Odike, 5-Star
Conspiracy by Means of Natural Selection is an ambitious and thought-provoking exploration of human consciousness, belief, evolution, and the ways people come to understand the world around them.
What I found most interesting was Bastarache’s attempt to look beyond the usual idea of conspiracy theories and examine why the human mind is capable of creating and holding onto beliefs in the first place. His discussion of the relationship between mothers and infants, language development, and the evolution of consciousness offers an unusual perspective on how human thinking may have developed.
I also found his exploration of faith and reason particularly engaging. Rather than presenting them as completely opposing forces, Bastarache considers how both may have developed alongside human cognition. His discussion of “belief-reasoning,” mythology, religion, and the origins of certain cultural beliefs gives the book plenty of material to think about.
The book covers a wide range of subjects, including evolution, language, philosophy, religion, anthropology, and human behavior. At times, this breadth works against it, as some discussions become quite detailed and the main argument can be difficult to follow. Some of the author’s conclusions also feel more exploratory than definitive.
Nevertheless, I appreciated the book’s willingness to challenge familiar assumptions and encourage readers to question not only what they believe, but why they believe it.
This is an intellectually stimulating read for anyone interested in human nature, evolution, consciousness, and the origins of belief. It is complex at times, but its unconventional perspective makes it memorable.