Mechanistic and Nonmechanistic Science: An Investigation into the Nature of Consciousness and Form

by Richard L. Thompson

This work makes a sober, thorough, carefully reasoned, and well-documented case that the prevailing theories of physics and biology have grave shortcomings which can be traced to their reliance on an underlying mechanistic framework. Dr. Thompson shows how physics is incapable of dealing with the phenomenon of consciousness and how biology is unable to account for the existence of complex living forms. Arguing that valid scientific theory does not have to be mechanistic, Dr. Thompson outlines a nonmechanistic science that would complement mechanistic science and round out the human quest for understanding. Mechanistic and Nonmechanistic Science may well set the stage for the next revolution in scientific thinking.

Genres: Science

264 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1981

About the author

Richard Leslie Thompson, also known as Sadaputa Dasa (February 4, 1947 – September 18, 2008), was an American mathematician, author and Gaudiya Vaishnava religious figure, known principally for his promotion of Vedic creationism and as the co-author (with Michael Cremo) of Forbidden Archeology: The Hidden History of the Human Race (1993), which has been widely criticised by the scientific community. Thompson also published several books and articles on religion and science, Hindu cosmology and astronomy. He was a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement or ISKCON) and a founding member of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, the branch of ISKCON dedicated to examining the relationship of modern scientific theories to the Vaishnava worldview. In the 'science and religion' community he was known for his articulation of ISKCON's view of science. Danish historian of religion Mikael Rothstein described Thompson as "the single dominating writer on science" in ISKCON whom ISKCON has chosen to "cover the field of science more or less on his own". C. Mackenzie Brown, professor of religion at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, described him as "the leading figure" in ISKCON's critique of modern science.
Thompson died on September 18, 2008. His body was found at the bottom of his swimming pool at his home in Alachua, Florida, USA. He had suffered a heart attack, a condition there has been some history of in his family.

Reviews

[Vin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leap, and the net shall appear! An educated reader will find that the arguments made herein as well as the evidence provided, further deepen our understanding of the world, if we are willing to let go of scientific naivete and mundane conventions. The author has been broad minded in calling the readers to exercise intellectual tenacity as well as freedom of thought, before we dare conduct a naked examination of science and nature. At some point, we have to defenestrate accepted notions of reality before we can truly see what reality is. As one who gets onto a helicopter sees the world from a higher perspective only after letting go of the ground, we too shall understand the immense contributions this single book makes to the world of science by reading it with an open scientific mind. It is a thrilling adventure and a rare privilege to read this book and understand its conclusive call-to-action.