Mo Gawdat is a compelling figure. His sincerity is real, his concern for humanity commendable. But sincerity does not equal insight, and goodwill cannot be mistaken for philosophical accuracy. The most honest and unintentionally revealing thing he said was, “I could be wrong about everything.” He might be.

The core flaw in his worldview lies in the assumption that intelligence is what defines humanity. This idea is not just debatable, it is demonstrably false. Across science, philosophy, human rights, and theology, a very different conclusion emerges: our uniqueness is rooted in autonomy, not intelligence. Intelligence is a tool. Autonomy is identity.

SCIENCE: Intelligence Isn’t the Engine of Humanity

Scientific anomalies repeatedly challenge the idea that intelligence is what makes us human.

• Hydrocephalus survivors with drastically reduced brain matter still exhibit normal cognitive function. This defies any theory that equates human essence with neural complexity.
• Terminal lucidity in end-stage dementia patients suggests consciousness and volition operate independently of measurable brain health.
• Near-death experiences, particularly in individuals born blind, have produced verifiable sensory reports—demonstrating perception that cannot be reduced to biological machinery.

These cases point to a consciousness that transcends intelligence, suggesting that autonomy, not computation, is central to the human experience.

PHILOSOPHY: Intelligence Is a Feature, Not the Foundation

Philosophical traditions have long emphasized autonomy, not intelligence, as the defining trait of personhood.

• Descartes’ cogito begins with thinking, but presupposes a self capable of reflection and volition. It is the self, not thought alone, that defines existence.
• Aristotle distinguished between intellectual capacities and the rational soul. The latter governs choice and intention, not just calculation.
• Kant’s moral framework hinges on autonomy. Morality demands a will that is free, not merely intelligent. No algorithm, however advanced, can will a universal moral law.

To philosophers, autonomy is not an emergent property of intelligence. It is a separate, foundational capacity.

HUMAN RIGHTS: Intelligence Grants No Inherent Dignity

Modern human rights frameworks are built not on intellect but on moral agency and dignity.

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the inherent worth of all persons, regardless of cognitive ability.
• A newborn, a person with severe cognitive disability, and a genius all possess equal rights. This only makes sense if rights are grounded in something other than intelligence.
• Autonomous will is the consistent baseline across human rights theory: the capacity to choose, not the ability to reason, is what matters.

If intelligence were the key, the intellectually disabled would be less human. But that conclusion is morally repugnant—and universally rejected.

THEOLOGY: The Image of God Is Moral, Not Mental

Theological systems universally root human uniqueness in moral and spiritual capacity, not intelligence.

• Imago Dei, the idea that humans are made in the image of God, has nothing to do with IQ. It speaks to moral awareness, relationality, and free will.
• From the Abrahamic to the Eastern traditions, the soul—not the mind—is what sets humanity apart.
• Theological anthropology has never confused intelligence with value. Even in traditions that value knowledge, it is always wisdom—a moral application of understanding—that carries weight.

In every theistic model, it is autonomy, not intellect, that carries eternal significance.

SYNTHESIS:

Across science, philosophy, human rights, and theology, the pattern is unambiguous: intelligence is not what makes us human. Autonomy—the capacity for self-directed moral choice—is the irreducible, non-negotiable core of personhood.

Artificial intelligence can simulate thought. It cannot simulate will. Without autonomy, there is no moral being—only an echo chamber of optimization routines.

If you enjoyed this discussion, you can dig deeper with our book Soulless Intelligence: How AI Proves We Need God.