Mind and Nature' by Gregory Bateson, Review. | Blogitem

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Shaun Johnston:
In modern times we've made two revolutionary discoveries. One is, how changes in physical matter can be accounted for in terms of physical laws that can predict precisely what will happen next. Having given rise to science (how this can be studied) and industry (how it can be applied) this revolution is well under way.

The second revolution is, how emergence of species of living creatures can be accounted for in terms of them evolving from one another. This revolution, despite its promise of how much it could tell us about ourselves, remains stillborn through the mistaken application to it of principles coming out of the first revolution--reductive physicalism.

For this second revolution to advance it should be taken from under the wing of science and studied on its own terms. Tip: one recent product of evolution is creatures with minds. Minds are better studied through methods of the humanities than through those of science. Tell me, does this interest you?

"Mind and Nature" by Gregory Bateson, Review.

Details: Written by Shaun Johnston Shaun Johnston; Published: July 14, 2015 July 14, 2015; Hits: 2489 2489

The rise of modern genetics banished from evolutionary thinking the contributions of such seminal figures as Samuel Butler, William Bateson and Teilhard de Chardin. Later in the 20th century Gregory Bateson, William’s son, tried to revive them. Unfortunately, the result is an almost impenetrably tangled muddle. Still, as a recent representative of that alternative tradition I thought his book qualified for review as a classic. Review here.