Non fiction

What Lies Beyond: Consciousness, Science, the Paranormal, and the Post-Material Future (Essentia Books, 2025).

In his compelling work, What Lies Beyond, author Matt Colborn challenges the dominant materialistic worldview and explores the frontiers of human consciousness. The book delves into the realms of paranormal and mystical experiences, arguing that phenomena such as near-death experiences, out-of-body sensations, and psi abilities are not mere anomalies but essential facets of our existence that demand serious scientific inquiry.

Colborn calls for an expanded, post-materialist science that can accommodate and investigate consciousness more fully. He suggests that a genuine exploration of what lies beyond the everyday could help humanity navigate the challenges of the 21st century by fostering a deeper sense of connection and purpose. What Lies Beyond is a thought-provoking appeal to reconsider the nature of reality and our place within it, urging a more open-minded and meaningful engagement with the mysteries of the human mind.

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Praise for What Lies Beyond:

“…What Lies Beyond is a well-written book that I would recommend, particularly to newcomers.

Readers more familiar with parapsychology and its findings might find the sections about consciousness and transhumanism more interesting.” Nemo C. Mörck, Society for Psychical Research.

“ Colborn collates a wide range of fascinating information in this highly readable book that challenges the dominant materialist paradigm. He is right when he states that we are currently negotiating a 'crisis of meaninglessness', and I agree with his argument that one aspect of our path through this crisis requires a re-evaluation of the implications of psi and mystical experiences. There is a danger that the metaphysical assumptions underpinning much of modern science are at odds with what is required to negotiate the global age we are entering. Colborn addresses the issues instructively. A timely book that deserves to be widely read.” Brian L Lancaster, Ph.D. Emeritus Professor of Transpersonal Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University, Alef Trust founding director and author of Approaches to Consciousness.

“Well written, relevant, and from a reputable author.” Bernardo Kastrup, Ph.D. Executive director of Essentia Foundation. Leader of the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism and author of many books including Why Materialism is Baloney.

Pluralism and the Mind: Consciousness, Worldviews and the Limits of Science. (Imprint Academic, 2011).

Given that consciousness is poorly understood and vaguely defined, Paul Feyerabend's advice to "keep our options open" seems sound, but is frequently ignored in favour of an insistence that a scientific theory of consciousness must be reducible to current monist physics and biology. This book argues that such an insistence is historically unsupportable, theoretically incoherent and unnecessary. The author instead makes the case for emergent property pluralism. New concepts of emergent mental properties are needed because of the failure of mainstream approaches satisfactorily to address issues like subjective volition, autonomy and creativity. Personal consciousness is active and classifiable as a subset of the wider problem of biological causation.

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Praise for Pluralism and the Mind

“…this is science writing of the first order. It isn't flashy - it contains few flamboyant images and metaphors - but it's clear, detailed and thoughtful. It gives a highly readable account of the story so far,” Robert McLuhan, Guardian Journalist and author of Randi’s Prize.

See also the Review in the Journal of Scientific Exploration.