The Evolutionary Origins of Self

Video with

With Stuart Alan Kauffman, Katherine T. Peil, and Neil Theise; facilitated by Chris Fields.

Microbes vigorously defend themselves against attack, distinguish friendly from unfriendly members of their communities, and approach suitable partners to initiate sex. What if anything do they experience when doing so? Do they, in particular, experience selfhood? Do fish that protect their nests experience ownership? Do crows that manufacture tools from unfamiliar objects experience planning and agency? Do dogs, elephants and horses experi- ence themselves as related in some particular way to each of the other members of their social groups? Do chimps recognize their memories as their own? What in general can we say about the evolution of the experience of selfhood? Did the multifaceted human sense of self evolve as a unit, or did its various components develop separately?

A New Tribal National Marine Sanctuary

Article by

The waters off Central California are now part of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, the result of a decades-long campaign by local Indigenous leaders

Why Insect Memories May Not Survive Metamorphosis

Article by

The reshuffling of neurons during fruit fly metamorphosis suggests that larval memories don’t persist in adults

Tomb, Womb, Cocoon

Article by

The body is a tomb

#101 Apian Wisdom

Podcast with

A discussion at the intersection of cultural, spiritual, and ecological dimensions of natural honeybee life.

The Ontology of Ofrenda (Part I)

Article by

Ritual offerings represent portals that bridge the material with the metaphysical, breaching linear ideas of space-time by creating a dialogue with manifold unseen, more-than-human sentiences

Humanity’s Place in the Heavens: Islamic Cosmology

Article by

Since the dawn of Islam, Muslims have studied cosmology

Living Language of Water: Veda Austin

Article by

Book Review: The Living Language of Water by Veda Austin Veda Austin’s The Living Language of Water offers a captivating exploration into the hidden properties of one of Earth’s most abundant resources

#23 The Songs of Gaia (Encore)

Podcast with

Listening to/with/as the whole planet is listening and sining, a conversation with world renoun bioacoustic researcher

Support SAND with a Donation

Science and Nonduality is a nonprofit organization. Your donation goes towards the development of our vision and the growth of our community.
Thank you for your support!