The Dawn of Mind: How Matter Became Conscious and Alive, with James Cooke

Join neuroscientist and meditator James Cook for a talk and Q&A session to launch his new book The Dawn of Mind: How Matter Became Conscious and Alive. In the book he explores the profound mystery of why and how consciousness exists. Integrating the latest scientific advancements with meditative insights into our non-separation from the rest of existence, he argues that science and spiritually must be synthesized if we are to truly understand our place in the cosmos. From a transformational personal experience to rigorous scientific analysis, Cooke argues that our experiences of self, separation, and substance are all illusions, while proposing that consciousness is a universal feature of all life - as lifeforms, the universe wakes up through us. As a result, AI will never be conscious, though artificial life would be. This innovative perspective not only questions humanity’s assumed dominance over nature, but also highlights the crucial need to bridge the divide between ourselves and the natural environment amid escalating ecological crises. The Dawn of Mind is both a pioneering theoretical framework and a practical guide to understanding our interconnected existence.

During this evening, James will read excerpts from his book before being joined by Dr. Kathryn Devaney for a short conversation. We will then open up the space for audience Q&A with James. Books will be available for purchase and signing after the event.

James Cooke PhD has three degrees in experimental psychology and neuroscience from Oxford University, including a PhD in neuroscience. He has conducted research into the brain basis of consciousness at such institutions as Oxford University; the University of California, Berkeley; University College London; Trinity College Dublin; and Riken Brain Sciences Institute in Tokyo. At the University of London, he achieved the theoretical breakthrough that forms the basis of his new book The Dawn of Mind, first publishing his findings in the prestigious journals Entropy and Journal of Consciousness Studies. James trained as a neuroscientist after an awakening as a teenager that showed him the reality of spiritual states of consciousness. Outside of academia, he directs the Inner Space Institute, a platform for promoting understanding around science and secular spirituality.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Berkeley Alembic, 2820 Seventh Street, Berkeley, United States