Ervin László (born 1932 in Budapest, Hungary) is a Hungarian philosopher of science, systems theorist, integral theorist, originally a classical pianist. He has published about 75 books and over 400 papers, and is editor of World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution. Currently, he is a promoter of the theory that 2012 will either be the collapse of human civilization or the beginning of a new, quantum consciousness.[1] He has recorded several piano concertos.
Life
László, son of a shoe manufacturer and a mother, who played the
piano, started playing the piano when he was five years old, and gave
his first piano concert with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra at the age
of nine. At the end of the war he came to the United States.[2]
László married Carita Jägerhorn af Spurila 16 November 1956. One of their two sons is Alexander Laszlo.
Work
In 1984, he was co-founder with Béla H. Bánáthy, Riane Eisler, John Corliss, Francisco Varela, Vilmos Csanyi, Gyorgy Kampis, David Loye, Jonathan Schull and Eric Chaisson of the initially secret General Evolutionary Research Group.[3][4] Meeting behind the Iron Curtain,
the group of scientists and thinkers from a variety of disciplines met
in secret. Given the mounting threat to the human species caused by
rapid proliferation of nuclear weapons and potential overkill, their
goal was to explore whether it might be possible to use the chaos theory to identify a new general theory of evolution that might serve as a path to a better world.
In 1993, in response to his experience with the Club of Rome, he founded the Club of Budapest
to, in his words, "centre attention on the evolution of human values
and consciousness as the crucial factors in changing course — from a
race towards degradation, polarization and disaster to a rethinking of
values and priorities so as to navigate today's transformation in the
direction of humanism, ethics and global sustainability".[5]
In an essay, Stan Grof compared László's work to that of Ken Wilber,
saying "Where Wilber outlined what an integral theory of everything
should look like, Laszlo actually created one."[6] Jennifer Gidley, President of the World Futures Studies Federation, is a researcher in the areas of futures studies, integral theory and spiritual evolution, which she refers to as evolution of consciousness. In an in-depth study of integral theorists she made the following claim:
A major distinction appears to be that László (2007)[7]
builds his general evolution theory in a more formal, systematic
manner. He claims that he built significantly on the theoretical
traditions of Whitehead’s process theory, Bertalanffy’s general system
theory and Prigogine’s non-linearly bifurcating dissipative structures
(p. 164). Wilber’s
process appears to have been much broader and more diverse—but perhaps
less systematic—gathering together as many theorists in as many fields
of knowledge as he could imagine, then arranging them according to the
system that he developed—which he calls an integral operating system
(Wilber, 2004).[8]
Another difference is that although they both appear to use imagination
and intuition in the construction of their theoretical approaches,
Wilber does not make this explicit whereas László (2007, p. 162) does.[9]
Ervin Laszlo is a Visiting Faculty member at The Graduate Institute Bethany.
Akashic Field Theory
His 2004 book, Science and the Akashic Field: An Integral Theory of Everything posits a field of information as the substance of the cosmos. Using the Sanskrit and Vedic term for "space", Akasha, he calls this information field the "Akashic field" or "A-field". He posits that the "quantum vacuum" (see Vacuum state)
is the fundamental energy and information-carrying field that informs
not just the current universe, but all universes past and present
(collectively, the "Metaverse").
László describes how such an informational field can explain why our universe appears to be fine-tuned as to form galaxies and conscious lifeforms; and why evolution is an informed, not random, process. He believes that the hypothesis solves several problems that emerge from quantum physics, especially nonlocality and quantum entanglement.
Gidley's research also discusses László's Akashic Field theory,
including a three page hermeneutic analysis of his theory compared to
the similar theories a century ago of Rudolf Steiner.
Some of the terms Steiner used to characterize his spiritual-scientific methodology, such as cosmic memory and Akashic record, are currently being reintroduced into the scientific discourse by László...[10]
Macroshift Theory
László stated in his book You Can Change the World that there is global choice for the coming world crisis, which could come in the form of a global breakdown centred on increasing fragmentation of economic inequality and a new arms race between rising powers. The other choice would be a global breakthrough led by international organizations. This would be by the linking of non-government organizations promoting sustainable development, using the internet.[11]
A Macroshift is defined as a popular movement to turn the tide from a
global breakdown to a global breakthrough. László sees the years
2012-2020 as a critical period to change course as the coming crisis is
taking shape in geopolitical current.
Global shift University
His latest project involves creating a university based on integral
teaching over the internet offering a Graduate Program. Its goal is
creating change accelerators which he defines as coalescing agents for
social action and cultural awareness.
Autobiography
László is writing an autobiography entitled Simply Genius!: Tales from my Life in Music, Science, and Global Renewal, which has been sold to Hay House Publishers and is to be released in June 2011.[12]
Honors
In 2002, László received honorary doctorate[13] from the University of Pécs. Ervin László participated in the Stock Exchange of Visions project in 2006. In 2010, Laszlo was elected an external member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
In Hungary, the minister of environment appointed Laszlo as one of the leaders of the ministry's campaign concerning global warming.[14]
Publications
- Recent works, a selection
- The Systems View of the World: A Holistic Vision for Our Time (Hampton Press, 1996)
- The Whispering Pond: A Personal Guide to the Emerging Vision of Science (Element Books, Ltd., 1996)
- Evolution: The General Theory (Hampton Press, 1996)
- The Connectivity Hypothesis: Foundations of an Integral Science of Quantum, Cosmos, Life, and Consciousness (State University of New York Press, 2003)
- You Can Change the World: The Global Citizen's Handbook for Living on Planet Earth: A Report of the Club of Budapest (Select Books, 2003)
- Science and the Akashic Field: An Integral Theory of Everything (Inner Traditions International, 2004)
- Science and the Reenchantment of the Cosmos : The Rise of the Integral Vision of Reality (Inner Traditions, 2006)
- The Chaos Point: The World at the Crossroads (Hampton Roads, 2006)
- Quantum Shift in the Global Brain: How the New Scientific Reality Can Change Us and our World [Rochester VT: Inner Traditions, 2008]
- WorldShift 2012: Making Green Business New Politics & Higher Consciousness Work Together (McArthur & Company, 2009)
References
- ^ Cosmic Symphony: A Deeper Look at Quantum Consciousness
- ^ Article "Hungarian prodigy" in: LIFE 24 mei 1948. p.132-134.
- ^ Bela H. Bánáthy (2002-06). "Autoiography: Béla H. Bánáthy". http://www.whitestag.org/history/founders/bio_bela.html. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- ^ "The General Evolution Research Group". http://www.thedarwinproject.com/gerg/gerg.html. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ László, Ervin (2004). Science and the Akashic Field: An Integral Theory of Everything. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions. pp. 176.
- ^ Grof, "A Brief History of Transpersonal Psychology", 14
- ^ László, E. (2007). Science and the Akashic Field: An integral theory of everything. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions.
- ^ Wilber, K. (2004). Introduction to integral theory and practice: IOS basic and the AQAL map. Retrieved January 5, 2005, from http://www.integralnaked.org
- ^ Gidley, J. The Evolution of Consciousness as a Planetary Imperative: An Integration of Integral Views, Integral Review: A Transdisciplinary and Transcultural Journal for New Thought, Research and Praxis, 2007, Issue 5, p. 18.]
- ^ Gidley, J. The Evolution of Consciousness as a Planetary Imperative: An Integration of Integral Views, Integral Review: A Transdisciplinary and Transcultural Journal for New Thought, Research and Praxis, 2007, Issue 5, pp. 29-31.]
- ^ "You Can Change the World" By Ervin Laszlo, Contributor Mikhail Gorbachev, SelectBooks, Inc., 2004, ISBN 159079057X, pg. 14-16
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Minister Imre Szabó asks Ervin László to participate in the campaign against climate change, July 25, 2008
External links
