Materialism and Inter-being

Today in class we brought up the issue of materialism vs. idealism. Is everything matter? Or is matter a product of a higher mind? It seems to be an almost chicken-and-egg scenario from a human-centered point of view. This problem persists until science and philosophy enter the picture because we're naturally inclined to think that only a mind could create all this.

Unfortunately, we’ve been educated to think about scientific facts and theories as value-less and cold observations about our external environment. When many of us look at the anatomy of the human brain and the body on a diagram they seem like detached facts about ourselves just like the rest of the world. Materialism seems strange and counter-intuitive. How can such wonderful things like love and virtue come about through the interplay of biology and chemistry? Materialism comes off to some as a shallow and disheartening philosophy that doesn’t explain our experiences well enough. Maybe it isn’t the truth about material reality that is superficial but rather our own depth of understanding and experiencing energy/matter. After all, there’s an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence that the world in which we live exists as a result of complicated physical processes. Without spending excessive time on detailed scientific terminology, we can illustrate a basic picture of the universe within us according to scientific facts and philosophic theory.

Simple atoms were formed through the interactions between sub-atomic particles within the cosmic energy environment. Atomic interaction with cosmic energy led to the initial expansion of our universe. Innumerable molecules were formed through the interactions between atoms within the space/time environment. Molecular interaction with the universe eventually led to the formation of hundreds of billions of galaxies. Chemicals formed through the interactions between molecular compounds within galactic environments. Chemical interaction with galaxies led to the formation of billions and billions of different stars. Heavier elements were formed through the interactions between chemicals within high-mass star environments. Some of the complex chemical compounds needed for biology were also formed in other stars. We are made of star dust. Astro-chemical interaction with stars led to the formation of solar systems and planets.

Our particular planet, Earth, interacted with the Sol system to form its structure and atmosphere. It underwent a long and eventful evolution until the environment became hospitable for the formation of life. Simple cellular organisms formed through the interactions between complex chemical processes within the earth environment. Cellular interaction with the earth formed more complicated biological organisms. Biological evolution produced a myriad of life forms over billions of years. Over 90% of all life forms ever to exist on earth have already come and gone so I could go on forever about the variety of life.

Eventually, the modern human came into being. So how did we make the jump from atomic, chemical, and biological evolutionary processes to “human being”? After all, we have all these interesting trademarks of our species: culture, religion, art, agriculture, science, civilization, and many other things. I would propose that we evolved these capacities because we are social animals. We have evolved in a social environment.

We have survived and prospered through cooperation with one another. Coupled with our intelligence, we’ve created entire cultures and civilizations based on our social and natural evolution. Love and virtue, and all other emotions and concepts, were formed through the interactions between human beings within the natural environment. I would go so far as to say that our original conception of ‘spirit’ formed through our interaction with the earth and the universe. This would explain why ‘spirit’ and ‘love’ are often so closely associated. In my mind, they are as real as anything else. Culture and society are intrinsically connected with what it means to be a human being. Individual human beings cannot exist outside of their social/cultural and natural environments. Everything is interconnected and codependent on everything else. I call it inter-being.

So does anyone else agree with philosophical materialism and my own particular take on it? Can it be expanded to account for all our conceptual and emotional structures? Anyone have an alternate explanation they would like to share? I would appreciate any comment regardless of content. Thanks.