NCH1: Online Synchronous

This lesson looks at the influence of Phenomenology, in particular Merlau-Ponty on the somatic and embodiment disciplines. 

This class discusses the reading list material of Peter Godfrey-Smith a philosopher of science and his books Metazoa and Other Minds. His views and research are pertinent  - in that he looks at the biological basis for awareness and consciousness - the orgins of it, and how it emerges throughout all species. His theory:  “[Godfrey-Smith argues that] minds evolved gradually. But how far back do we have to go see the first steps in this process?” and that  “Brain processes are not causes of thoughts and experiences, they are thoughts and experiences” (Metazoa p. 20).  His theories are congruent in some ways with neuroscientist Damasio's - both being materialists. They hold value for understanding our biological basis - for emergent properties and the body as a evolutionary process that is billions of years old. Also for situating NAIO as being informed by multi-disciplinary feilds. 

This lesson connects and contrasts Godfrey-Smith, Damasio with philsophic ideas of Panpsychism and Cosmopanpsychism and how they can correspond or be relevant for NAIO's Holistc Awareness Process. 

A deeper exploration on the philisophy of Heraclitus influence on NAIO