Conference 2009 Issue Cosmos, Nature, Culture:
A Transdisciplinary Conference

“We imply biophilia when we speak of love of nature. This idea of nature, whether it wears a saffron robe or a lab jacket, is inclusive. Most importantly, it includes us.” more

“Understanding systems can lead to greater understanding of Shakespeare, enriching our experience of his works, both on page and stage. And understanding Shakespeare can lead to greater understanding of the systems, at all levels, that make up the cosmos.” more

“Let us grant that there is indeed something spiritual about the sheer existence of everything (when seen through the enlightened eye, of course). By what right do we call it God?” more

“The new science speaks of a world of wonder and immensity and paradox, a world that can be seen as 're-enchanted' because it is more dense, more interconnected, and more numinous than it once appeared.” more

“The apprehension of design in nature represents a third kind of cognitive apprehension that is neither scientific nor religious but phenomenological. You could say it is situated between science and religion.” more

“People do think of non-human entities as persons to varying degrees, but ... are some ethnic or religious groups more likely to endorse the personhood of animals, robots, or angelic beings?.” more