Charles Murray and Steven Pinker Debate Terminal Lucidity
Steven Pinker recently faced cancellations of his book tour by a humanist group, signaling a shift in his status among atheist circles. Meanwhile, political scientist Charles Murray, known for his social analysis in Coming Apart (2012), has taken a surprising turn with his 2025 book, Taking Religion Seriously. He now explores traditional religious perspectives on life's meaning, considering the possibility that they could be valid rather than dismissing or belittling them.
Terminal Lucidity Explained
Murray discusses the phenomenon of terminal lucidity — the sudden mental clarity some individuals experience shortly before death. As noted in Alexander Batthyány’s Threshold, the only large-scale systematic study on the subject found:
- About 20% of terminal lucidity cases involved nonverbal communication, such as gestures or gaze, or semi-coherent speech.
- The remaining 80% involved people who had been unable to communicate, suddenly becoming alert and reverting to their former personalities.
- This state can last from minutes to a few hours and is typically followed by death within a day, often without mental relapse in between.
Scientific Perspective
Terminal lucidity has been a topic of coverage over the years, with some skeptics considering it mere random brain activity but admitting uncertainty.
Science writer Jesse Bering states, “I’m as sworn to radical rationalism as the next neo-Darwinian materialist.”
This openness reflects the complexity of fully explaining terminal lucidity through current scientific understanding.
Author’s Summary
Charles Murray’s fresh embrace of religious viewpoints and the intriguing phenomenon of terminal lucidity challenge prevailing scientific skepticism and invite deeper inquiry into life's final moments.