Do animals have souls? Do worms and insects feel pain or pleasure? Can trees feel anything at all? Ever wondered where in the great unfolding of evolution consciousness first appeared? If questions like these intrigue you, you are in good company because they touch on the deepest mystery in modern philosophy and science: How are minds and bodies related? How does consciousness fit into the physical world? These are not just idle speculations. How we answer such questions can dramatically affect the way we live our lives, treat the natural world and other people, and even how we relate to our own bodies. In Radical Nature, philosopher Christian de Quincey explores how mind and matter are related, and he proposes a radical and surprising answer: Consciousness goes all the way down! Through animals, plants, even single cells...in fact, all the way down the great chain of being to molecules, atoms, and beyond. Drawing on both ancient and modern knowledge, de Quincey shows us that the universe teems with consciousness through and through.