Mind in The Cosmos – Evolution of Consciousness – PHI 513

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Our culture’s dominant cosmology story describes a universe beginning with a big bang about 14 billion years ago—a cosmos without the slightest trace of mind or consciousness, made up entirely of objective physical stuff. According to this story, mind is a late-arrival on the cosmic scene, a mysterious by-product of complex brains. The rest of the cosmos, we are told, is a mindless display of galaxies and stars. In this course, we will open up to a different cosmology where cosmos and consciousness have coexisted all along. We will closely examine the mysterious relationship between mind and matter from the perspectives of four major worldviews—dualism, materialism, idealism, and panpsychism—and will focus on the “most likely” story that can account for mind in the cosmos. A key guide on our journey will be philosopher and mathematician Arthur M. Young, and his seven-stage model of the evolution of consciousness.

.

COURSE SESSIONS AND TOPICS

This course is divided into ten, one-hour sessions. The introductory session, Overview: Radical Nature – A Mind of Its Own? is presented in both audio and video format to better acquaint the student with the instructor.

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS COURSE

This course is designed to equip students with the basic concepts and distinctions for understanding the relationship between consciousness and the physical cosmos—using the tools of philosophy, science, and mysticism. The course also serves as an introduction to the evolution of consciousness detailed in the works of philosopher-scientist-mystic Arthur M. Young.Outcome 1:  Students will demonstrate in writing the ability to
understand and apply the “Philosopher’s Gift” of reason.

Outcome 2:  Students will demonstrate in writing the ability to
summarize and describe the four major worldviews of mind and matter.

Outcome 3:  Students will demonstrate in writing the ability to
discuss the role of science in studying consciousness.

Outcome 4:  Students will be able to identify and discuss
key challenges facing a “science of consciousness.”

Outcome 5:  Students will be able to discuss the question “
is consciousness a form of energy?”

Outcome 6:  Students will be able to identify and discuss
the “Scientist’s Gift” of the senses and method.

Outcome 7:  Students will be able to identify, compare and discuss
the four “gifts of knowing”—reason, senses, feeling and direct experience.

Outcome 8:  Students will be able to identify and discuss
the four levels and seven stages of Arthur Young’s
“Theory of Process” and “evolution of consciousness.”

Outcome 9:  Students will be able to recognize and discuss
differences between indigenous “preconquest” and modern industrial
“postconquest” modes of consciousness.

Outcome 10:  Students will be able to discuss the
involution and evolution of consciousness.

.

PROFESSOR

Christian de Quincey, Ph.D. – Philosophy and Religion, California Institute of Integral Studies. Professor of Philosophy and Consciousness Studies, John F. Kennedy University; and Dean of Consciousness Studies at University of Philosophical Research. Author: Radical Nature: The Soul of Matter; Radical Knowing: Understanding Consciousness through Relationship; Deep Spirit: Cracking the Noetic Code, and Consciousness from Zombies to Angels. His work is featured at www.ChristiandeQuincey.com

.…………………………………………………………………………………………………