The Sapient Cosmos: Where Physics, Psychedelics and Shamanism Meet | James Glattfelder, PhD

Hans Busstra interviews theoretical physicist and complexity scientist James Glattfelder on his new book: “The Sapient Cosmos: What a modern-day synthesis of science and philosophy teaches us about the emergence of information, consciousness, and meaning”, published by Essentia Foundation. Can a new science bridge the gap between the noumena and the phenomena, the 1st person and the 3rd person perspective? A bit more provocatively: what is the relationship between physics, psychedelic experiences and shamanism? Glattfelder makes a plea for ‘syncretic idealism’: a worldview that synthesises ancient idealist texts and mystical experiences with physics, complexity science and analytic idealism. Syncretic idealism could lead to a scientific spirituality, a form of empirical mysticism that acknowledges a purposeful universe, wanting to know itself through ever increasing complexity. Glattfelder’s book can be ordered here: https://www.amazon.com/Sapient-Cosmos-modern-day-information-consciousness/dp/1803414049 0:00 Introduction 05:11 When did you encounter the hard problem of consciousness? 06:26 Why aren't physicists more exposed to philosophy? 08:48 The West only got interested in consciousness in 1994! 14:52 Can science bridge the divide between the noumena and the phenomena? 17:42 Physicalism vs Shamanism 19:52 Schopenhauer and psychedelics 29:02 Scientific spirituality is what we need 33:42 How physics and complexity science encounter consciousness 36:14 The problem of emergence 39:19 The game of life: how complexity emerges out of simplicity 44:49 On consciousness being fundamental 47:15 The Model of Syncretic Idealism 51:00 The new paradigm of 1st person physics 53:15 Why James loves solipsism 55:27 James on his psychedelic experiences 59:28 Empirical mysticism 1:04:25 The price of physicalism 1:09:11 James' work in relation to Federico Faggin's theory 1:11:57 Consequences of bad metaphysics 1:13:26 The difference between physics and complexity science 1:20:16 On time in physics 1:23:29 On syncretic idealism 1:26:00 On the magic of 'ontogeny' 1:30:05 Can people experience a mathematical realm through DMT? 1:33:41 On the LSD research from Christopher Bache 1:36:05 Diamond luminosity and the sea of suffering 1:39:58 On the meaning of suffering 1:43:00 How does your work influence your life? Stock footage used under fair use policy: Conway's game of life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2vgICfQawE Paris, Texas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YMCWR8jzpU All other stock images are from Storyblocks Music licensed under Soundstripe & Storyblocks. Copyright © 2024-2025 by Essentia Foundation www.essentiafoundation.org