Human Consciousness and Its Evolution: A Multidimensional View - Softcover

Coan, Richard W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1481736264 ISBN 13: 9781481736268

Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2013

Synopsis

How has human consciousness evolved from its primitive origins, and what course will it take in the future? How should it develop in an individual from infancy and through childhood and the adult years? Such questions have been the focus of many writers and many religious and philosophical traditions, both Eastern and Western. Most writers and traditions conceive of psychic evolution in terms of one universal pattern, and the evolutionary goal considered by a given writer or tradition may be one of rationality, love, or transcendence of one's individual separateness. The author contends that we may conceptualize the goal of psychic evolution in terms of any of five different modes of fulfillment. We can recognize higher and lower levels of attainment in each of these modes. Whatever mode an individual emphasizes, it is easy to recognize a value in having access to other modes. In the author's view, we need to recognize alternative pathways of psychic evolution. The pathways will differ with respect to the modes that are emphasized and the nature of the interplay of different modes.

About this title

About the Author

Richard W. Coan is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology. As a Professor at the University of Arizona, he specialized in personality theory and did research with both children and adults. Throughout his life, he has pursued interests in Jungian theory, the psychology of religion, Eastern thought, mythology, and archetypal symbolism. In addition to writings in psychology, he has composed music and written poetry and novels.

Review

This ambitious book by author Richard W. Coan aims to develop a cohesive theory of human consciousness.
The author gives detailed presentations on theories articulated by a wide swath of thinkers, including Aristotle, Augustine, Darwin, Freud, plus Eastern traditions, including Hinduism and Buddhism.
Coan presents all of these thought systems as representing valid paths towards fulfillment and synthesizes these into five distinct "modes."  Despite great variations between these schools of thought, Coan maintains that flexibility will lead to a global sense of unity.
-Blue Ink review

This engaging, entertaining survey uses many voices to peak at the future mind of humanity.

"Most of the conspicuous views on the evolution of consciousness appear to be alike in one respect.  They are basically unidimensional theories."  Richard W. Coan, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Arizona, has compiled his own "multidimensional view."
--ForeWord Reviews

Coan contends that most views of human consciousness and its evolution have been based on "unidimensional" theories, which focus on only one mode and one common goal.  The time has come, he writes, to give greater consideration to a multimensional view, in which there are numerous pathways to a "a number of possible goals in the evolutionary process."
--Kirkus Reviews

Edition details

• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1481736264
• ISBN 13: 9781481736268
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 308