Nothing has existence unless you, I, or some living creature perceives it, and how it is perceived further influences that reality. Even time itself is not exempted from biocentrism.
Robert LanzaRead
Our science fails to recognize those special properties of life that make it fundamental to material reality. This view of the world - biocentrism - revolves around the way a subjective experience, which we call consciousness, relates to a physical process. It is a vast mystery and one that I have pursued my entire life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Biocentrism emphasizes the connection between consciousness and reality, suggesting life is fundamental to understanding the universe.
In this quote, Robert Lanza discusses the concept of biocentrism, which posits that life and consciousness are central to the material world, rather than merely products of it. He expresses the idea that there are inherent qualities of life that science has yet to fully understand, highlighting a deep philosophical inquiry into the relationship between our subjective experiences and the physical processes around us.
Themes
BiocentrismConsciousnessLifeRealityMystery
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on the importance of consciousness in understanding the universe, this quote can be used to emphasize the fundamental role of life in shaping reality.
More from Robert Lanza
All quotes βSimilar quotes
In future, children won't perceive the stars as mere twinkling points of light: they'll learn that each is a 'Sun', orbited by planets fully as interesting as those in our Solar system.
Martin ReesRead
Good science is done by being curious in general, by asking questions all around, by acknowledging the likelihood of being wrong and taking this in good humor for granted, by having a deep fondness for nature, and by being made jumpy and nervous by ignorance.
Lewis ThomasRead
The progress of science is strewn, like an ancient desert trail, with the bleached skeleton of discarded theories which once seemed to possess eternal life.
Arthur KoestlerRead
Now, radical forward thinking is offering hope for the future: Replacement body parts to order. A team of scientists in California believe that if you can design them on a computer, you should be able to print them out.
Stephen HawkingRead
All sorts of computer errors are now turning up. You'd be surprised to know the number of doctors who claim they are treating pregnant men.
Isaac AsimovRead
When, as we must often do, we fear science, we really fear ourselves.
John PolanyiRead