The Idea of the World: A Multi-Disciplinary Argument for the Mental Nature of Reality

The Idea of the World: A Multi-Disciplinary Argument for the Mental Nature of Reality

A rigorous case for the primacy of mind in nature, from philosophy to neuroscience, psychology and physics. The Idea of the World offers a grounded alternative to the frenzy of unrestrained abstractions and unexamined assumptions in philosophy and science today. This book examines what can be learned about the nature of reality based on conceptual parsimony, straightforward logic and empirical evidence from fields as diverse as physics and neuroscience. It compiles an overarching case for idealism - the notion that reality is essentially mental - from ten original articles the author has previously published in leading academic journals. The case begins with an exposition of the logical fallacies and internal contradictions of the reigning physicalist ontology and its popular alternatives, such as bottom-up panpsychism. It then advances a compelling formulation of idealism that elegantly makes sense of - and reconciles - classical and quantum worlds. The main objections to idealism are systematically refuted and empirical evidence is reviewed that corroborates the formulation presented here. The book closes with an analysis of the hidden psychological motivations behind mainstream physicalism and the implications of idealism for the way we relate to the world. Tremendous tension is building in the world of neuroscience over the relationship between mind and brain -- just what is the true nature of consciousness? A building consilience from the fields of psychology, physics and neuroscience supports the primacy of consciousness in the universe, or a top-down organizing principle at the heart of all reality. One of the strongest new elements of this bridge comes from the physics perspective of Bernardo Kastrup in support of the reality of ontological or metaphysical idealism. His revolutionary and insightful book, The Idea of the World, connects the dots brilliantly through a series of masterfully-woven articles, making an elegant case for the advantages of idealism over physicalism, especially in the face of contextuality in quantum physics, the 'hard problem' of consciousness, and the subject combination problem in philosophy of mind. The result is a must-read book for anyone seriously interested in the modern neuroscience of consciousness, and its broad implications for humanity. Bravo, Bernardo! Eben Alexander, MD, Neurosurgeon, author of Proof of Heaven, The Map of Heaven and Living in a Mindful Univers e. A viable pathway to a better world does appear in principle to be opening up. Bernardo Kastrup has contributed at many levels to the development of this emerging vision, and this fine new book gives me real hope that the main barrier to its widespread acceptance is on the verge of collapse. A major inflection point in modern intellectual history is close at hand! Edward F. Kelly, PhD, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, lead author of Irreducible Mind (2007) and Beyond Physicalism (2015). It is hard to find a book that would not just repeat works already published but instead build on them and present a coherent whole. The Idea of the World does this marvelously. Menas C. Kafatos, PhD, Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair Professor of Computational Physics at Chapman University, Orange, California, USA. Bernardo Kastrup is one of the leading thinkers today about the nature of consciousness. In his latest book The Idea of the World, he presents a compelling argument that consciousness is fundamental and causal, that reality arises from consciousness, not consciousness from spacetime. He writes well, and his arguments are well-grounded. This book is worthy of your attention. Stephan A. Schwartz, scientist, futurist, historian, and writer. In my view, the philosopher-scientist Bernardo Kastrup is one of the most important thinkers of the moment on the crucial subject of the nature of consciousness  --  crucial because the way we understand consciousness and reality shapes our outlook on the world, and on life and existence generally. In his latest and most commanding book to date, The Idea of the World: A multi-disciplinary argument for the mental nature of reality, Kastrup consolidates and powers up his argument that, unlike that of physicalism or panpsychism, consciousness is causal and fundamental, that our reality arises from consciousness, is consciousness in effect, and not the other way round; that physical structures are circumscribed by consciousness, and not the other way round. As Kastrup says, most theories of reality that contradict mainstream physicalism are dismissed as not rigorous or plausible enough. Of these, nearly all theories that claim consciousness to be the fundamental substrate of existence 'are pooh-poohed as flaky New Age nonsense'. So, with analytical and critical flair and rigour, on his mission to save us from the morass of ontological misinformation, he has produced an inspiring masterwork to c