What if the universe is fundamentally mental? Kastrup argues that puzzling findings in quantum physics support the idea of a universal mind. He proposes that our individual psyches are like dissociated “alters” within this one mind, and the physical world we perceive is the interface where our consciousness interacts with this greater mental reality.

A rigorous case for the primacy of mind in nature, from philosophy to neuroscience, psychology and physics. The Idea of the World offers a grounded alternative to the frenzy of unrestrained abstractions and unexamined assumptions in philosophy and science today. This book examines what can be learned about the nature of reality based on conceptual parsimony, straightforward logic and empirical evidence from fields as diverse as physics and neuroscience. It compiles an overarching case for idealism - the notion that reality is essentially mental - from ten original articles the author has previously published in leading academic journals. The case begins with an exposition of the logical fallacies and internal contradictions of the reigning physicalist ontology and its popular alternatives, such as bottom-up panpsychism. It then advances a compelling formulation of idealism that elegantly makes sense of - and reconciles - classical and quantum worlds. The main objections to idealism are systematically refuted and empirical evidence is reviewed that corroborates the formulation presented here. The book closes with an analysis of the hidden psychological motivations behind mainstream physicalism and the implications of idealism for the way we relate to the world.

Imagine a world where everything is connected by a single mind: Bernardo Kastrup argues that reality is fundamentally mental, not physical. He suggests that what we perceive as individual consciousness is actually fragments of a universal consciousness. Kastrup challenges the mainstream view of materialism, proposing instead that the mind is the primary substance of the universe. By integrating concepts from psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, he presents a compelling case for a mental universe, urging us to rethink our understanding of reality.