Life and consciousness - The Vedāntic view

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Science
• Metaphysics
• Origin of Life Studies
• Consciousness Studies

Background:

• Historical acceptance of consciousness alongside the physical world.
• Shift towards materialistic explanations post-Newtonian mechanics (e.g., abiogenesis, Big Bang).
• Modern science's view of life as an emergent property of complex matter.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the materialistic view of reality and the origin of life.
• To explore the Vedāntic perspective where consciousness is the fundamental origin.
• To highlight scientific developments supporting a sentient view of life.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of scientific theories on origins.
• Review of scientific research supporting a sentient view of life.
• Contrast between objective evolution (Darwin) and subjective evolution (Vedānta).

Main Results:

• The concept of 'creation from nothing' is challenged by quantum vacuum properties.
• Vedānta posits consciousness as the unconditioned origin of all existence (omne vivum ex vivo).
• Life is fundamentally cognitive and conscious, with consciousness manifesting in all nature.

Conclusions:

• A paradigm shift is occurring, moving from a purely materialistic to a sentient view of life's origin.
• Subjective evolution of consciousness, rather than objective biological evolution, may be the world's developing principle.
• Scientific research increasingly supports consciousness as fundamental, not merely an emergent property of matter.