The World in Time / Lapham’s Quarterly Episode 79: Charles Foster
Oct 15, 2021
In this engaging discussion, veterinarian, philosopher, and legal scholar Charles Foster shares insights from his book, delving into our ancient human roots and the evolution of consciousness. He recounts his experiences attempting to live like Upper Paleolithic humans, highlighting the stark contrasts with modern life. Foster also explores the interplay of mind and matter, revealing how our brains might function as prisms of consciousness. He critiques modern science's neglect of intuition, advocating for a blend of skepticism and creativity to navigate contemporary challenges.
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Living As Upper Paleolithic Hunters
- Charles Foster and his 14-year-old son Tom lived like Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers in Derbyshire, hunting, trapping rabbits and using flint tools.
- They felt the landscape 'claim' them and experienced a two-way conversation with the place and its animals.
The Symbolic Revolution 40,000 Years Ago
- Around 40,000 years ago humans underwent a symbolic revolution where objects began to stand for other things.
- That symbolic capacity enabled internal planning and opened an infinite space of imaginative possibilities.
Brain As Prism For Consciousness
- Foster uses William James's prism metaphor: the brain refracts consciousness rather than produces it.
- This implies mind is materially affected but not wholly generated by brain matter.
