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A scintillating commentary on philosophy and metaphysics, Garcia-Gonzalez’s work forays into numerous aspects of our existence to probe into the constraints of the human experience. What is reality? What incites the disparity between one individual’s observation of reality and another’s? As the author dives deeper into his immense understanding of what is, he provides a series of intriguing, thought-provoking insights that cut right to the core of one’s belief system, yet he does so with grace and knowledge that impels readers to at least consider what is being proposed.
For instance, the idea that the mind is governed by programmed genetic instructions directly tackles the age-old debate of free will vs. determinism. Better yet, the theory that people aren’t aging due to time but rather a “depletion of genetic properties” is incredibly unique. Garcia-Gonzalez’s commentary isn’t rooted in dense history-book lingo. On the contrary, it is the ease with which he demonstrates, in the early stages, the denial of independent existence and stakes a claim to the nonexistence of space/time that sets up compelling and constructive conversations on consciousness, perception, awareness, etc.
Perhaps the most eye-popping of these insights rests on the author’s integration of genetics and desire to discover why heredity even exists in the first place. Weaving into his narrative the work of the father of the Punnett square, Gregor Mendel, the author dissects how the senses, such as seeing or hearing, function and work to establish less of a cognitive connection and more of a human awareness. Further, Garcia-Gonzalez does a commendable job of taking complex topics like absolute realization, actuality, emanation, and existential facticity and helping the reader digest them through relatable examples such as cake cutting, hallucinations, and dreaming. Taking his analysis to another level, his discourse on images and color blends science and philosophy so seamlessly that proponents of either will not feel out of place or that their dogma and thought processes are being overlooked.
As comprehensive as it gets, biological evolution and human traits and dispositions necessary for survival unsurprisingly make their way into the work. This knack for treading into topics that are universal discussion starters gives the work a magnetic quality. An ideal example would be the author’s juxtaposition of existence and awareness, using a topic such as conception and a fetus, or a child, "unaware beings exist only by virtue of the awareness of others." Undoubtedly, there are countless scholarly and researched arguments within this work, but their delivery is carefully constructed and so conversational that even laymen will view this book as a starter course in igniting their curiosity about the inner workings of the world, of the mind, and of humanity as a whole.
At the root is genetic control, which is a direct derivative of human development, and its role in perception and the various types of memory. When contemplating how the work would be classified, audiences will likely find the interdisciplinary nature enticing: the work is a fusion of philosophy, biology, psychology, sociology, and more, and the end product is one that resonates with clarity for a universal audience. Above all else, Garcia-Gonzalez presents with fearless abandon, acknowledging that not all groups (e.g., certain factions of scientists) will resonate with his propositions. This authenticity yields a text that sheds light and a greater understanding of what happens behind the veil of the mind and existence.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review