Part One. The emergence and evolution of matter. Origin myths ; The emergence of matter : science's orthodox theory ; What science's orthodox theory fails to explain ; Other cosmological conjectures ; Problems facing cosmology as an explanatory means ; Reasonableness of cosmological conjectures ; Evolution of matter on a large scale ; Evolution of matter on a small scale ; Pattern to the evolution of matter ; Reflections and conclusions on the emergence and evolution of matter
Part Two. The emergence and evolution of life. A planet fit for life ; Life ; The emergence of life. 1, Evidence ; The emergence of life. 2, Hypotheses ; Development of scientific ideas about biological evolution ; Evidence of biological evolution. 1, Fossils ; Evidence of biological evolution. 2, Analyses of living species
Evidence of biological evolution. 3, Behaviour of living species ; The human lineage ; Causes of biological evolution : the current orthodox account ; Complementary and competing hypotheses. 1, Complexification ; Complementary and competing hypotheses. 2, Collaboration ; The evolution of consciousness ; Reflections and conclusions on the emergence and evolution of life
Part Three. The emergence and evolution of humans. The emergence of humans ; Human evolution. 1, Primeval thinking ; Human evolution. 2, Philosophical thinking ; Human evolution. 3, Scientific thinking ; Uniqueness of humans ; Conclusions and reflections on the emergence and evolution of humans
Part Four. A cosmic process. Limitations of science ; Reflections and conclusions on human evolution as a cosmic process.
