Truth HQ by Tom Wallace - HTML preview

T R U T H H Q

systems, the bio-sphere – having an influence on the lower levels. Downwards causation, as it were, as well as upwards emergence. But this idea seems very rare nowadays – rarer even than a few decades ago.

Perhaps the reason is that – lurking amongst all the wonder – there are some awkward questions. Arguably, the big three are: Why something rather than nothing? (Or, really, why form rather than formlessness?) What makes something alive? And, what makes something conscious? I’ve read whole books on science – even whole books on biology – where these questions are never addressed.

Is it just me, or do they not just seem like the obvious questions? So why the apparent

embarrassment?

Maybe it’s that we get the feeling such questions are going to lead to metaphysical answers rather than practical, scientific ones. And

maybe the metaphysics will lead into spirituality! Best not go there, if you’re looking for a career in science! So – SILENCE!

But I think that’s where our idea of mind plus body plus way of being in the world can help. Remember, no need for the supernatural here! No top-down causality, if that’s what upsets you so much. No – just emergence, from the

bottom up. We could go on with our emergence into eco-systems, societies and cultures – all of which have their disciplines in science. Things almost become respectable again! But – perhaps more to the point – what’s this mind-body-way of being idea telling us about the way we live our lives? Well, nothing so very mysterious, I’d hazard. Just simple things that we’ve kind of always known. Body and mind are deeply connected – that’s one thing. The body

62