The Transcendent Brain

October 1, 2022

Science and spirituality are not incompatible, argues novelist Lightman (Einstein's Dreams), a professor of science and the humanities at MIT. Here he ranges through the literature, from Roman poet/philosopher Lucretius, whose materialism can illuminate less concrete phenomena, to contemporary social psychologist Cynthia Frantz, who uses science to explain our connection to nature, to make the case for what he calls "spiritual materialism."

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January 30, 2023
Science and spirituality converge in this probing examination of humanity’s connection to the divine. Physicist Lightman (Probable Impossibilities) contends that “some human experiences are simply not reducible to zeros and ones” and draws on philosophy and science to suggest that materialism and spirituality are compatible. He digs into the history of both perspectives, noting that 18th-century philosopher Moses Mendelssohn believed a soul must exist to integrate the different parts of the human body into a cohesive experience and that, on the other end of the spectrum, Roman philosopher Titus Lucretius Carus argued “everything that happens in the world... originates from the movement and properties of physical atoms, not the gods.” Reconciling these opposing views, Lightman broaches the possibility that spirituality could be evolutionarily beneficial, with the need to feel part of “something larger than one’s self” impelling early humans to cooperate and the appreciation of transcendent beauty stemming from beauty’s role in sexual attraction. The prose is reflective and lyrical, and Lightman’s arguments succeed in walking the fine line between honoring spiritual experiences without lapsing into pseudoscience. Thoughtful and intellectually rigorous, this treatise impresses.

February 1, 2023
A scientist explains experiences that seem inexplicable. Lightman, physicist, professor of the practice of humanities at MIT, and author of Einstein's Dreams, is a materialist who believes that every phenomenon has a cause that originates in the physical universe. Even our feelings "are rooted in the material neurons of the nervous system and the electrical and chemical interactions between them." Still, the author has also reveled in overwhelming feelings of awe, beauty, and a sense of connection with matters larger than himself, which he defines as "spirituality." He denies that these can only be explained through mysterious occult forces. We experience them through the brain. This, he admits, puts him in the minority; 72% of Americans believe in heaven, 58% in hell, and nearly half in ghosts. Belief in a nonmaterial, ethereal world is deeply appealing because everyone knows that being alive is special and longs for permanence. No one can imagine not existing, and most of us are mesmerized by miracles; 79% of Americans believe in them. Never shy about tackling big, complex issues, Lightman devotes the first chapter to the soul: immaterial, invisible, and perfect in contrast to the flawed body. The soul is also eternal, and since most people believe that our selves don't merely vanish when we die, even many nonreligious people believe in its existence. Lightman is skeptical, however. For most of the book, he argues that spiritual experiences emerge from a high level of consciousness and intelligence. One expert feels that consciousness is just another word for paying attention, which scientists are beginning to describe in terms of electrical and chemical activity in the brain. Lightman urges readers to accept a scientific view of the world while embracing experiences that cannot be understood by material underpinnings. We need to balance a yearning to know how the world works with a willingness to surrender ourselves to things we may not fully comprehend. Convincing arguments for "spiritual materialism" unlikely to disturb religious readers.

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February 15, 2023
Acclaimed physicist and writer Lightman (Probable Impossibilities, 2021) has always had a scientific view of the world. His innate curiosity led him to conduct countless experiments as a young boy and set him on the path to becoming a renowned physicist. That same curiosity produced wonder and awe over what Lightman calls transcendent experiences, such as appreciation of beauty, falling in love, and a sense of connection to nature. The scientific worldview is one of materialism, stating that everything is made of atoms and molecules and that they're governed by a finite number of natural, fundamental laws. Lightman shows that these immutable physical laws are actually not incompatible with transcendent experiences but, indeed, are part of what makes us human. While these experiences vary greatly, we frequently gather them under the rubric of spirituality. The realm where scientific reasoning collides with the unexplainable sublime is that of spiritual materialism. Lightman writes with passion and panache about how the search for knowledge need not inhibit moments of transcendence, offering a poignant reminder that wonder is everywhere, if we only look.

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