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.
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Holistic Consciousness
Consciousness should be viewed holistically, not just as brain activity.
Cultures have long recognized diverse forms of consciousness beyond humans.
insights INSIGHT
Mechanistic View of Science
The mechanistic view of science, unlike prior views, sees nature as a machine.
This view creates splits between religion/science, mind/body, and humans/animals.
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Panpsychism and the Hard Problem
Panpsychism suggests consciousness exists at various levels of nature, possibly even in atoms.
This helps address the "hard problem" of consciousness arising from matter.
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In *Consciousness Explained*, Daniel Dennett undertakes a full-scale exploration of human consciousness. He challenges the traditional, commonsense theory of consciousness and introduces the 'Multiple Drafts' model as an alternative to the 'Cartesian Theater' concept. Dennett draws on a wealth of information from neuroscience, psychology, and artificial intelligence to transform current theories about conscious life in humans, animals, and even robots. The book is praised for its accessible and engaging style, making complex scientific and philosophical concepts highly digestible for both experts and general readers[2][4][5].
Principia mathematica
Alfred North Whitehead
Bertrand Russell
Timaeus
Plato
In 'Timaeus,' Plato presents a detailed account of the formation of the universe. The dialogue is primarily delivered through long monologues by Timaeus and Critias. It describes the universe as the product of a rational, purposive, and beneficent agency, created by a divine Craftsman (Demiurge) who imitates an eternal and unchanging model. The work discusses the distinction between the eternal and the physical worlds, the composition of the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) linked to Platonic solids, and the creation of the cosmic soul and its role in governing the universe. The dialogue also touches on various philosophical themes, including the nature of God, the distinction between the sensible and intellectual, and the concepts of time and space[1][3][5].
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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