Modern knowledge of philosophy, psychology, psychotherapy needs to be revised. So says the author of numerous books and scientific articles Ken Wilber. Spiritual evolution, the sphere of the unknown, the development of consciousness, mysticism and ecology are only a small part of the interests of the modern writer.
Who is Wilber?
Full name - Kenneth Earl Wilber II - American philosopher, writer and publicist, theorist of transpersonal psychology. In the US, he is the most translated academic author. In the works of the modern thinker, the topics of consciousness and religion are touched upon. A feature of Ken Wilber's work is the use of an integral approach to scientific knowledge.
Combining modern Western ideas with the past of the East, he tried to take a fresh look at the way people perceive the world around them. Considering the role of religion in modern society, he gave preference to oriental literature. Realizing the inferiority of modern knowledge in the field of human sciences, the writer delved into an integral approach to research. It requires knowledge from different areas, which is correct in a certain context.
Biography. Childhood and youth
Ken Wilber was born on January 31, 1949 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His father was a military pilot, so the family had to constantly move. At school, he was an accomplished student and leader - he was elected several times as class president and chairman of the school committee. He was easily given tasks that required a lot of mental effort.
Wilber Ken also made outstanding progress in sports. He was fond of football, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball and athletics. The future philosopher was in the center of attention 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 move again - to Lincoln, Nebraska. The future philosopher Ken Wilber, whose biography has many unexpected twists, has always remained true to his ideas.
After high 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. With a graduate scholarship, Wilbur Ken focused on writing after dropping out.
Inspired by Eastern literature, in particular the teachings of the Tao Te Ching, he began to develop an integral approach to the scientific study of man.
Private life
In 1972 KenMet Emmy Wagner. The wedding took place soon after. During this time, he made money by teaching. A few years later, the philosopher devotes all his time to writing books. To support himself, he takes a low-paying job (as a dishwasher).
In 1981, Ken divorces Emmy and plunges headlong into work on Revision magazine. He moves to Cambridge. After 2 years, he meets his future wife Terri Killem. Soon she is diagnosed with breast cancer, and the writer has been caring for a loved one for 3 years. He practically stopped writing from 1984 to 1987.
Moving to Boulder, Colorado, Wilber K. and Killem T. settle down near Naropa Buddhist University. In 1989, the wife of the great philosopher dies. Ken describes their experience 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 completes his first work, The Spectrum of Consciousness. In it, he made an attempt to integrate the psychological schools of the West and the East. Many publishers refused to publish the author due to the complexity of the material. Only 4 years later, Ken's work is published by the Theosophical publishing house Quest Books.
In the book, Wilber identifies 5 levels on the spectrum of consciousness:
- The level of the mind. According to the eternalphilosophy, it is the only real level of consciousness. He grants a person the erasure of all boundaries. The mind is capable of reflecting both the universe of material things and the world of concepts.
- Transpersonal bands. In this supra-individual region of the spectrum, a person transcends the individual organism.
- Existential level. Man associates himself with the psychophysical organism. He understands his isolation from the outside world. Awareness of one's difference from other organisms and the environment helps to separate oneself from the usual ideas about reality.
- Ego level. A person draws an image of himself with the help of imagination and identifies with it.
- Shadow level. The individual defines himself as part of the ego image. 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 Revision magazine. The publication discusses a new scientific paradigm for the development of transpersonal psychology.
Since 1983, the researcher begins to harshly criticize the provisions of transpersonal psychology. It indicates 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 post-metaphysics, as well as integral methodological pluralism.
Recent 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 publishes the work "Integral Spirituality". In it, the author presents an integral approach to spirituality.
The writer is currently working on the New Eternal Philosophy project. It combines traditional mysticism and the theory of cosmic evolution. In the concept of "cosmos" Wilber includes spiritual, physicalistic and noetic ideas. He addresses both the achievements of modern metaphysics and the theory of Zen Buddhism.
Ken Wilber's broad professional interests and original philosophies make him the most inclusive philosopher of our time.
Religious beliefs
Ken practiced Buddhist meditation techniques for a while. He was also deeply involved in the teachings of Madhamika and Nagaryun. Ken's fascination with oriental literature stimulated his interest in religion.
In Integral Spirituality, Ken Wilber sets out in the simplest possible way the issues related to the role of science, religion and spirituality in modern society. He points to the importance of meditation practices, Eastern and Western views of religion. Ken Wilber adapted the views of the past to the modern reality.
The book is intended for people interested in modern trends in psychology and philosophy. It combines the enlightenment path of the East with the cultivated ideas of the West. According to the author, eachthese areas of knowledge contributes to the creation of a holistic picture of the world and spirituality in it.
"If you don't make friends with Freud, it will be harder for you to get to the Buddha," says the philosopher.
Wilber Ken: criticism
Wilber's integral approach is nothing more than a meta-criticism of the major currents of modern scientific thought. It was accepted by many scientists without much cordiality. For example, Hans Willy Weiss claims that Wilber's system is closed and his synthetic approach is absurd. He adds his commentary to one of the author's works: “Metaphysics and science cannot intersect. The scientific proof of God is in itself untenable.”
Wilber Ken himself, whose quotes are quite common among people far from science, is considered a serious philosopher in academic circles.
Ukrainian philosopher Sergei Datsyuk writes that the 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. Achieving 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 cogitational 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 works, they began a new period in their lives. Someone considers his books a guide to action. Reviews on forums dedicated to Wilber's books are presentedpositive, often emotionally charged statements.
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 the undoubted advantages of the writer's works. As grateful readers note, the works of the famous philosopher help to change the perception of a person, improving and expanding it.
Philosopher quotes
Many of the American philosopher's catchphrases are taken from No Limits and A Brief History of Everything. For example, he writes that a person acquires a deeper understanding of the realities of life through suffering. This way he becomes more alive, says Ken Wilber. Love quotes are featured in Grace and Fortitude.
In the work "No Limits" the author notes that every thing is only an abstract boundary of experience. An interesting statement regarding the human environment. Nature, according to Ken, is much smarter than we might think. Hatred of other people is born in contempt for 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.
Interesting facts
To hone his writing skills, Ken rewrote all the writings of Alan Watts by hand. Despite sociability and an active social position, in adolescencemany acquaintances considered him withdrawn and unsociable.
The greatest philosopher and writer of our time, the author of many popular books, Wilber Ken, combined almost incompatible ideas of the past and the present. He became a guiding light for those who want to change their lives for the better.
