Future Consciousness: The Path to Purposeful Evolution Thomas Lombardo Introductory Presentation 1
Thomas Lombardo, Ph.D. - Director Center for Future Consciousness The Wisdom Page Wisdom and the Future www.centerforfutureconsciousness.com www.wisdompage.com http://www.centerforfutureconsciousness.com/archived_newsletters.htm 1) Books on Psychology, Philosophy, Mind/Consciousness, Education, the Future, Wisdom, & Science Fiction (Numerous Articles on CFC Website) Lombardo, Thomas The Reciprocity of Perceiver and Environment: The Evolution of � James J. Gibson ʼ s Ecological Psychology . Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum � Associates, 1987; 2nd Ed. London: Routledge, 2017. Lombardo, Thomas The Future of Science, Technology, and the Cosmos, Center for Future Consciousness . http://www.centerforfutureconsciousness.com/ ST_Readings.htm, 2002. Lombardo, Thomas The Evolution of Future Consciousness: The Nature and Historical � Development of the Human Capacity to Think about the Future . Bloomington, IN: � AuthorHouse, 2006a. Lombardo, Thomas Contemporary Futurist Thought: Science Fiction, Future Studies, � and Theories and Visions of the Future in the Last Century . Bloomington, IN: � AuthorHouse, 2006b. Lombardo, Thomas Wisdom, Consciousness, and the Future: Selected Essays . � Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibrius, 2011a. Lombardo, Thomas MInd Flight: A Journey into the Future . Bloomington, Indiana: � Xlibrius, 2011b. Lombardo, Thomas Science Fiction: The Evolutionary Mythology of the Future - Volume � One - Prometheus to the Martians . London: Changemakers Books, Fall, 2018. 2) Future Consciousness: The Path to Purposeful Evolution . London: Changemakers Books, 2017. Read Reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Future-Consciousness-Path-Purposeful- Evolution/dp/1780999852 & http://www.centerforfutureconsciousness.com/ book_future_consciousness.htm Introductory Overview: Lombardo, Thomas “Future Consciousness: The Path to Purposeful Evolution - An Introduction” World Future Review , Vol. 8, No. 3, 2016. See: http://www.centerforfutureconsciousness.com/pdf_files/2016%20Articles/Future %20Consciousness%20Article%20Complete%20FinalWFRCited.pdf Award Winner of the Network Book Prize for 2017 by the Scientific & Medical Network for a book written by a member that makes the most significant contribution towards a new world view . 2
Theory of the Conscious Human Mind & How to Realize the Good Future Anchored to a Vision of the Evolutionary Cosmos & Our Place (Role) Within It SMN 2018 Conference: Evolving Towards a Wise and Flourishing Future https://explore.scimednet.org/index.php/events/event/smn-annual-gathering/ 3) The Question: What is a good future and how do we create it? (Chapter 1) "'What am I to do?' is the perpetual question of our existence." H. G. Wells • Central Challenge of Human Life: Personally & Collectively • Question Reflects Most Distinctive & Empowering Capacity of Human Mind “The central question of our time is what to do about the future. And that question creates a deep divide.” Virginia Postrel Multiple Views of Human Reality & World Challenges Multiple Answers & Efforts toward Preferable (Good) Futures Lombardo, 2006a and 2006b (See above references) Lombardo “Video: Contemporary Trends and Theories and Paradigms of the Future”: http://www.centerforfutureconsciousness.com/cont_trends_video.htm Glenn, J., Florescu, E., and the Millennium Project Team (2017) State of the Future Version 19.0 , Washington, D.C.: The Millennium Project. Question: To engage & make more visibly relevant the theory of FC, what are the fundamental problems or challenges of today? Can identify personal, community, national, or global problems. How does the theory of heightened FC (Wisdom) constructively address these challenges/problems? We are all futurists working on the good future. 4) The Answer: (Chapter 1) Flourishing in the flow of purposeful evolution is the good future & wisdom or heightened future consciousness is the means to realize it. 5) The Nature of the Reality (Chapter 2) Answering the question of the nature of reality precedes answering the question of what is the good (future). The good needs to be grounded in reality. Our answer to the good future needs to be based on our best contemporary understanding of reality. 3
Reciprocity & Evolution The Circle & the Line Nisbett, Richard The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently …and Why . New York: The Free Press, 2003. Lombardo, 2002. (See above reference) 6) Evolution & the Evolution of Evolution (Chapter 2) “Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.” Bertolt Brecht • Classical View: Eternal, Changeless (Stable), Certain, Unified, & Ordered • Modern View: Transformative, Evolutionary (Directional/Increasing Complexity), Quasi-Chaotic/Disruptive, Multiple Future Possibilities, & Creative • Grand Cosmic (Hierarchy of Increasingly Complex Levels) Narrative: Past, Present, and Future • Accelerative Evolution - Evolution of Evolution “Evolution isn ʼ t what it used to be.” Walter Truett Anderson We live in an evolving universe that is evolving how it evolves & we are active & responsible participants in the process. Chaisson, Eric Epic of Evolution: Seven Ages of the Cosmos . New York: Columbia University Press, 2005. Hands, John Cosmo-Sapiens: Human Evolution form the Origin of the Universe . New York: Overlook Duckworth, 2016. Kurzweil, Ray The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology . New York: Viking Press, 2005. Anderson, Walter Truett Evolution Isn't What It Used To Be: The Augmented Animal and the Whole Wired World . New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1996. Lombardo, Thomas "Consciousness, Cosmic Evolution, and the Technological Singularity" Journal of Futures Studies, December, 2012. Available at: http:// w w w. c e n t e r f o r f u t u r e c o n s c i o u s n e s s . c o m / p d f _ f i l e s / A r t i c l e s / ChaissonArticleFinalNov2012Website.pdf Lombardo, 2002. (See above reference) 7) Purposeful Human Evolution (Chapter 3) “We are nothing else than evolution become conscious of itself.” Julian Huxley • Multi-Dimensional Evolutionary Nature of Humanity • Humans Engage in Evolution of Evolution • Anticipate & Guide the Future - Purposeful Evolution thru Future Consciousness: 4
• Informed/Future Directed/Thoughtful/Purposeful/Value Driven Consciousness & Behavior • Natural but Unique Expression of Cosmic Evolution of Evolution • Frankenstein ʼ s Blasphemy & “Playing God” • Prometheus & Self-Determination Our moral imperative is that we should purposefully evolve ourselves & the world around us as best as we can. Lombardo, Thomas “The Future Evolution of Consciousness” World Future Review , Vol. 6, No. 3, Fall, 2014. Available at: http://www.centerforfutureconsciousness.com/ p d f _ f i l e s / 2 0 1 4 _ a r t i c l e s / E v o l u t i o n % 2 0 o f % 2 0 C o n s c i o u s n e s s %20June2014%20Wisdom%20Updates.pdf Phipps, Carter Evolutionaries: Unlocking the Spiritual and Cultural Potential of Science’s Greatest Idea . New York: Harper Perennial, 2012. Question: What are other Possible Candidates or Theories regarding the Distinctive Capacity (Capacities) of Humans? Candidates include: Language, Abstract Thought, Self-Consciousness, Spirituality/Religion, Science, Technology & Cumulative Historical Culture. Why is FC the best answer? 8) “It is as if man had been suddenly appointed managing director of the biggest business of all, the business of evolution—appointed without being asked if he wanted it, and without proper warning and preparation. What is more, he can ʼ t refuse the job. Whether he wants to or not, whether he is conscious of what he is doing or not, he is in point of fact determining the future direction of evolution on this earth. That is his inescapable destiny, and the sooner he realizes it and starts believing in it, the better for all concerned...” Julian Huxley A Question: Can humans reject, counter-act, or escape from purposeful evolution? 9) Reciprocity within Consciousness and the World (Chapter 4) Contemplate the Yin-Yang: A Coupled Complementarity of Factors in the Universe “The basic understanding that life on this planet constitutes an interconnected system must be considered to be one of the great discoveries of science, perhaps as profound as the discovery of natural selection.” Lee Smolin “For things are things because of mind, as mind is mind because of things.” Hsin Hsin Ming • Yin-Yang/Reciprocity (Distinct & Interdependent Complements) • Open Systems (Individuation thru Exchange) 5
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