Post-Materialist Science

Post-materialist science is a perspective that challenges the dominant materialist worldview, which holds that physical matter is the primary — or only — reality, and that consciousness emerges solely from brain activity. Post-materialist thinkers argue that this view is too limited and that evidence suggests consciousness, mind, and meaning may play a more fundamental role in reality than materialism allows.

Basic tenets of post-materialist science:

• Consciousness as fundamental: Rather than being a byproduct of matter, consciousness may be a primary component of the universe.
• Mind influences matter: Mental states (thoughts, intentions, beliefs) can have measurable effects on the physical world.
• Non-local connections: Reality may include non-local phenomena (such as entanglement in physics, or reported cases of telepathy and near-death experiences) that cannot be fully explained by materialist models.
• Integration of subjective experience: First-person experiences (such as awareness, meaning, and spirituality) should be considered legitimate sources of knowledge alongside third-person empirical data.
• Holism over reductionism: Reality is best understood as an interconnected whole, rather than by reducing it solely to its smallest material parts.

This perspective doesn’t reject materialism but suggests expanding its boundaries to include consciousness, subjective experience, and interconnectedness as fundamental elements of inquiry.

• What kinds of phenomena (e.g., psi research, placebo effects) might be better explained through a post-materialist lens?
• If consciousness is fundamental rather than emergent, how might this reshape the goals and methods of scientific research?
• How can science rigorously study subjective experiences without losing objectivity?
• What are the potential dangers or pitfalls of moving away from strict materialism in science?
• Could post-materialist approaches lead to new technologies or healing methods, or would they primarily shift our philosophical understanding?
• Is it possible to integrate materialist and post-materialist worldviews into a single coherent framework, or are they fundamentally incompatible?

Manifesto for a Post-Materialist Science https://www.aapsglobal.com/manifesto/
The Need for Post-Materialist Science https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1qlUbXxvUs
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In addition to the main topic (above), we also provide breakout rooms at 8pm as follows:
“Philosophy” – philosophy and its applications
“Town Square” – politics and current events
“Conference Room” – open for anything
“The Lounge” – light social chat