Intelligence in Nature: An Inquiry Into KnowledgeAnthropologist Jeremy Narby has altered how we understand the shamanic cultures and traditions that have undergone a worldwide revival in recent years. Now, in one of his most extraordinary journeys, Narby travels around the globe-from the Amazon basin to the Far East-to probe what traditional healers and pioneering researchers perceive about the intelligence present in all forms of life. "Intelligence in Nature" offers overwhelming illustrative evidence that independent intelligence is not unique to humanity. Indeed, bacteria, plants, animals, and other forms of nonhuman life display an uncanny proclivity for self-deterministic decisions, patterns, and actions. The Japanese possess a word for this universal knowing: chi-sei. For the first time, Narby presents an in-depth anthropological study of this concept in the West. He not only uncovers a mysterious thread of intelligent behavior within the natural world but also probes the question of what humanity can learn from nature's economy and knowingness in its own search for a saner and more sustainable way of life. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
activity alarm calls Amazonian Anthony Trewavas ants areas Arikawa arthropod asked ayahuasca bacteria behavior biological biologists birds body butterflies calcium capacity to know cells cerebral cortex chemical chi-sei clay cognition color constancy color vision communicate complex concept consider cortex creatures decisions Descartes dodder environment example experience explained eyes feel Flores forest gence genes geophagy Giurfa Homo Homo rhodesiensis images indigenous insects intelligence in nature invertebrates jaguar Japanese knowledge language living look macaws machines mammals Matsigenka maze means memory mind molecular molecules move Munn Nakagaki Neanderthals nematode nervous system neurons nutrients organisms owner of animals parrots photoreceptors plants predators primates problem proteins Pucallpa question recently replied sapiens scientific scientists shamans Shipibo shows signals smart species synapses things thought tion Toyeri transform trees Trewavas true slime mold tube ubiquitin understand vertebrate Western words writes