by Duane Elgin
In the history of the collective, as in the history of the individual, everything depends on the development of consciousness - Carl Jung
The universe is creating self-organizing and self-referencing systems at every scale. In accord with this dynamic, the human family is working to become consciously self-organizing at progressively larger scales. We have evolved from awakening hunter-gatherers to a species that has created a wired world whose actions are changing the face of the planet. Because the impact of humanity is now global, that is the scale at which we are challenged to become reflective if we are to be choiceful about our common future. We are challenged to no longer "run on automatic" but to pay attention to how we pay attention as entire civilizations.
The vehicle of collective attention at a civilizational scale is the mass media - particularly broadcast television. If civilizations are to realize their potential for full reflective consciousness and become self-guiding in their evolution, then it is vital for the public to mobilize the public airwaves on behalf of the public interest.
How we use our tools of mass communication is not just another issue; it is the basis for understanding and responding to all issues. With mass communication we can achieve the level of mass social reflection and cooperation needed to adapt our manner of living to the new global realities.
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Our scientific name as a species is homo sapiens sapiens, or doubly wise humans. Where animals have the capacity to know, we humans have the capacity to know that we know and the ability to bring a reflective consciousness into our lives. If we use our scientific name as a guide, then our core purpose as a species is to realize - both individually and collectively - our potential for double wisdom.
Developing our capacity for reflective consciousness, both personally and socially, is a paramount evolutionary challenge. How, then, are we to begin thinking about the qualities of consciousness of entire civilizations?
For some ideas on that, click here or on title
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Duane Elgin is an internationally recognized speaker, author and social visionary who looks beneath the surface turbulence of our times to explore the deeper trends that are transforming our world.
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