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Rationalist Spirituality: An Exploration of the Meaning of Life and Existence Informed by Logic and Science Kindle Edition

by Bernardo Kastrup (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 166 ratings
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Why does the universe exist and what are you supposed to do in it? This question has been addressed by religions since time immemorial, but popular answers often fail to account for obvious aspects of reality. Indeed, if God knows everything, why do we need to learn through pain and suffering? If God is omnipotent, why are we needed to do good? If the universe is fundamentally good, why are wars, crime, and injustice all around us? In modern society, orthodox science takes the rational high-ground and tackles these contradictions by denying the very need for, and the existence of, meaning. Indeed, many of us implicitly accept the notion that rationality somehow contradicts spirituality. That is a modern human tragedy, not only for its insidiousness, but for the fact that it is simply not true. In this book, the author constructs a coherent and logical argument for the meaning of existence, informed by science itself. A framework is laid out wherein all aspects of human existence have a logical, coh
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  1. Print length
    121 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Iff Books
  5. Publication date
    March 16, 2011
  6. File size
    2727 KB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bernardo Kastrup has a Ph.D. in philosophy and another in computer engineering. He has been a scientist in some of the world's foremost scientific laboratories. His main interests are metaphysics and philosophy of mind.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004SCBKGO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Iff Books; Reprint edition (March 16, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 16, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2727 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 121 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 166 ratings

About the author

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Bernardo Kastrup

Bernardo Kastrup

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I am the executive director of Essentia Foundation and my work has set off the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. I have a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, I have worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the 'Casimir Effect' of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). I have also been creatively active in the high-tech industry for almost 30 years now, having co-founded parallel processor company Silicon Hive (acquired by Intel in 2011) and worked as a technology strategist for the geopolitically significant company ASML. Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, my ideas have been featured on 'Scientific American,' the magazine of 'The Institute of Art and Ideas,' the 'Blog of the American Philosophical Association' and 'Big Think,' among others. My 11th book, coming in late 2024, is 'Analytic Idealism in a Nutshell: A straightforward summary of the 21st-century's only plausible metaphysics.'

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
166 global ratings
Beyond all expectations
5 Stars
Beyond all expectations
This is an excellent book to start off if you haven't read any of Bernardo's books. I love Bernardo because unlike all the other philosophers who discuss consciousness, Bernardo is able to provide a logical, parsimonious, argument on analytical idealism over materialism and panpsychism. I love how real, playful, thorough, and genuine he is about his ideas. He doesn't hold back, whereas, I find a lot of other academics do not have the courage to explore or take the reader as far as Bernardo can. Thank you Bernardo for opening my mind and sharing your ideas with the world.
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Top reviews from the United States

Peter F.
5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling metaphysics of the nature of reality and its inherent meaning
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2022
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I wrote a more extensive review of one of Mr. Kastrup's other books, Why Materialism is Baloney (WMIB) (my review was entitled What the Hell is Going on Here?). Although that book was written after Rationalist Spirituality, I personally recommend reading WMIB first, then delving into this revelatory work. I suggest this because WMIB provides a logical, clear and compelling (indeed, inexorable, IMO) framework for rejecting the materialist worldview and adopting an idealist worldview, as more parsimonious and consistent with what we know through physics about the universe we inhabit. Armed with this background, Rationalist Spirituality makes even more sense and, for me, was that much more powerful than it might have been without the background WMIB provided.

The first book of Mr. Kastrup's that I read was More Than Allegory: On Religious Myth, Truth and Belief. That was a challenging read, although I got a lot out of it (in particular, the ultimate description of what is happening here was consistent with some transcendent experiences I had prior to reading the book. Not proof of anything, but I found that reassuring). I also recommend that book, but perhaps after reading the two just referenced for the best experience.

Happy reading!
5 people found this helpful
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Down2Earth
5.0 out of 5 stars I really loved this book
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2016
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I really loved this book! It was my fourth Bernardo Kastrup book thus far, and the unique order in which I have read them has proven to be quite a delightful, unique experience. It's because of this, that I can't help but feel to some degree, that I have witnessed a sort of reverse engineering of an ever-oscillating, timeless motif, which is constantly unfolding through an elaborate process & labyrinth of subjective understanding, development, and refinement; more broadly occurring as the evolution of unified consciousness itself. This book felt very personable to me & it possessed a palpable visceral quality that proves difficult for me to effectively convey, semantically or linguistically, the unnecessary adequate description, of the resonance in which, I directly experienced therein. Nevertheless... Hear, Hear, another great publish! I Recommend all Kastrup books to every individuated subjective self-aware enitity of consciousness,currently sharing the material world of experience of information, and existence!. Thanks again Bernardo!
11 people found this helpful
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Jade Moonstar
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2017
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Interesting and thought provoking, but a little too speculative for me. Well worth the read, though.
One person found this helpful
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George L. Vockroth
5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and Cogent
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2011
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"Rationalist Spirituality" is a succinct yet cogent and well organized consideration of the nature of consciousness and the purpose of existence, which the author contends, is also compatible with current scientific understanding of physical reality. Though rationally and empirically based, it is nevertheless primarily a work of metaphysical speculation (idealistic and teleological - consciousness is seen as a universal quality preceding and giving rise to the material world for a particular purpose, the discovery of which gives meaning to our lives). Kastrup, an electronics and computer engineer, builds his argument methodically starting with a short and clear explication of one widely known interpretation of the role of that consciousness plays in quantum physics. From there he postulates the purpose of existence to be the universal enrichment of consciousness for it's own sake. Subsequent chapters are devoted to fleshing out and supporting this conjecture with brief discussions of results from research in artificial intelligence, astrophysics, and neurophysiology. Finally the ramifications of such understanding are explicated in the concluding chapters in a closely argued but lucid philosophical formulation which includes a gently prescriptive ethics. In sum, this book provides as clear and effective a discussion in this general vein as is likely to be found, and more than fulfills the promise of it's title.
18 people found this helpful
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clair rose
5.0 out of 5 stars Kastrup is always worth reading
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2020
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His work expands my perspective - I enjoy all his works.
2 people found this helpful
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Dr. Wigglesworth
5.0 out of 5 stars Much needed book
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2012
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I didn't know what to expect when I downloaded this book. After decades of toting around various metaphysical ideas after reading lots of NDEs and accounts of spiritual experiences, I was absolutely amazed to see someone elucidate many of my own conclusions much better than I could myself. I have really never read something like this before and I think it should become a classic. The writing is excellent and clear. Kastrup makes difficult concepts relatively easy to understand. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of them.
24 people found this helpful
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H. Chamberlain
5.0 out of 5 stars An eye opening read
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015
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As an educated, rational person, I was quite skeptical of the "consciousness creates reality" concept. This book has given me a lot to think about. I will definitely read more on the idea. This was a great starting point and a worthwhile read. My thanks to the author for courageously presenting his worldview to what must be an overwhelming materialist audience.
17 people found this helpful
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Paul Gar
5.0 out of 5 stars Bernardo Might Be Right
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2012
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I enjoyed this book. What Bernardo has to say is reasonable and his theory makes complete sense. He has helped me flesh out some of my own ideas and I'm grateful for that - they say that when the student is ready the teacher appears. It is impossible to say how close this book is to describing ultimate reality, but my hunch is that his ideas about consciousness are closer to the truth than the current materialistic reductionist claims.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Ruchiramati Dharmachari
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfecto para comenzar a leer a Bernardo
Reviewed in Mexico on June 11, 2022
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Un ensayo muy bien escrito, muy sugestivo y con una fuerte relación al Budismo. Una buena introducción al pensamiento de Kastrup
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JE
5.0 out of 5 stars Sharp Intake of Breath
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2024
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I take comfort from this book. Nothing much more to add.

I would like to make a gentle observation regarding Gill Bolte Taylor. Her stroke was in her left hemisphere. There are very different consequences to strokes dependent upon which side of the brain they occur. I think the insights of Iain McGilchrist would add another dimension of discovery to Bernado Kastrup's work. Not that this book isn't already perfect.
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Fema
5.0 out of 5 stars The best of them all
Reviewed in Canada on December 1, 2020
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My favourite of Kastrup's work. I've read five or six of his books and he's totally shifted my whole perspective about life. This answers the big question...what is the purpose of life?
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Corrado
5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect introduction to idealism and Kastrup's thought
Reviewed in Germany on September 2, 2020
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I've devoured this book and insta-ordered all the other books from the author (and, so far, I'm not disappointed at all). Really had an impact on how I see and perceive the world and our place in it. Rationally inspiring. Important book, I wish this line of thought was mainstream.
2 people found this helpful
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Edoardo Parisi
5.0 out of 5 stars Molto interessante e pregnante.!
Reviewed in Italy on November 26, 2019
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Troppo interessante! Lo ho tradotto in italiano sottolineando tantissimo le frasi Ognuna di esse contiene un concetto articolato, semplice esplicativo. Insomma a me è servito e serve a chiarire la mia condizionata struttura culturale in modo da non rimanerne vittima senza critica.
One person found this helpful
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