Is there mind in all matter?
Popular science/philosophy
We are composed of the same atoms as the rocks, soil, mountains and nothing more. They are apparently aware of nothing, whereas we are aware of the physical world, ourselves and much more besides. How is this possible?
The current scientific view is that minds emerge from wholly unknowing matter. The idea, commonly found in Eastern philosophy, that mind and matter are in fact one and the same, has long been considered an elegant although impractical answer to the question above.
This book argues that we live in an intelligent, aware, decision-making universe, and that our consciousness grows from an intelligence present throughout nature. It gives the non-human world its proper status, describing recent studies into animal cognition and the sophisticated behaviours of some non-animal life. It examines how Western culture, through religion, science and philosophy, have worked to separate us from nature.
It argues the reason mind in nature is seen as an eccentric or mystical notion, is because we humans have wrongly elevated ourselves above all other species. As Charles Darwin once wrote:
"Origin of man now proved.—Metaphysics must flourish.—He who understands baboon would do more towards metaphysics than Locke."
The cover illustration is Blossom ©Phil Greenwood. https://philgreenwood.info/