Modern knowledge of philosophy, psychology, psychotherapy needs to be reviewed. So says the author of many books and scientific articles Ken Wilber. Spiritual evolution, the sphere of the unknown, the development of consciousness, mysticism and ecology are just a small part of the interests of a modern writer.
Who is Wilber?
Full name - Kenneth Earl Wilber II - American philosopher, writer and publicist, theorist of transpersonal psychology. In the United States, he is the most translated academic author. The works of the modern thinker touch upon the themes of consciousness and religion. A feature of Ken Wilber's work is the use of an integrated approach to scientific knowledge.
Combining modern Western ideas with the past of the East, he tried to take a fresh look at a person’s perception of the world around him. Considering the role of religion in modern society, he preferred oriental literature. Understanding the inferiority of modern knowledge in the field of sciences that study man, the writer delved into an integrated approach to research. It requires knowledge from various fields that are correct in a specific context.
Biography. Childhood and youth
Ken Wilber was born on January 31, 1949 in the city of Oklahoma City (Oklahoma). His father was a military pilot, so the family had to constantly move. At school, he was a successful student and leader - he was elected several times by the head of the class and the chairman of the school committee. He was easily given tasks that required great mental stress.
Wilber Ken made outstanding success in sports. He was interested in soccer, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball and athletics. The future philosopher was the focus of his peers. As he himself mentions, in childhood he was distinguished by sociability and high activity.
The future philosopher was interested in medicine and wanted to know the possibilities of science. When he graduated from high school, he was destined to relocate again to Lincoln, Nebraska. The future philosopher Ken Wilber, whose biography has many unexpected twists, has always remained true to his ideas.
After school, he entered Duke University (Durham, North Carolina), where he studied medicine. Almost immediately, he transferred back to Nebraska to study biochemistry. Now he knew exactly what he was interested in - psychology, philosophy, mysticism. After receiving a scholarship after graduate education, Wilber Ken focused on writing, dropping out of school.
Inspired by oriental literature, in particular the teachings of Tao De Jing, he began to develop an integrated approach to the scientific study of man.
Personal life
In 1972, Ken met with Emmy Wagner. Soon the wedding took place. At this time, he earned teaching. A few years later, the philosopher devotes all his time to writing books. To provide himself with food, he gets a low-paying job (dishwasher).
In 1981, Ken divorced Emmy and left headlong to work on Revolution Magazine. He moves to Cambridge. After 2 years, he meets his future wife Terry Kill. Soon she is diagnosed with breast cancer, and the writer has been caring for her loved one for 3 years. He practically stops writing from 1984 to 1987.
Having moved to Boulder (Colorado), Wilber K. and Killem T. settle near the Buddhist University of Naropa. In 1989, the wife of the great philosopher dies. Ken describes their experiences together in Grace and Fortitude.
In it, the writer comments on various approaches to the disease and treatment, considers issues of male and female, sheds light on the possibility of achieving harmony through suffering and humility.
Books
In 1973, Ken Wilber completed his first work, Spectrum of Consciousness. In it, he attempted to integrate the psychological schools of the West and the East. Many publishers refused to publish the author because of the complexity of the material. Only 4 years later, Ken's work is published by Theosophical Publishing House Quest Books.
In the book, Wilber identifies 5 levels in the spectrum of consciousness:
- Level of mind. According to eternal philosophy, it is the only real level of consciousness. He gives man the erasure of all boundaries. The mind is capable of reflecting both the universe of material things and the world of concepts.
- Transpersonal stripes. In this superindividual region of the spectrum, a person goes beyond the limits of an individual organism.
- Existential level. A person associates himself with a psychophysical organism. He understands his isolation from the world. Awareness of their difference from other organisms and the environment helps to distinguish oneself from the usual notions of reality.
- Ego level. A man with the help of imagination draws an image of himself and identifies with him.
- Shadow level. The individual defines himself as part of the image of the ego. A misconception about one’s own essence is not fully reflected.
The publication of the book brought Wilber recognition in academia. At the same time, he became the editor-in-chief of the magazine "Revision". The publication discusses a new scientific paradigm for the development of transpersonal psychology.
Since 1983, the researcher begins to severely criticize the provisions of transpersonal psychology. He points to low standards. Serious work after a long break will be “Sex, Ecology, Spirituality” (1995). By the end of the 90s, he is a co-founder of the Integral Institute. The author's later works concern the concept of integral postmetaphysics, as well as integral methodological pluralism.
The latest published works of the writer include:
- Eye of the Spirit (1997).
- "The Wedding of Meaning and Soul: The Integration of Science and Religion" (1998).
- "One taste" (1999).
- The Theory of Everything (2000).
In 2006, the researcher published the work "Integral Spirituality." In it, the author presents an integrated approach to spirituality.
Currently, the writer is working on the project “New Eternal Philosophy”. It combines traditional mysticism and the theory of cosmic evolution. In the concept of "cosmos" Wilber includes spiritual, physicalist and noetic ideas. He turns both to the achievements of modern metaphysics and to the theory of Zen Buddhism.
Wide professional interests and original philosophical views make Ken Wilber the most comprehensive philosopher of our time.
Religious beliefs
For some time Ken practiced the methods of Buddhist meditation. He also deeply engaged in the teachings of Madhamik and Nagaryun. Ken's fascination with oriental literature stimulated his interest in religion.
In the book "Integral Spirituality, " Ken Wilber most simply poses issues related to the role of science, religion and spirituality in modern society. He points to the importance of meditative practices, eastern and western views on religion. Ken Wilber adapted the views of the past to modern reality.
The book is intended for people interested in modern trends in psychology and philosophy. It combines the path of enlightenment of the East with cultivated ideas of the West. According to the author, each of these areas of knowledge contributes to the creation of a holistic picture of the world and spirituality in it.
"If you are not friends with Freud, it will be harder for you to get to the Buddha, " says the philosopher.
Wilber Ken: Criticism
Wilber's integrated approach is nothing more than a metacritic of the main directions of modern scientific thought. Many scientists accepted it without much cordiality. For example, Hans Willy Weiss claims that Wilber's system is closed, and his synthetic approach is absurd. To one of the author’s works, he adds his comment: “Metaphysics and science cannot intersect. The scientific evidence of God alone is untenable. ”
Wilber Ken himself, whose quotes are quite common among people far from science, is considered a serious philosopher in academic circles.
Ukrainian philosopher Sergey Datsyuk writes that an American researcher does not distinguish between the concepts of Western and Eastern traditions. He criticizes the possibility of combining these completely incompatible ways of thinking. The achievement of a union, as Datsyuk says, is possible only in the case of a split consciousness, the presence of a double language of understanding, which is a sign of cognitive schizophrenia (the process of destruction of consciousness).
Ken Wilber: reviews
Today, Ken Wilber's books have been translated into more than 30 languages. The author is very popular with Russian readers. Many say that after reading his writings, they began a new period in life. Someone considers his books a guide to action. The reviews on the Wilber books forums are presented with positive, often emotionally colored sayings.
Describing many psychological problems of our time, Ken was able to convince the reader of the need to synthesize disparate knowledge and use previously unknown resources of consciousness. Clear language and logical presentation are undoubted advantages of the writer's works. As grateful readers note, the work of a famous philosopher helps to change a person’s perception, improving and expanding it.
Philosopher Quotes
Many of the catchphrases of the American philosopher are taken from the books “No Borders” and “A Brief History of Everything”. For example, he writes that a person acquires a deeper understanding of life realities through suffering. In this way, he becomes more alive, says Ken Wilber. Quotes about love are presented in the book Grace and Fortitude.
In the work “No Borders”, the author notes that every thing is only an abstract border of experience. An interesting statement is made regarding the human environment. Nature, according to Ken, is much smarter than we can think. Hatred of other people is born in contempt of one’s own qualities. We look at a person and see not him, our (reflected) shortcomings. These quotes are not only a means of self-improvement, but also a more complete understanding of the world.
