All things are full of gods

All things are full of gods The mysteries of mind and life

David Bentley Hart

Book - 2024

"In a blossoming garden located far outside all worlds, a group of aging Greek gods have gathered to discuss the nature of existence, the mystery of mind, and whether there is a transcendent God from whom all things come. Turning to Eros, Psyche asks, 'Do you see this flower, my love?' So begins David Bentley Hart's unprecedented exploration of the mystery of consciousness. Writing in the form of a Platonic dialogue, he systematically subjects the mechanical view of nature that has prevailed in Western culture for four centuries to dialectical interrogation. Powerfully rehabilitating a classical view in which mental acts are irreducible to material causes, he argues through the gods' exchanges that the foundation of... all reality is spiritual or mental rather than material. The structures of mind, organic life, and even language together attest to an infinite act of intelligence in all things that we may as well call God. Engaging contemporary debates on the philosophy of mind, free will, revolutions in physics and biology, the history of science, computational models of mind, artificial intelligence, information theory, linguistics, cultural disenchantment, and the metaphysics of nature, Hart calls readers back to an enchanted world in which nature is the residence of mysterious and vital intelligences. He suggests that there is a very special wisdom to be gained when we, in Psyche's words, 'devote more time to the contemplation of living things and less to the fabrication of machines.'" --

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128.2/Hart
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Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor New Shelf 128.2/Hart (NEW SHELF) Due Feb 6, 2026
Subjects
Consciousness.
Mind and body.
Life.
Dialogues.
Dialogues (Literature)
Genres
Dialogues
Dialogues (Literature)
Published
New Haven ; London : Yale University Press [2024]
Language
English
Main Author
David Bentley Hart (author)
Physical Description
xii, 511 pages ; 24 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN
9780300254723
9780300285499
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction: On a Divine Colloquy
  • Characters and Setting of the Dialogue
  • Day 1. Mind, Life, and Pictures of Reality
  • I. The Irreducible
  • II. Physicalism, Dualism, Form
  • III. Fallacies of Method
  • IV. Terms
  • V. The Rise of Mechanism
  • VI. The Organic, the Mechanistic, and the Erotic
  • Day 2. Mind and Matter
  • I. Qualitative Consciousness
  • II. Subjectivity and Unity of Apprehension
  • III. Intentionality and Ecstasy
  • IV. Language
  • V. Concepts and Reasons
  • VI. Free Will and Purpose
  • VII. The Irreducible
  • Day 3. Brain and Mind
  • I. Emergence and Form
  • II. Identity and Eliminativism
  • III. Behaviorism and Epiphenomenalism
  • IV. Supervenience
  • V. Psychological Plurality and Mental Unity
  • VI. Function and Knowledge
  • VII. The Turtle Principle
  • Day 4. Machine and Soul
  • I. Language, Thought, and Code
  • II. Functionalism, Computationalism
  • III. Panpsychism
  • IV. Integration and Neutral Monism
  • V. The Witness
  • Day 5. Soul and Nature
  • I. The Semantics of Life
  • II. Spirit in Nature
  • III. Mind in Nature
  • IV. Information and Form
  • V. Metabolism and Mind
  • VI. Homeostasis and Intentionality
  • VII. Creative Evolution
  • VIII. Language, Code, and Life
  • Day 6. Nature and Supernature
  • I. Love and Knowledge
  • II. Desire for the Absolute
  • III. Mind's Transcendent Horizon
  • IV. Atman Is Brahman
  • Coda: The Age of the Machine
  • I. Common Sense and Mystery
  • II. Mechanism and Nihilism
  • III. The Voice of Echo
  • Notes
  • Index
Review by Choice Review

In All Things Are Full of God, Hart (Univ. of Notre Dame) offers a thoughtful look at the relationship between God and existence, pushing back against modern secularism. Hart argues that God is present in every aspect of reality, suggesting that a theistic perspective provides a richer understanding of life than contemporary materialist views. He critiques the reductionist approaches often found in theology and philosophy, advocating for a deeper exploration of faith's mysteries. One of the book's standout features is Hart's engaging writing style. He manages to tackle complex ideas in a way that feels accessible, making profound concepts relatable. His ability to blend philosophical insight with theological depth makes for an enriching read. However, some readers might find his arguments a bit abstract or idealistic, which could be off-putting for those looking for more practical insights. The text can also be quite dense, posing a challenge for casual readers. Overall, All Things Are Full of God is aimed at those interested in theology, philosophy, and metaphysics. It's an intriguing read for anyone willing to delve into the profound questions surrounding existence and the divine, whether they are scholars or simply curious minds. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty. --Francis A Grabowski, Rogers State University

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

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