The Conscious Mind and the Material World

<p> What makes us who we are? From a scientific viewpoint any individual's existence is improbable at best. Consciousness as an actuality is inarguable; its nature however remains elusive. This work argues the view of self as a field of pure consciousness debating the existence of a continuing self and drawing conclusions about this entity and its relation to the physical body and the physical world.</p><p> Beginning with an exploration of the relationship between mind and matter it discusses ostensible psi phenomena such as extra-sensory perception and psychokinesis and their implications for our understanding of the mind and the cosmos. Additional topics include the perennial mind-body problem; the role of consciousness in quantum mechanics (and conversely the role of quantum mechanics in the study of consciousness); the anthropic principle; and evidence for Intelligent Design. Quasi-religious questions such as the survival of consciousness after death are also addressed.</p>