The immensity of the universe challenges our understanding of the universe and our role in it. What was once considered a great machine appears to be a living organism, constantly evolving and self-generating. That’s the theory behind “The Living Universe: The Universe as an Organism,” a contemplative documentary that seamlessly blends science and philosophy.
The film focuses less on the latest discoveries of cosmologists and more on the impact these discoveries may ultimately have on the human species. As our understanding of the universe deepens and expands, will it lead to a similar expansion of our own consciousness? In the grand scheme of things, do humans really matter?
To illustrate these points, the filmmakers go back in time. During the Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries, leading thinkers such as Sir Isaac Newton first proposed the metaphor that the universe is a machine. The basis of this belief is firmly rooted in the Christian faith. They believed that God himself started the machine. But this way of thinking was complicated a century later when Charles Darwin first announced his heady theory of evolution.
Human consciousness has always evolved in tandem with the most influential scientific breakthroughs. These findings force us to question the nature of reality. Our conception of self has evolved from merely being a cog in the wheel of the natural order to existing at the expense of nature as the lords of our realm.
The film explores a third possibility. The universe is not a shell where things happen from within; it is itself a living process that develops through interaction with everything around it. To what extent do the powers of our thoughts play a role in the fundamental workings of the universe?
The film’s animation-heavy visual presentation is acceptable. These are the ideas that really work. The organic paradigm is not a new theory, but the passionate and exploratory narrative that runs throughout the film gives it life and clarity.
Directed by: Adrian David Nelson
