Rupert Sheldrake, a renowned biologist and author, delves into the fascinating interplay between consciousness and the universe. He discusses the idea of a living cosmos where consciousness may permeate all entities, from atoms to celestial bodies. Sheldrake explores panpsychism, suggesting that even the sun might possess a form of awareness. He challenges traditional materialism, advocating for a holistic understanding of existence that includes spiritual practices like meditation, ultimately revealing a profound interconnectedness in our reality.
The podcast discusses the historical and contemporary recognition of multiple forms of consciousness existing throughout the universe beyond human experience.
Rupert Sheldrake explores the transition from a consciousness-focused worldview in ancient philosophy to the mechanistic perspective that characterizes modern science.
The conversation invites listeners to reconsider panpsychism, suggesting that consciousness is an intrinsic quality of all self-organizing systems in nature.
Deep dives
Universal Consciousness
The perspective on consciousness presented emphasizes that many civilizations have historically recognized the existence of multiple forms of consciousness in the universe, extending beyond human and animal experiences. This perspective contrasts with the cerebrocentric view, which limits consciousness to brain activity. Mystical experiences, altered states of consciousness, and spiritual practices are cited as means through which individuals connect to a greater consciousness. Notably, research, such as that conducted by Sir Alistair Hardy in the 1960s, reveals that a significant portion of the population has had experiences indicating a reality beyond their own, yet many remain hesitant to discuss them due to fear of societal stigma.
Historically Embedded Animism
In ancient Greece, beliefs such as the Eleusinian Mysteries and philosophical works by figures like Plato emphasized a conscious universe imbued with life and reason. Plato's notion of the cosmos as a living being shaped medieval views, where theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas integrated Greek thought with Christian theology. This animistic perspective portrayed nature, from plants to celestial bodies, as possessing consciousness or souls. The transition to a mechanistic view began in the 17th century with thinkers like Descartes, who deconstructed these beliefs, leading to a scientific revolution that characterized nature as a machine devoid of consciousness.
Philosophical Schools of Thought
The podcast explores contrasting philosophical movements regarding consciousness from the 19th century onward. Idealists argued for the primacy of consciousness, suggesting that it is fundamental to reality, while materialists dismissed any non-material realities, attempting to reduce consciousness to mere byproducts of physical processes. However, as materialist theories struggle to explain consciousness adequately, contemporary thinkers are revisiting panpsychism, which proposes that consciousness exists in varying degrees throughout nature. Philosophers like Galen Strawson and Philip Goff advocate for this view, suggesting that human consciousness results from a continuum rather than an isolated phenomenon.
Interplay of Consciousness and Nature
The discussion includes the revolutionary ideas of Alfred North Whitehead, who proposed that matter is a process rather than static entities, and that consciousness should be viewed through the lens of possibilities in time. Whitehead's perspective implies that consciousness interacts dynamically with the physical realm through choices and creativity, especially when habitual patterns are disrupted. This notion suggests that consciousness plays a role at all levels of complexity, not just in humans, inviting a broader consideration of consciousness in natural systems. By challenging reductionist views, this idea aligns with the holistic philosophy that suggests interconnectedness across all types of entities.
Contemplating Cosmic Consciousness
The podcast culminates in questioning whether the sun, planets, and even the universe possess consciousness, drawing on historical and contemporary beliefs across various cultures. While modern science often dismisses such ideas as superstitions, traditional perspectives have long viewed celestial bodies as conscious entities. The argument presented highlights the potential for networks of consciousness to exist, interconnected within the universe's fabric. This perspective opens discussions about the meaning of consciousness, urging a reevaluation of its nature and expressing the need for a paradigm shift in how we understand reality and our place within it.
The sciences are pointing toward a new sense of a living world. The cosmos is like a developing organism, and so is our planet, Gaia. The laws of Nature may be more like habits. Partly as a result of the ‘hard problem’ of finding space for human consciousness in the materialist worldview, there is a renewed interest in panpsychist philosophies, according to which some form of mind, experience or consciousness is associated with all self-organizing systems, including atoms, molecules and plants. Maybe the sun is conscious, and so are other stars, and entire galaxies. If so, what about the mind of the universe as a whole? Rupert Sheldrake will explore some of the implications of this idea.
Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers, and was named among the top 100 Global Thought Leaders for 2013. He studied natural sciences at Cambridge University, where he was a Scholar of Clare College, took a double first class honours degree and was awarded the University Botany Prize in 1963. Dr Sheldrake then studied philosophy and the history of science at Harvard before returning to Cambridge, where he took a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1967.
He is the author of 13 books, and in 2012 he published ‘The Science Delusion’. This book examines the ten dogmas of modern science, and shows how they can be turned into questions that open up new vistas of scientific possibility. It received the Book of the Year Award from the British Scientific and Medical Network. His most recent book: ‘Ways To Go Beyond, And Why They Work’ was published in 2019, and looks at seven spiritual practices that are personally transformative and have scientifically measurable effects. You can keep up to date with Rupert’s work on his website: www.sheldrake.org.
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