Divine Materialism and Integral Cosmology: Consciousness, Science, and the Spiritual Turn with Marco Masi

Dec 28, 2025

Marco Masi, a physicist and author with a focus on consciousness and integral cosmology, discusses the concept of 'divine materialism'—integrating science with spirituality. He critiques the limitations of conventional consciousness studies, promoting an expansive framework rooted in Sri Aurobindo's teachings. Masi explores the evolution of consciousness, advocating for a blend of first-person experience with third-person science. He also highlights the transformative potential of integral education that nurtures the soul and fosters multidimensional understanding.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Personal Turn Toward Divine Materialism

Marco Masi describes moving from agnosticism into Sri Aurobindo's orbit after reading Vedanta and Sat Prem's trilogy.
That intellectual and spiritual turning point framed his lifelong work connecting science and spirituality.

INSIGHT

Brain Imaging Didn't Answer Consciousness

Neuroscience advanced technically but hasn't solved the core metaphysical question of consciousness.
Marco argues science remains mute on what consciousness fundamentally is despite brain imaging progress.

INSIGHT

Move Beyond One- or Two-Dimensional Views

Western philosophy often reduces reality to one or two dimensions like materialism or Cartesian dualism.
Marco recommends a multi-layered model of consciousness (vital, mental, overmental) as a richer framework.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

In this episode, we explore Marco Masi’s article “The Integral Cosmology of Sri Aurobindo: An Introduction from the Perspective of Consciousness Studies.” Marco’s work sits at the intersection of the hard sciences and spirituality, advancing the provocative notion of “divine materialism.”

We examine the limitations of contemporary philosophy of mind and mainstream consciousness studies, emphasizing the need for more expansive frameworks capable of addressing the interior dimensions of experience. Drawing from Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga, Marco introduces Integral Cosmology as a way to fill what is often missing in academic and scientific discourse—a vision of consciousness that is both evolutionary and spiritual.

We discuss the pitfalls of academic hyperspecialization and the inadequacy of even transdisciplinary models when confronting today’s complex, multidimensional challenges. Instead, we point toward the emergence of an integral framework—a mode of inquiry grounded in the cultivation of integral consciousness itself. We conclude with a reflection on integral education and its transformative potential. How might an integral worldview help students not only synthesize scientific and spiritual paradigms, but also develop the inner capacities required for personal, cultural, and spiritual transformation?

Marco Masi (born 1965) attended the German School of Milan, Italy. He graduated in physics at the University of Padua, and later obtained a Ph.D. in physics at the University of Trento. He worked as a postdoc in universities in Italy, France, and Germany, and as a school teacher for three years. After he had authored some scientific papers (http://ow.ly/snz6u) his interests veered towards new forms of individual learning and a new concept of free progress education originated from his activity both as a tutor in several universities and as a high school teacher, but especially from his direct, lived experience of what education should not be. This led him to author a book on ”Free progress Education”. He also wrote a two-volume series on quantum physics entitled “Quantum Physics: An Overview of a Weird World”, and which tries to close a gap between the too high-level university textbooks and a too low-level popular science approach. His interests in metaphysical and philosophical ruminations led him to the vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Not only gave him this a spiritual path to follow, but also answered many questions he was looking for in science.

Spirit Calls Nature by Marco Masi- https://www.amazon.com/dp/3948295166
Blog - https://marcomasi.substack.com/
Website - https://marco-masi.com/
The Integral Cosmology of Sri Aurobindo: An Introduction from the Perspective of Consciousness Studies - https://integral-review.org/the-integral-cosmology-of-sri-aurobindo-an-introduction-from-the-perspective-of-consciousness-studies/
New book "Meaning and Purpose in a Conscious Universe": https://www.amazon.com/dp/3948295190

The EWP Podcast credits

• Connect with EWP: Website • Youtube • Facebook
• Hosted by Stephen Julich (EWP Core Faculty) and Jonathan Kay (EWP PhD grad)
• Produced by: Stephen Julich and Jonathan Kay
• Edited and Mixed by: Jonathan Kay
• Music: Mosaic, by Monsoon on the album Mandala
• Introduction Voiceover: Roche Wadehra

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network