Radical Nature: Rediscovering the Soul of Matter (Paperback)

by Christian de Quincey (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"So energetic and accessible it definitely needs to be read. The writing sparkles and the ideas sing." -- Charlene Spretnak, author of States of Grace

Product Description
"One of the most important books on consciousness and cosmology to appear in decades. Anyone interested in questions about soul and nature, about the relationship between consciousness and the world of matter, about meaning in the universe, needs to read it."

Brian Swimme, Ph.D., coauthor of The Universe Story

"Radical Nature exposes the biggest con job in the history of human thought-that matter and nature are dead, mindless, unfeeling, and disconnected from ourselves. De Quincey gives us an image that is as hopeful and fulfilling as the old view was empty and depressing. Never have we needed such a view as now."

Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Beyond the Body

Do animals have souls? Do worms and insects feel pain or pleasure? Can trees feel anything at all? Ever wondered where in the great unfolding of evolution consciousness first appeared? If questions like these intrigue you, you are in good company because they touch on the deepest mystery in modern philosophy and science: How are minds and bodies related? How does consciousness fit into the physical world?

These are not just idle speculations. How we answer such questions can dramatically affect the way we live our lives, treat the natural world and other people, and even how we relate to our own bodies. In Radical Nature, philosopher Christian de Quincey explores how mind and matter are related, and he proposes a radical and surprising answer: Consciousness goes all the way down! Through animals, plants, even single cells . . . in fact, all the way down the great chain of being to molecules, atoms, and beyond. Drawing on both ancient and modern knowledge, de Quincey shows us that the universe teems with consciousness through and through. "Matter itself tingles with the spark of spirit," he says. "And therefore nature, in all its forms and glory, is sacred to its deepest roots." Radical Nature takes you on a mind-stretching journey in this remarkable story of philosophy and science in search of a soul.

Christian de Quincey, Ph.D., is professor of philosophy and consciousness studies at John F. Kennedy University and managing editor of the IONS Review from the Institute of Noetic Sciences. His work on consciousness has appeared in both popular and academic journals, including Journal of Consciousness Studies, ReVision, Network, Cerebrum, and Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Invisible Cities Press Llc; 1 edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931229155
• ISBN-13: 978-1931229159
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #684,719 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind-Body in a Conscious Universe, May 7, 2002

By	Mike Denney, M.D., Ph.D. (sausalito, ca USA) - See all my reviews

Finally, an explanation of mind-body phenomena that is understandable and applicable to any field of endeavor --physics, psychology, medicine, ecology and beyond. I read this book cover-to-cover and was enthralled start to finish. de Quincey takes on all the great thinkers in the mind-body field, historical and contemporary, and then blends in his careful definitions of terms and unique ideas of sentient matter to formlulate his theory of radical naturalism, which posits that matter is not just "dead stuff" but is ensouled. The result is a blessing for anyone interested in the convergence of mind and body, matter and consciousness, and of the concrete with the spiritual.

This book offers a new and essential foundation stone for my own work in soul-body healing, and I have already recommended it to friends and colleagues in medicine, psychology and philosophy. It is a "must-read" addition to the ongoing literature on consciousness and mind-body phenomena.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both a scientific and a spiritual treatise, June 5, 2002

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Radical Nature: Rediscovering The Soul Of Matter by Christian de Quincey (Professor of Philosophy and Consciousness Studies, John F. Kennedy University) is both a scientific and a spiritual treatise that meditates upon the essence of the soul and the spiritual existence of all life forms, including trees, animals, and of course humans. Presenting Professor de Quincy's conviction that consciousness exists down to the level of single-cell animals and beyond, Radical Nature is a intriguing study offering a transcendental viewpoint of living things. Radical Nature is very highly recommended reading for students of philosophy, metaphysics, spirituality, the nature of nature, and how the phenomena of consciousness is present in the physical world around us.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nature Has a Mind of Its Own, May 29, 2002

By	Trish Foster (Meath, Ireland) - See all my reviews

As a lover of animals (I run Ireland's newest, state-of-the-art boarding kennels...), I have always believed that animals have consciousness, and I've been amazed at the narrow-mindedness of scientists who want us to believe otherwise. In this book, Christian de Quincey takes those blinkered scientists to task and shows how absurd it is to believe that humans are so special. What I wasn't prepared for was how much further Dr. de Quincey takes us. Using the power of philosophy he lays out a convincing case that "consciousness goes all the way down"--that not only do animals and plants have consciousness or souls, but that all matter does (perhaps even rocks). I've never read a book that has so deeply challenged my view of things. And it's so rewarding to be taken to new levels of understanding. I was also surprised at how easy he makes it to read deep philosophy. Read this book and be prepared to be swept away into regions of your mind you never knew you had. He makes nature come alive. He saysit just right: "Nature has a mind of its own." Bravo!