism's explanatory limits have become liabilities, he calls for a new era—a "Science 2.0"—where open, value-centric investigation takes precedence over ideological rigidity. The episode leaves listeners with challenging questions about the nature of mind, death, and meaning, and a sense that philosophy and science must journey together toward deeper understanding.