Masks of
the Universe: Changing Ideas on the Nature
of the Cosmos
by Edward Harrison.
Cambridge University Press, New York, NY,
USA.
1985-2003. 340 pp., illus. ISBN: 0-521-77351-2
Reviewed by Rob Harle (Australia)
recluse@lis.net.au
This book covers a lot of "time"
and "space". It takes us on a
fascinating journey from the beginning of
existence (as we perceive it today), through
the numerous epochs of history to
our present day start of the art
cosmology.
Cosmology is the science which attempts
to explain the origin, evolution and structure
of the universe. Considering the complexity
of some of the issues involved, such as
multi-universes and quantum mechanics, this
book does this very well and in a highly
readable way. It is perfectly suitable for
general readership and is an excellent cross-disciplinary
introduction for those thinking of a career
in cosmology.
The book is divided into three parts: Worlds
in the Making; The Heart Divine; and,
The Cloud of Unknowing. It is supported
by an excellent bibliography for those who
wish to follow up specific areas of Harrisons
investigation.
The central theme of the book is concerned
with understanding the difference between
the Universe and universes. The Universe
is not a human construct, it is "all
there is" and Harrison claims it is
unknown and unknowable, universes on the
other hand are explanations constructed
by humans.
Part One looks at the various universes
humans have constructed over the years.
Harrison uses the term universe synonymously
with, an historical epoch which was
characterised by a unique idiosyncratic
belief system. This could have been
magical, mythical, geometric, medieval or
mechanistic. Each of these periods, Harrison
argues, believed their cosmological explanation
was the correct one. However, as he correctly
observes each one is superseded by a further
"complete" system and he asks
rhetorically, how can we possibly believe
our present physicalist cosmology is the
ultimate fundamental explanation of existence?
Part Two investigates the nuts and bolts,
as it were, of cosmology; atoms, the nature
of un-curved and curved space, time, space-time,
sub-atomic particles and waves, all the
things physicists and astro-physicists like
to bend their brains over. Dont worry,
there are no mathematics nor equations to
master to understand these complex issues,
they are explained in easy to read non-technical
language.
Part Three, The Cloud of Unknowing
investigates just how strange some of the
belief systems have been; the nature of
God within certain religious systems; freewill
and determinism; and the ontological nature
of consciousness. This section, especially
the chapters Ultimum Sentiens
and All That Is Made I found
quite problematic, especially Harrisons
notion of the nature of consciousness. He
argues that consciousness is not of a physical
nature, "It is impossible to determine
by any physical means if an object is conscious"
(p. 256). If consciousness is not physical
it therefore exists outside the physical
universe and rightly belongs to the Universe
(pp.250-251). Harrison claims that if there
is one thing a person knows for certain
it is that they know they are conscious
of self. Surely this means that if the physical
body exists in the physical universe, then
the consciousness which arises from the
physical body also exists in the universe
as well as the Universe (p.265). There is
no discussion about embodiment giving rise
to consciousness and the growing strong
evidence for the impossibility of disembodied
consciousness.
The Buddhist and Hindu concept of the self
(and its attendant consciousness) being
an illusion is not considered. Harrison
is altogether too light in his comments
regarding these two religions and especially,
he is incorrect in dismissing the notion
of Brahman as just another universe construct.
Brahman, if anything, is like Harrisons
Universe unknown and unknowable.
Further, dismissing religious systems as
universes, completely misunderstands, for
example, the basis and doctrine of Islam
which, simply stated, has nothing to do
with human constructs at all. The Quran
is literally the words of God, not written
and constructed by humans such as in the
case of the Christian Bible.
There is no space here to discuss further
challenging concepts presented by Harrison,
such as; "Given that the Universe and
God are one and the same...we cannot doubt
the existence of God, for the existence
of the Universe is beyond doubt" (p.
300). I will leave it to the astute reader
to make up their own minds on these complex,
perennial and challenging issues concerning
life and existence. This book is a good
read and you may be assured that you will
not put the book back on the bookshelf and
simply forget about it.