A Conscious Universe? – Dr Rupert Sheldrake

The Weekend University2 minutes read

Various civilizations and traditional societies believe in consciousness beyond human and animal levels, with mystical experiences and spiritual practices influencing this belief. Panpsychism and Idealism are emerging schools of thought emphasizing the integrative nature of consciousness in nature, challenging materialistic views and exploring consciousness from electrons to tissues.

Insights

  • Various philosophical and spiritual traditions, from ancient civilizations to contemporary thinkers like Philip Goff and Galileo Tonnone, explore the concept of consciousness existing at different levels of nature, including atoms and electrons, challenging the dominant materialistic view of science.
  • The idea of consciousness existing in self-organizing systems, such as organisms and even celestial bodies like the Sun, raises questions about the potential consciousness of the entire universe, suggesting a deeper interconnectedness and the exploration of consciousness beyond individual human experiences.

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Recent questions

  • Is consciousness believed to exist beyond humans and animals?

    Many civilizations and traditional societies believe in various forms of consciousness beyond human and animal consciousness. Mystical experiences, altered states of consciousness, spiritual practices, and psychedelics have led people to believe in a greater consciousness. Sir Alister Hardy's research unit in the 1960s found that many Britons had experiences involving a conscious presence greater than their own. Ancient Greek culture was influenced by the Eleusinian Mysteries, involving initiation in a cave and psychoactive substances. Medieval philosophers in Europe, influenced by Aristotle, believed all living beings, including planets and stars, have souls. The 17th-century Scientific Revolution introduced a mechanistic view of the universe, denying traditional beliefs in living organisms and consciousness.

  • What is panpsychism and its relevance in philosophy?

    Panpsychism is a resurgence in philosophy that suggests consciousness exists at many levels of nature, including atoms and electrons. Idealism, focusing on consciousness as the primary reality, is another school of thought that has gained traction. Contemporary philosophers like Philip Goff and Galileo Tonnone advocate for panpsychism, emphasizing the integrative capacity of consciousness and its distribution in nature. Whitehead proposed that particles, even subatomic ones, behave like waves, implying a temporal process with past and future poles. This view transforms the understanding of matter, suggesting a time-based relation between Mind and Body rather than a spatial one. Quantum theory equations, like the Schrödinger wave equation, describe possibilities until an interaction collapses them into a physical fact.

  • Do self-organizing systems possess consciousness?

    Panpsychism suggests that self-organizing systems possess a form of consciousness or organizing capacity, while non-self-organizing entities lack this. Plants, like humans, exhibit consciousness in choices and possibilities, not in habitual actions. Modern panpsychists like Strawsen, Tononi, and Koch explore consciousness from electrons to tissues, aiming to solve the hard problem of human consciousness. Organisms, from cells to galaxies, exhibit self-organizing capacities and purposes, contrasting with mere composites like machines. Atoms and molecules are viewed as processes, not ultimate particles, forming self-organizing systems with a wholeness beyond their parts.

  • How does the Sun's consciousness impact its behavior?

    The Sun exhibits complex electrical activity with granulations, magnetic fields, and solar cycles affecting its heat and behavior. NASA issues solar weather forecasts due to the Sun's unpredictable activity, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The Sun's electromagnetic field and solar wind impact the entire solar system, with potential severe effects on Earth's power systems. Speculation arises on the Sun's consciousness affecting its actions like firing off solar flares or coronal mass ejections. The idea of the entire galaxy and universe having consciousness is explored, with potential communication between galaxies.

  • Can the universe possess consciousness?

    The universe could potentially possess consciousness, offering insights into the source of all consciousness. The universe's consciousness may reflect a fractal version of a universal consciousness, encompassing all forms and energy within it. Neuroscientists study detailed changes in brains related to consciousness, but understanding consciousness solely through brain activity faces challenges. Mechanistic materialism excels in physics and technology but struggles to explain consciousness and spiritual experiences. Spiritual practices like meditation, contemplative Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sufism aim to connect individuals with deeper forms of consciousness.

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Summary

00:00

Exploring consciousness beyond human and animal realms.

  • Many civilizations and traditional societies believe in various forms of consciousness beyond human and animal consciousness.
  • Mystical experiences, altered states of consciousness, spiritual practices, and psychedelics have led people to believe in a greater consciousness.
  • Sir Alister Hardy's research unit in the 1960s found that many Britons had experiences involving a conscious presence greater than their own.
  • Ancient Greek culture was influenced by the Eleusinian Mysteries, involving initiation in a cave and psychoactive substances.
  • Medieval philosophers in Europe, influenced by Aristotle, believed all living beings, including planets and stars, have souls.
  • The 17th-century Scientific Revolution introduced a mechanistic view of the universe, denying traditional beliefs in living organisms and consciousness.
  • Materialism became the dominant philosophy of science, denying the existence of immaterial spirit and focusing on human consciousness.
  • Panpsychism, a resurgence in philosophy, suggests that consciousness exists at many levels of nature, including atoms and electrons.
  • Idealism, focusing on consciousness as the primary reality, is another school of thought that has gained traction.
  • Contemporary philosophers like Philip Goff and Galileo Tonnone advocate for panpsychism, emphasizing the integrative capacity of consciousness and its distribution in nature.

18:06

Whitehead's Panpsychism: Consciousness in Matter and Mind

  • Whitehead proposed that particles, even subatomic ones, behave like waves, implying a temporal process with past and future poles.
  • This view transforms the understanding of matter, suggesting a time-based relation between Mind and Body rather than a spatial one.
  • Quantum theory equations, like the Schrödinger wave equation, describe possibilities until an interaction collapses them into a physical fact.
  • Whitehead's theory posits that minds hold possibilities until they manifest physically, constantly transitioning between past and future.
  • Atoms and molecules are viewed as processes, not ultimate particles, forming self-organizing systems with a wholeness beyond their parts.
  • Organisms, from cells to galaxies, exhibit self-organizing capacities and purposes, contrasting with mere composites like machines.
  • Panpsychism suggests that self-organizing systems possess a form of consciousness or organizing capacity, while non-self-organizing entities lack this.
  • Plants, like humans, exhibit consciousness in choices and possibilities, not in habitual actions.
  • Modern panpsychists like Strawsen, Tononi, and Koch explore consciousness from electrons to tissues, aiming to solve the hard problem of human consciousness.
  • Traditional cultures, like Hindus, perceive the Sun as a conscious being, reflected in practices like the Surya Namaskar and the Gayatri Mantra.

35:24

"Sun's Consciousness and Universal Mind Exploration"

  • Descartes in the 17th century defined all matter as unconscious, leading to the assumption that the Sun and stars are unconscious.
  • The question arises if the Sun is conscious, which would imply other stars are too, considering the Sun's proximity.
  • The interface between the Sun's mind and body is compared to the interface between our brains and minds, often linked to electrical brain activity.
  • The Sun exhibits complex electrical activity with granulations, magnetic fields, and solar cycles affecting its heat and behavior.
  • NASA issues solar weather forecasts due to the Sun's unpredictable activity, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
  • The Sun's electromagnetic field and solar wind impact the entire solar system, with potential severe effects on Earth's power systems.
  • Speculation arises on the Sun's consciousness affecting its actions like firing off solar flares or coronal mass ejections.
  • The idea of the entire galaxy and universe having consciousness is explored, with potential communication between galaxies.
  • The concept of an ultimate mind beyond the universe is discussed, reflecting traditional religious beliefs and theological perspectives.
  • The threefold analysis of ultimate consciousness from Hinduism is compared to the Christian Holy Trinity, emphasizing the ground of being, principle of name and form, and the principle of energy, breath, movement, and change.

52:51

"Exploring Consciousness: From Embryology to Spirituality"

  • Patterns of energy flow through our brains during embryology, leading to the formation of conscious minds filled with various forms and names.
  • Conscious minds can create images and pictures in dreams, showcasing a dynamical principle of movement.
  • The universe could potentially possess consciousness, offering insights into the source of all consciousness.
  • The universe's consciousness may reflect a fractal version of a universal consciousness, encompassing all forms and energy within it.
  • Neuroscientists study detailed changes in brains related to consciousness, but understanding consciousness solely through brain activity faces challenges.
  • Mechanistic materialism excels in physics and technology but struggles to explain consciousness and spiritual experiences.
  • Spiritual practices like meditation, contemplative Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sufism aim to connect individuals with deeper forms of consciousness.
  • Meditation allows individuals to reach a state of awareness beyond thoughts, connecting with the ground of consciousness.
  • Sports, music, dancing, and aesthetic enjoyment offer alternative spiritual practices, leading individuals to altered states of consciousness and connection with spiritual reality.
  • Personal experiences of consciousness, including mystical experiences and spiritual practices, challenge materialist theories and encourage individuals to prioritize their own experiences in understanding consciousness.

01:09:14

Religion as Practice: Evolution of Consciousness

  • Religion is viewed more as a practice than a pursuit of truth, with spiritual practices like prayer, meditation, and pilgrimages providing a sense of connection.
  • The speaker is not concerned with the literal truth of religious stories, focusing more on the broader picture and practices.
  • Materialism is considered false, and various religious approaches are seen as suitable for different individuals.
  • Habits in nature are largely unconscious, but consciousness may come into play when choices need to be made.
  • Creativity arises when habits are blocked, leading to the exploration of new possibilities in evolutionary processes.
  • The evolution of the universe involves creativity settling into habits, with new habits constantly emerging.
  • The historical development of science in Europe led to an antagonism towards religion, particularly Christianity, shaping the scientific community's views.
  • Despite the prevalent materialistic worldview in academia, many scientists hold spiritual or non-materialistic beliefs privately, indicating a potential shift in the future.
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