Intelligence in nature

Description

Continuing the journey begun in his acclaimed book The Cosmic Serpent, the noted anthropologist ventures firsthand into both traditional cultures and the most up-todate discoveries of contemporary science to determine nature's secret ways of knowing.Anthropologist 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 the globe-from the Amazon Basin to the Far East-to probe what traditional healers and pioneering researchers understand about the intelligence present in all forms of life.Intelligence in Nature presents overwhelming illustrative evidence that independent intelligence is not unique to humanity alone. Indeed, bacteria, plants, animals, and other forms of nonhuman life display an uncanny penchant for self-deterministic decisions, patterns, and actions.Narby presents the first 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.

First Sentence

For fifteen years I have helped indigenous Amazonian people gain titles to their lands.

Excerpt

For fifteen years I have helped indigenous Amazonian people gain titles to their lands.

Description

"Anthropologist Jeremy Narby travels throughout the globe - from the Amazon basin to the Far East - to probe what traditional healers and pioneering researchers understand about the intelligence present in all forms of life." "Intelligence in Nature presents overwhelming illustrative evidence that independent intelligence is not unique to humanity alone. Indeed bacteria, plants, animals, and other forms of nonhuman life display an uncanny penchant for self-deterministic decisions, patterns, and actions. The Japanese possess a word for this universal knowing: chi-sei (pronounced CHEE-SAY). 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."--Jacket.

Subjects

Other Editions

• Intelligence in nature: an inquiry into knowledgeJeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin2005-01-01
• Intelligence in NatureHardcoverTarcher2005-03-03
• Intelligence in natureJeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin2006-01-01
• Intelligence in NaturePaperbackTarcher2006-03-02
• Intelligence in NatureElectronic resourcePenguin Group USA, Inc.2008-01-01