Chapter 1: The Unified Natural Order

Is there a singular universe where the seeming diversity of all things is actually a cohesive natural order that we can comprehend? Science suggests that such a reality exists, as its methodologies have illuminated numerous phenomena, weaving together various fields like cosmology, physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and sociology into a coherent theoretical framework.

However, science also operates on certain assumptions. It relies on the belief that there are no irreconcilable divisions in nature—essentially, that miracles do not exist. This underlying faith, referred to as "humanism," has its roots in Greco-Roman thought. Humanism embodies the audacious belief that humanity should govern the universe through our rational and creative abilities.

Even as secular humanists reject the deities of simplistic religions, they remain fundamentally anthropocentric. While they may no longer assert that the cosmos revolves around a divine will, they still behave as though nature should conform to human desires.

In this framework, humans possess rights while inanimate objects and impersonal phenomena do not. Physical entities exist as mere facts, devoid of intention or consciousness. While there are natural laws and human beings who uncover these patterns, there is no inherent lawgiver—divine or otherwise. Only evolved beings create laws, which are social constructs and part of our technological landscape, often overshadowing the natural world.

If humans alone possess a semblance of divinity or moral rights due to our self-awareness, what then are we to make of non-persons? How do we interpret the wilderness, the entirety of untamed life and landscapes? What metaphors might assist our understanding?

When we reduce things to mere objects, we effectively enslave them. The more insight we gain into the workings of nature, the greater our potential control over it becomes. Our conceptual frameworks and models allow us to dissect and dominate the natural world. Possessing a robust theory about a phenomenon is akin to grasping its sacred essence, enabling us to replicate or manipulate it.

Why pursue such endeavors? Primarily, it's an evolutionary trait—our brains are wired to outsmart our surroundings and apply that knowledge through technology to achieve our ambitions.

Yet, on a deeper level, the mindless, indifferent nature of the world can be unsettling to social beings like ourselves. We have evolved not only to think rationally but also to engage socially. Living in communities has made us self-focused, and in fortunate circumstances, we may become narcissistic. Nevertheless, even in minimal social interactions, we tend to reject anything overtly anti-social, such as violations of our rights or societal norms.

Nothing undermines sociality more than the impersonality of nature. The wilderness can seem absurd and zombie-like in its relentless self-replication. While scientists may understand the mechanics of natural processes, they often struggle to explain how nature itself exists, as explanations typically circle back to more natural phenomena—elements, forces, and physical causes.

Thus, every natural occurrence appears monstrous, especially when viewed through a scientific lens. Each physical entity, be it a star, a stone, or a tool, is inherently antisocial. Nature does not recognize the laws we abide by; it is wild and untamed, akin to children reared by wolves, who become instinctively rebellious.

Moreover, natural events unfold ultimately without purpose. While we can trace causal sequences back to the Big Bang, philosophical inquiries into the nature of these causes often leave us perplexed. Scientists can analyze natural systems down to their fundamental components, yet they are constrained from addressing the more profound question of why such systems exist at all.

This perspective mirrors the horrified observer witnessing a corpse rise from the grave—a hallmark of zombie narratives. Just as natural laws exist without a divine author, the animated corpse in fiction is simply a reality.

Physical objects possess dual interpretations, depending on whether we adopt a secular humanist or a cosmicist viewpoint. On one hand, the scientific understanding of nature can be empowering; devoid of divine influences, natural events lack malevolence or unexpected twists. The workings of the world become predictable as they are devoid of free will.

Conversely, contemplating the philosophical ramifications of this understanding reveals a sense of dread. Friedrich Nietzsche articulated this despair by declaring not only that "God is dead" but also that the revelation of atheism represents a cultural calamity.

What, then, in the human realm, is meant to be animated without free will? Slaves.

Historically, patriarchal societies viewed women and outsiders as lacking personhood or a "divine spark," treating them as mere possessions. These subordinates were seen as toys or laborers devoid of rights, a mindset rooted in humanity's prehistoric domestication of wild species.

Despite contemporary societies recognizing the civil rights inherent to all humans, we have sought substitutes for the pseudo-mindless laborers of the past—robots and AI systems.

Thus, when we objectify nature and overlook the mystical aspects of naturalism, we risk equating wild ecosystems with the segments we've managed to control. "Wild" signifies what remains untamed. Given our technological advances, this comparison is not trivial; we have actively sought to domesticate nature wherever possible. The wilderness is simply that which has yet to be subdued.

However, just as the recognition of personhood reinvigorated the status of human slaves, and as fiction portrays AI as potentially possessing divine-like abilities, our understanding of the natural order may experience a renaissance. The lifeless may stir again, as secular humanism intertwines with darker philosophical insights.

In light of our progressive arrogance and existential realities, we might ponder whether the perception of a subjugated, humanized natural order should transition toward a neo-animistic pantheism.

Chapter 2: Science and the Philosophical Zombie

In this video, "Aristotle's Politics: Natural Slaves and The One True Statesman," we delve into Aristotle’s perspective on governance and the concept of natural hierarchies, questioning how these ideas resonate with contemporary debates on personhood and rights.

Chapter 3: The Nature of Science

The video "Nature of Science" explores the fundamental principles that underpin scientific inquiry, illustrating how our understanding of the natural world has evolved over time and the implications of this evolution on our worldview.