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The Intelligence of the Cosmos: Why Are We Here? New Answers from the Frontiers of Science
From the cutting edge of science and living a guide to understanding our identity and purpose in the world
• Outlines the new understanding of matter and mind coming to light at the cutting edge of physics and consciousness research
• Explains how we can evolve consciously, become connected with each other, and flourish on this planet
• Includes contributions from Maria Sagi, Kingsley L. Dennis, Emanuel Kuntzelman, Dawna Jones, Shamik Desai, Garry Jacobs, and John R. Audette
For the outdated mainstream paradigm the world is a giant mechanism functioning in accordance with known and knowable laws and regularities. The new paradigm emerging in science offers a different The world is an interconnected, coherent whole, and it is informed by a cosmic intelligence. This is not a finite, mechanistic-material world. It is a consciousness-infused whole-system world. We are conscious beings who emerge and co-evolve as complex, cosmic-intelligence in-formed vibrations in the Akashic Field of the universe.
Ervin Laszlo and his collaborators from the forefront of science, cosmology, and spirituality show how the re-discovery of who we are and why we are here integrates seamlessly with the wisdom traditions as well as with the new emerging worldview in the sciences, revealing a way forward for humanity on this planet. They explain how we have reached a point of critical incoherence and tell us that to save ourselves, our environment, and society, we need a critical mass of people to consciously evolve a new thinking. Offering a guidepost to orient this evolution, Laszlo examines the nature of consciousness in the universe, showing how our bodies and minds act as transmitters of consciousness from the intelligence of the cosmos and how understanding science’s new concept of the world enables us to re-discover our identity and our purpose in our world.
With bold vision and forward thinking, Laszlo and his contributors Maria Sagi, Kingsley L. Dennis, Emanuel Kuntzelman, Dawna Jones, Shamik Desai, Garry Jacobs, and John R. Audette outline the new idea of the world and of ourselves in the world. They help us discover how we can overcome these divisive times and blossom into a new era of peace, coherence, connection, and global wellbeing.
• Outlines the new understanding of matter and mind coming to light at the cutting edge of physics and consciousness research
• Explains how we can evolve consciously, become connected with each other, and flourish on this planet
• Includes contributions from Maria Sagi, Kingsley L. Dennis, Emanuel Kuntzelman, Dawna Jones, Shamik Desai, Garry Jacobs, and John R. Audette
For the outdated mainstream paradigm the world is a giant mechanism functioning in accordance with known and knowable laws and regularities. The new paradigm emerging in science offers a different The world is an interconnected, coherent whole, and it is informed by a cosmic intelligence. This is not a finite, mechanistic-material world. It is a consciousness-infused whole-system world. We are conscious beings who emerge and co-evolve as complex, cosmic-intelligence in-formed vibrations in the Akashic Field of the universe.
Ervin Laszlo and his collaborators from the forefront of science, cosmology, and spirituality show how the re-discovery of who we are and why we are here integrates seamlessly with the wisdom traditions as well as with the new emerging worldview in the sciences, revealing a way forward for humanity on this planet. They explain how we have reached a point of critical incoherence and tell us that to save ourselves, our environment, and society, we need a critical mass of people to consciously evolve a new thinking. Offering a guidepost to orient this evolution, Laszlo examines the nature of consciousness in the universe, showing how our bodies and minds act as transmitters of consciousness from the intelligence of the cosmos and how understanding science’s new concept of the world enables us to re-discover our identity and our purpose in our world.
With bold vision and forward thinking, Laszlo and his contributors Maria Sagi, Kingsley L. Dennis, Emanuel Kuntzelman, Dawna Jones, Shamik Desai, Garry Jacobs, and John R. Audette outline the new idea of the world and of ourselves in the world. They help us discover how we can overcome these divisive times and blossom into a new era of peace, coherence, connection, and global wellbeing.
192 pages, Paperback
Published October 17, 2017
60 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Ervin Laszlo
223 books226 followersErvin Laszlo is a systems philosopher, integral theorist, and classical pianist. Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, he has authored more than 70 books, which have been translated into nineteen languages, and has published in excess of four hundred articles and research papers, including six volumes of piano recordings.
Dr. Laszlo is generally recognized as the founder of systems philosophy and general evolution theory, and serves as the founder-director of the General Evolution Research Group and as past president of the International Society for the Systems Sciences. He is also the recipient of the highest degree in philosophy and human sciences from the Sorbonne, the University of Paris, as well as of the coveted Artist Diploma of the Franz Liszt Academy of Budapest. Additional prizes and awards include four honorary doctorates.
His appointments have included research grants at Yale and Princeton Universities, professorships for philosophy, systems sciences, and future sciences at the Universities of Houston, Portland State, and Indiana, as well as Northwestern University and the State University of New York. His career also included guest professorships at various universities in Europe and the Far East. In addition, he worked as program director for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). In 1999 he was was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Canadian International Institute of Advanced Studies in Systems Research and Cybernetics.
For many years he has served as president of the Club of Budapest, which he founded. He is an advisor to the UNESCO Director General, ambassador of the International Delphic Council, member of both the International Academy of Science, World Academy of Arts and Science, and the International Academy of Philosophy.
Dr. Laszlo is generally recognized as the founder of systems philosophy and general evolution theory, and serves as the founder-director of the General Evolution Research Group and as past president of the International Society for the Systems Sciences. He is also the recipient of the highest degree in philosophy and human sciences from the Sorbonne, the University of Paris, as well as of the coveted Artist Diploma of the Franz Liszt Academy of Budapest. Additional prizes and awards include four honorary doctorates.
His appointments have included research grants at Yale and Princeton Universities, professorships for philosophy, systems sciences, and future sciences at the Universities of Houston, Portland State, and Indiana, as well as Northwestern University and the State University of New York. His career also included guest professorships at various universities in Europe and the Far East. In addition, he worked as program director for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). In 1999 he was was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Canadian International Institute of Advanced Studies in Systems Research and Cybernetics.
For many years he has served as president of the Club of Budapest, which he founded. He is an advisor to the UNESCO Director General, ambassador of the International Delphic Council, member of both the International Academy of Science, World Academy of Arts and Science, and the International Academy of Philosophy.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 5, 2018
The paradigm shift being advocated by Laszlo and company is compelling, but this book was thin on the science and heavy on the New Age philosophy. Laszlo’s introductory chapters build on the growing disillusionment that scientists have with evolutionary theory, and a growing sense that there is more to reality than materialists would have us believe. His perspective makes more sense, citing the extreme complexity of living systems that suggests some kind of cosmic purpose. Unfortunately, the follow up chapters by various authors provide a variety of speculative philosophies without adding much to the evidence. Perhaps I’m just not aware enough of what Dennis says, “I don’t need to repeat here the cosmological findings…which show how the parameters of the universe are finely tuned beyond any possibility of randomness.” No proof of that is attempted. And this is a long way from the conclusion that the cosmic purpose is to “transmit consciousness into the universe.”
Half of the book is devoted to the ethical implications of this new paradigm. It’s interesting that, despite the various authors’ attempts to be non-exclusive and to incorporate all cultures and religions into their thought systems, most of their conclusions could come straight out of the New Testament teachings of Jesus: The New Testament teaches (in First Century language) a “planetary consciousness that affirms the essential oneness of mankind”, essential reality that is not only material but spiritual, that people are called to live out “the right kind of love by living a purposeful life”, doing unto others as we would have them do unto us, the centrality of trust (faith), and the ultimate ethical values of empathy, non-violence, forgiveness, peace, love, and self-sacrifice. Of the various non-materialist religious systems cited in support of these various values (Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism), only New Testament Christianity elevates all of them in a system of thought and action.
Do these applications illustrate the fulfillment of Jesus’ claim that the “yeast” of his kingdom teaching would invisibly penetrate and transform cosmic reality, just as literal yeast penetrates and transforms a loaf of bread? These authors urge us to keep an open mind.
Half of the book is devoted to the ethical implications of this new paradigm. It’s interesting that, despite the various authors’ attempts to be non-exclusive and to incorporate all cultures and religions into their thought systems, most of their conclusions could come straight out of the New Testament teachings of Jesus: The New Testament teaches (in First Century language) a “planetary consciousness that affirms the essential oneness of mankind”, essential reality that is not only material but spiritual, that people are called to live out “the right kind of love by living a purposeful life”, doing unto others as we would have them do unto us, the centrality of trust (faith), and the ultimate ethical values of empathy, non-violence, forgiveness, peace, love, and self-sacrifice. Of the various non-materialist religious systems cited in support of these various values (Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism), only New Testament Christianity elevates all of them in a system of thought and action.
Do these applications illustrate the fulfillment of Jesus’ claim that the “yeast” of his kingdom teaching would invisibly penetrate and transform cosmic reality, just as literal yeast penetrates and transforms a loaf of bread? These authors urge us to keep an open mind.
May 1, 2019
Great book provides real insights
Lived this book. While most of the concepts were already familiar for me, this book really helps you to step out of the materialistic mindset and truly begin to understand the energy or vibrational fields that constitutes everything. Getting a clear idea of what “super coherence” entails.
Lived this book. While most of the concepts were already familiar for me, this book really helps you to step out of the materialistic mindset and truly begin to understand the energy or vibrational fields that constitutes everything. Getting a clear idea of what “super coherence” entails.
April 30, 2022
“neden burada olduğumuz” sorusu binlerce yıldır insanların cevap aradığı bir soru. bunun cevabını farklı yollarla vermeye çalışmış olsak da, aslında basit bir cevabı var; o da bir nedeninin olmayışı. bir tesadüfün sonucunda ortaya çıkmış ve milyarlarca yıl süren evrimin sonucunda şu anda bulunduğumuz yaşam formuna dönüşmüş durumdayız. insanın bilinç evriminin bir sonucu olarak kendine atfettiği üstün canlı olma düşüncesinin reddedilememesi sebebiyle mitolojik teoriler sunulmuş ve sırayla hepsi yanlışlanmıştır. mevcut inançların hala takipçi buluyor olmasının sebebi ise, önceki dinlerin yapmadığı şekilde ilahlarını gözle görülmeyecek yerlerde saklamaları. bu inançlar doğrultusunda hala bir misyonumuzun olduğunu kabul ederek yaşıyoruz.
kitapta bahsedilen ise, varoluşumuzun amaçsız olamayacağı yönünde bir görüş. amacımız olduğuna dair bu görüşün kaynağının kesin bir tarifi yok ancak tamamen varsayımsal olarak bir üst akıl tarafından atanmış misyonumuz olması gerektiği düşünülüyor. yazar bu düşünceyi ise sözde bilimsel teorilerle ve bulgularla, ya da bilimsel teorilerin -süperuyum gibi- yanlış yorumlanmasıyla ispatlamak niyetinde bulunuyor. konuk yazarlar da bu görüşü olumlayacak şekilde tartışıyor. “the rider and the horse are one” lafını aklımıza getirebiliriz, ruh ve beden diye iki ayrı kavramın olmadığını temsil eden bu sözün hedefi; ruh diye ortaya konan bilincin, bedenimizin bir parçası olduğunu anlatmak. yazarın ve konuk yazarların ise ısrarla ruhani ayrı bir boyut olduğuna dair yaklaşımı bilimsellikten uzak.
tartışılan konulardan birine ise kısmen katılmam mümkün. tek bir hayatımız var ve bu yaşayacağımız hayatın niteliğini maksimize etmek için ortak bir çaba içerisinde olmamız gerekir. geleceğe miras olarak ölümsüz bir sanat eseri bırakmak herkese nasip olamayabilir, ancak yaşanabilir bir dünya bırakmamak için kendimizden başka bir engelimiz bulunmuyor. bugün ayasofya’ya, piramitlere, yıldızlı gece’ye bakarken duyulan hayranlığın; gelecek jenerasyonlar tarafından dünyanın iyi korunmuş doğasına bakarken de duyulmasını isteyebiliriz. hem yaşayacağımız hayatı güzelleştirecektir hem de iyi bir miras bırakmış oluruz. insanın dünyada bulunmasının ilahi bir amacı olmayabilir ama kendimize yükleyeceğimiz bu iyi niyetli misyonla hayatımıza anlam katabiliriz.
kitapta bahsedilen ise, varoluşumuzun amaçsız olamayacağı yönünde bir görüş. amacımız olduğuna dair bu görüşün kaynağının kesin bir tarifi yok ancak tamamen varsayımsal olarak bir üst akıl tarafından atanmış misyonumuz olması gerektiği düşünülüyor. yazar bu düşünceyi ise sözde bilimsel teorilerle ve bulgularla, ya da bilimsel teorilerin -süperuyum gibi- yanlış yorumlanmasıyla ispatlamak niyetinde bulunuyor. konuk yazarlar da bu görüşü olumlayacak şekilde tartışıyor. “the rider and the horse are one” lafını aklımıza getirebiliriz, ruh ve beden diye iki ayrı kavramın olmadığını temsil eden bu sözün hedefi; ruh diye ortaya konan bilincin, bedenimizin bir parçası olduğunu anlatmak. yazarın ve konuk yazarların ise ısrarla ruhani ayrı bir boyut olduğuna dair yaklaşımı bilimsellikten uzak.
tartışılan konulardan birine ise kısmen katılmam mümkün. tek bir hayatımız var ve bu yaşayacağımız hayatın niteliğini maksimize etmek için ortak bir çaba içerisinde olmamız gerekir. geleceğe miras olarak ölümsüz bir sanat eseri bırakmak herkese nasip olamayabilir, ancak yaşanabilir bir dünya bırakmamak için kendimizden başka bir engelimiz bulunmuyor. bugün ayasofya’ya, piramitlere, yıldızlı gece’ye bakarken duyulan hayranlığın; gelecek jenerasyonlar tarafından dünyanın iyi korunmuş doğasına bakarken de duyulmasını isteyebiliriz. hem yaşayacağımız hayatı güzelleştirecektir hem de iyi bir miras bırakmış oluruz. insanın dünyada bulunmasının ilahi bir amacı olmayabilir ama kendimize yükleyeceğimiz bu iyi niyetli misyonla hayatımıza anlam katabiliriz.
March 29, 2020
Really disappointing. I was looking forward to some robust complexity science but ended up with a guy that quotes Deepak Chopra. Surely the quintessential sign that this is poetry dressed up as science. He has written much better pieces elsewhere.
August 20, 2022
Some essays are better than others, but most are gems. Well worth a read, Laszlo is brilliant.
October 11, 2021
I don't understand why this needed to be said. Many people believe in unifying intelligence behind the universe already. And those who don't, won't change their minds based on reading this. My take away is a big "Huh!?" Most of the book is not written by Laszlo. It's written by others talking about what Laszlo said or is going to say. I don't understand why it was written. In that sense, it's a great mystery.
October 30, 2018
3.5 stars. These are things everyone should know by now so we can start the actual work.
February 7, 2019
Awesome read!
November 23, 2021
I didn't find everything interesting in the book. But the parts about companies and leadership where kind of cool.
September 28, 2019
In a word: tedious.
John R. Audette did have a useful chapter though. He mentioned http://Eternea.org, and that did have a lot of more-approachable material.
John R. Audette did have a useful chapter though. He mentioned http://Eternea.org, and that did have a lot of more-approachable material.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews