In this landmark new book, our guest addresses some of the oldest and hardest questions humanity faces – ones that have a practical urgency for all of us today.
Who are we?
What is the world?
How can we understand consciousness, matter, space and time?
Is the cosmos without purpose or value?
Can we really neglect the sacred and divine?
In doing so, he argues that we have become enslaved to an account of things dominated by the brain’s left hemisphere, one that blinds us to an awe-inspiring reality that is all around us, had we but eyes to see it. He suggests that in order to understand ourselves and the world we need science and intuition, reason and imagination, not just one or two; that they are in any case far from being in conflict; and that the brain’s right hemisphere plays the most important part in each. And he shows us how to recognise the ‘signature’ of the left hemisphere in our thinking, so as to avoid making decisions that bring disaster in their wake. Following the paths of cutting-edge neurology, philosophy and physics, he reveals how each leads us to a similar vision of the world, one that is both profound and beautiful – and happens to be in line with the deepest traditions of human wisdom. It is a vision that returns the world to life, and us to a better way of living in it: one we must embrace if we are to survive.
He is one of my favourite writers and his previous appearance on the show remains one of my favourites and each time I listen to I learn something new, he is back to introduce his latest book, which I consider an oeuvre as in the French word for a body of work and this is a magnificent oeuvre.
It is a pleasure to welcome the author of “The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World” Iain McGilchrist, you are very welcome.
More about Iain: http://channelmcgilchrist.com