Structures of Consciousness: The Genius of Jean Gebser: An Introduction and Critique

by Georg Feuerstein

Genres: Philosophy

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1987

About the author

Georg A. Feuerstein was an Indologist and, according to his associate Ken Wilber, among the foremost Westerns scholar-practitioners of yoga. After doing his postgraduate research at Durham University in England, he moved to the United States, eventually settling in Canada with his wife and sometime co-author Brenda.

Reviews

[Eugene Pustoshkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important introduction into the concepts of Jean Gebser. The first part is written in mostly reader-friendly language, while the second half, when it comes to the aperspectival-integral stage is much less simple.

In overall, I enjoyed the presentation, and I agree with the remarks in the author Georg Feuerstein’s “Postscript” about the difference between a spiritually-inspired scholar who aims to understand the world comprehensively and a spiritually-realized human being who aims to transform the world. From this presentation Gebser does seem to belong to the former camp, rather than latter. The invention of a complex terminology still doesn’t hide some of the limitations of the generally rational (rather than transrational) and conceptual (rather than transconceptual) vision. Here I am using these terms not in Gebser’s fashion, but in Wilber’s fashion. I think in his interpretation of Gebser Wilber is correct in his noticing that what Gebser calls the arational/aperspectival-integral stage is actually a coalescence of a few stages of consciousness (from pluralistic “green” to integrative “teal” and existential “turquoise”). Feuerstein’s book also hints that this arational-integral structure of consciousness might include the elements of what Wilber calls the third-tier transpersonal stages (with all the references to transpersonal uncreated light etc.).

The wonderful feature of the times we’re living in is that through Integral Theory and Practice (in particular, but not exclusively Ken Wilber’s books) now we have a straight shot at grasping essential differences between what is called structures of consciousness and what is known as states of consciousenss. Still, each of us (those who are at least in some ways can be called “integral scholars-practitioners”) needs to devote serious efforts towards both expanding and intensifying our understandings.

[Jeremy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic study of the works of phenomenologist and cultural philosopher Jean Gebser. Feuerstein's own depth and breadth of scholarship cannot be understated. Feuerstein's correspondence with Gebser also adds another layer of significance to this text, from personal translations of Gebser's letters to the author, to biographical commentary. A must-read for the Gebser scholar, or the scholar of integral philosophy.

[Daniel Paulus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing minds!