Evolutionaries

June 18, 2012
Evolution is universal in this masterful survey by Phipps of the diverse ideas that make up the emerging field of Integral thought. By presenting “culture, consciousness, and the cosmos” as dynamic and interrelated areas of expansion, mind and matter alike are viewed as part of “a vast process of becoming.” The aim is to incorporate science and faith by broadening the definition and scope of what evolution is understood to be. While concepts like transhumanism, complexity science, spiral dynamics, and the noosphere will be new to many readers, Phipps, EnlightenNext editor, explains them thoroughly and makes a strong case for their legitimacy. In the process, the lives of several theorists—from 20th century sages such as Teilhard de Chardin and Sri Aurobindo to contemporary intellectuals like Ken Wilber and Andrew Cohen—are examined. These “evolutionaries” are shown to possess a worldview that is optimistic yet realistic, both rational and spiritual. The author, too, appears to share this mindset. His writing projects a palpable sense of positivity and excitement for what is to come. Agent: Natasha Kern.

May 15, 2012
Debut author Phipps offers a challenging reexamination of the connection between the "evolutionary dynamics of the universe and the very being of the divine." As the executive editor of the magazine EnlightenNext, the author has kept abreast of leading trends in modern science, theology and philosophy, and he denies that there is an inherent contradiction between science and religion. Phipps has coined the word "evolutionaries" to describe a group of scientists, futurists, sociologists, psychologists, philosophers and theologians who share an "evolutionary vision and a care for our collective future." He cites writings of the Jesuit anthropologist priest Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) as exemplary of those who seek inspiration from the past but are not bound by a fixed system of beliefs. Phipps is also sharply critical of environmentalists who deny the unique position of man as the highest expression of creation. He suggests that the chaos bred by rapidly changing environments creates the potential for evolution, whether of species or in the realm of culture, and he compares the "rough and tumble world of globalization in the twenty-first century [to] the dynamics at play in Earth's prebiotic soup billions of years ago." Both are chaotic environments that foster evolutionary transformation by bringing natural selection into play. At the same time, Phipps believes that evolution is not a random process; rather, it embodies directionality and purpose. "Might we in some way represent the feedback loop for the universe itself," he asks, "fulfilling the next stage in our development...[and] creating the next novel stage of cosmogenesis?" Phipps interviews a number of physicists, futurologists working in artificial intelligence, and cognitive psychologists seeking an explanation for consciousness. Thoughtful and provocative.

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