The Emergence of a Second Renaissance:
This essay relates the work of the u3a “Science, Philosophy, and Spirituality” group, to the currents of thought that are leading some people to claim that we are entering a “Second Renaissance”.
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Issue: Philosophy
The Universality of Mystical Experience: Knowledge, Ignorance, and the Maps We Use to Navigate Reality
The universality of mystical experience reveals that there are multiple paths to the same destination—a direct encounter with the ultimate reality that transcends knowledge and ignorance. Both knowledge and ignorance serve as doorways to this experience, guiding the seeker toward a state of non-dual awareness where conventional distinctions fall away.
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A New Era of Thought: Reassessing the Enlightenment for a Holistic Future
Our world is facing challenges that Enlightenment-era thinking, with its emphasis on rationality, individualism, and reductionism, seems increasingly ill-equipped to address. In response, a growing movement of thinkers is advocating for a more holistic, integrative approach that transcends the limitations of purely materialistic and individualistic perspectives.
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Viewing Human Nature Through the Lens of Complexity Science, Cultural Evolution, and Strange Loops
An exploration the concept of autopoiesis, complexity science, and the idea of ‘strange loops’ to provide a more dynamic and realistic view of human nature and organizational behaviour. Implications for the practice of managing projects.
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Understanding Strange Loops: Unravelling Life’s Paradoxical Patterns
Have you ever felt caught in a situation where every possible escape route circles back to where you started? Or encountered a concept that seems to twist back on itself, creating a paradox that defies straightforward explanation? These are the hallmarks of what philosopher Douglas Hofstadter calls a “strange loop.”
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