Scientists elucidate the astounding collective sensory capacity of Earth and its evolution through time. Chimeras and Consciousness begins the inquiry into the evolution of the collective sensitivities of life. Scientist-scholars from a range of fields—including biochemistry, cell biology, history of science, family therapy, genetics, microbial ecology, and primatology—trace the emergence and evolution of consciousness. Complex behaviors and the social imperatives of bacteria and other life forms during 3,000 million years of Earth history gave rise to mammalian cognition. Awareness and sensation led to astounding activities; millions of species incessantly interacted to form our planet's complex conscious system. Our planetmates, all of them conscious to some degree, were joined only recently by us, the aggressive modern humans. From social bacteria to urban citizens, all living beings participate in community life. Nested inside families within communities inside ecosystems, each metabolizes, takes in matter, expends energy, and excretes. Each of the members of our own and other species, in groups with incessantly shifting alliances, receives and processes information. Mergers of radically different life forms with myriad purposes—the "chimeras" of the title—underlie dramatic metamorphosis and other positive evolutionary change. Since early bacteria avoided, produced, and eventually used oxygen, Earth's sensory systems have expanded and complexified. The provocative essays in this book, going far beyond science but undergirded by the finest science, serve to put sensitive, sensible life in its cosmic context.

This book argues that philosophy is as practical as plumbing and what we need right now is what philosophers can offer as philosophers to help us all, our species, and beyond, through this ecological emergency, this climate change, this anthropocene. This book is about the meaning and purpose of philosophy as a way of, a practice of, responding to the ecological emergency, which includes climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, habitat destruction, and all the associated impacts that fragment, and threaten to create collapse, among the systems that created and sustain us. There are the related economic and social impacts, the fragmentation of communities and political ideologies through attitude polarisation, and the increasing threats to systems by those who seek to promote further exploitation at the expense of attempts to regain some system of cooperation and an attitude of compassion which is at the heart of our survival strategies as a species. Philosophy has always sought to address questions related both to our place in the universe, and to how to live, given our understanding of our place. Those of us committed to a philosophical life have used a range of metaphors and narratives to enlighten, and to exhort to action, those who would seek to understand what to do, how, and why. Philosophy has played a key role in helping us as a species to respond to the ecological emergency. What, then, is the practice of philosophy, given that we’re in an ecological emergency? This question is the thread, and it forms the framework for the dialogue that runs through the book.

The phytochemical industry has entered a rapid growth phase internationally. Market demands are driving product development, while science tries to identify specific components that contribute health giving properties at physiological exposure levels. This book presents the findings of multidisciplinary research on the identification of active components in plant products and their possible physiologic benefits in the management or prevention of disease. Findings include: the latest epidemiological evidence on the association of fruits and vegetables and reduced risk of a variety of tumors; the role of tocotrienols in atherosclerosis and cancer prevention; the balance between known benefits and risks of free radical oxidation chemistry; metabolic pathways of carotenoids and their potential role in the prevention of cancer and age-related macular degeneration; a model for viewing interactions between phytochemicals. Also discussed are the potential applications for fungal components as food ingredients and supplement products and components of garlic and onions, including changes caused by processing of garlic nutritional supplements. A final chapter discusses developing claims for new phytochemical products.

* Plant Fever looks to the future of design from a vegetal perspective, moving from a human-centered to a phyto-centered designFor centuries, our inherent alienation from nature has prevented us from truly seeing plants and understanding them as more than simple materials or decorative objects. Can design help us change our perspective and reveal their potential as allies? / Edited by d-o-t-s (Laura Drouet & Olivier Lacrouts) / Foreword by Marie Pok / With contributions by Emanuele Coccia, Carole Collet, dach&zephir, Quentin Hiernaux, Overmind, Catriona A. H. Sandilands, Ana Silva, Penny Sparke, Trajna collective

In Minimal Selfhood and the Origins of Consciousness, R.D.V. Glasgow seeks to ground the logical roots of consciousness in what he has previously called the 'minimal self'. The idea is that elementary forms of consciousness are logically dependent not, as is commonly assumed, on ownership of an anatomical brain or nervous system, but on the intrinsic reflexivity that defines minimal selfhood. The aim of the book is to trace the logical pathway by which minimal selfhood gives rise to the possible appearance of consciousness. It is argued that in specific circumstances it thus makes sense to ascribe elementary consciousness to certain predatory single-celled organisms such as amoebae and dinoflagellates as well as to some of the simpler animals. Such an argument involves establishing exactly what those specific circumstances are and determining how elementary consciousness differs in nature and scope from its more complex manifestations.

Phytomedicine: A Treasure of Pharmacologically Active Products from Plants aims to present updated knowledge of plant-based medicines in terms of their research and development, production, and utilization, from the viewpoint of sustainability and by using the latest technologies. The book explores different phytometabolites on a mass scale, coupled with the efficacy, performance and applicability on target organisms to treat curable and fatal diseases. Readers will find a coherent package of phytotherapeutic information regarding inclusive assortment of research based, scientific amplitude of metabolites from the plant world encompassing various action plans. Information is presented sequentially regarding phytochemistry, biological activity and the serviceable aspects of bioactive compounds. The book also addresses various advancements and achievements of novel drugs from plants using molecular and enzymatic activities, and various technological tools in an ecofriendly fashion. Discusses phytotherapeutic properties for a wide range of medical conditions, including anti-pyretic, anti-infective, anti-malarial, Anti-AIDS, anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous, immune-modulatory applications Includes a discussion of synergistic effects of formulations and antagonistic drug interactions Addresses advancements and achievements of novel plant-based drugs using molecular, enzymatic activities and various technological tools in an eco-friendly fashion

The personal proexis (pro + exis) is the specific existential programming of each intraphysical consciousness (conscin) in their new life in this human dimension, that is planned before the somatic (physical) rebirth of consciousness, while still an extraphysical consciousness (consciex). The following 9 expressions are used to char- acterize the existential program: 1. Existential goal. 2. Existential orientation. 3. Existential planning. 4. Existential project. 5. Intraphysical objective. 6. Intraphysical task. 7. Life project. 8. Pre-intraphysical mandate. 9. Terrestrial mission. The proexis is the object of study in proexology, a specialty of conscientiology.

A distinguished chef, cooking teacher, and author of Vegan Planet introduces 150 flavorful, simple-to-prepare recipes for meat- and dairy-free dishes that eliminate refined carbohydrates, including a variety of appetizers, main courses, stews, salads, soups, sides, sauces, and desserts. Original. 20,000 first printing.

Who are you? What are you? Where did you come from? What are you doing in this life on Earth? Where are you going to? Using a series of questions and answers we seek to provide simple and logical responses to these classic philosophical questions, as well as many others, from the standpoint of conscientiology. What is conscientiology? Conscientiology is the science that studies the "entire" consciousness (soul, ego, individual essence), along with all of its bodies, existences, experiences, epochs and places, with an integral, projective and self-aware approach in relation to the various existential dimensions.

Terraforming is the process of making other worlds habitable for human life. This book asks how science fiction has imagined how we shape both our world and other planets and how stories of terraforming reflect on science, society and environmentalism. This title was made Open Access by libraries from around the world through Knowledge Unlatched.