He’s a neuroscientist and a materialist, and I don’t think he’s an epiphenomenalist.
In the excerpts in the OP, he gives an epiphenomenalistic vibe because he’s responding to people who think that free will allows a person to violate the laws of physics (or a person who thinks a lack of free will implies a complete lack of ability to make choices). He says, “You are part of the universe and there is no place for you to stand outside of its causal structure.” He tries to show that consciousness is entirely downstream of physical causes. This does not imply, however, that consciousness is not also upstream of physical effects. Here’s another excerpt where he mentions consciousness is part of a larger causal framework:
There is no free will, but choices matter, and this isn’t a paradox, your desires, intentions and decisions arise out of the present state of the universe, which includes your brain and your soul. If such a thing exists, along with all of their influences, your mental states are part of a causal framework.
He’s a neuroscientist and a materialist, and I don’t think he’s an epiphenomenalist.
In the excerpts in the OP, he gives an epiphenomenalistic vibe because he’s responding to people who think that free will allows a person to violate the laws of physics (or a person who thinks a lack of free will implies a complete lack of ability to make choices). He says, “You are part of the universe and there is no place for you to stand outside of its causal structure.” He tries to show that consciousness is entirely downstream of physical causes. This does not imply, however, that consciousness is not also upstream of physical effects. Here’s another excerpt where he mentions consciousness is part of a larger causal framework:
(https://podcasts.happyscribe.com/making-sense-with-sam-harris/241-final-thoughts-on-free-will)
This doesn’t sound different from OP’s view, at a physical level.