The Universe Waking Up: A Useful Idea for Atheists
Bruce Milem
Journal of the American Philosophical Association September 8, 2022 DOI: 10.1017/apa.2022.34 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the idea of human beings as vehicles for the universe's consciousness and knowledge of itself can be given a straightforward explanation with minimal metaphysical commitments, requiring only that the universe has a kind of unity and that human beings are conscious. Also argues that this idea can satisfy what Thomas Nagel calls 'the yearning for cosmic reconciliation' better than secular humanism can. |
Abstract
Some writers have described human beings as participating in the universe waking up or serving as the means by which the universe comes to know itself. In this paper I argue that this idea can be given a straightforward explanation with minimal metaphysical commitments. As long as one grants that the universe has a kind of unity and that human beings are conscious, it is possible to see human beings as vehicles for the universe's consciousness and knowledge of itself. I also argue that this idea can be useful for atheists because it can satisfy what Thomas Nagel calls ‘the yearning for cosmic reconciliation’ (2010: 3) better than secular humanism can.