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Evolutionary Theory
An Esalen Invitational Conference
November 14-19, 1999
Co-sponsored by the Institute of Noetic Sciences
Conference Summary
Conference Summary by Frank Poletti
The discovery of evolution is the greatest advance in hominid intelligence in two million years. -- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin |
Year after year, in ever-greater detail, the story of our universe unfolds before us. From its birth as a tiny seed to the emergence of life to the appearance of humankind, the cosmos is increasingly revealed as a journey to higher levels of complexity and consciousness. This revelation forces us to ask, “Where is the universe headed? What is impelling its stupendous advance? What does the story of evolution tell us about our possibilities for further development?” Since the late nineteenth century, scientists, philosophers, and religious thinkers have worked to develop a comprehensive understanding of evolution that honors the established truths of science while extending evolutionary ideas into realms of higher human possibility.
To further this cross-disciplinary endeavor, the Esalen Institute’s Center for Theory and Research is sponsoring a series of conferences on evolutionary theory that embraces cosmic, biological, and human development. Our first meeting on this topic was in November 1999, and its intent was, as one participant put it, to “plant seeds” of inquiry that may sprout as our annual conferences continue. Because the topic encompasses such a broad spectrum of knowledge, the initial conference focused mostly on individual presentations, and left relatively little time for extended discussion during the formal sessions.
The presentations at the initial conference began in the realm of the physical and biological sciences, with presentations on cutting-edge theories regarding the origins of life and current cosmological theory. Next came presentations from the social sciences with an emphasis on developmental psychology and the history of cultural worldviews. Then followed a series of presentations addressing cross-cultural and religious perspectives on evolution. And lastly, there were a number of talks that addressed contemporary research into the more avant-garde topics of our day, such as the nature of consciousness, dream telepathy, fetal development, and supra-normal human capacities. Each presentation stands on its own, so readers with a specific interest can turn directly to that page, or the summary can be read directly through.
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