Synopses & Reviews
20/09/2010
Synopsis
A 1901 study of development and evolution of consciousness; a historical trend culminating in individuals of the highest intellectual capability.
Synopsis
Bucke's account (1901) of his research and contemplation on the trend towards heightened intellectual awareness in man, through evolution, explaining his theory of the three stages of conscious development that culminate in flashes of understanding of the life and order of the cosmos, illustrated by his own and others' experiences.
Table of Contents
Dedication; Notice; List of books quoted; Table of contents; Part I. First Words; Part II. Evolution and Devolution: 1. To self consciousness; 2. On the plane of self consciousness; 3. Devolution; Part III. From Self to Cosmic Consciousness; Part IV. Instances of Cosmic Consciousness: 1. Gautuma the Buddha; 2. Jesus the Christ; 3. Paul; 4. Plotinus; 5. Mohammed; 6. Dante; 7. Las Casas; 8. John Yepes; 9. Francis Bacon; 10. Jacob Behmen; 11. William Blake; 12. Honoré de Balzac; 13. Walt Whitman; 14. Edward Carpenter; Part V. Additional - Some of Them Lesser, Imperfect, and Doubtful Instances: 1. The twilight; 2. Moses; 3. Gideon; 4. Isaiah; 5. Li R; 6. Socrates; 7. Roger Bacon; 8. Pascal; 9. Benedict Spinoza; 10. James Gardiner; 11. Swedenborg; 12. William Wordsworth; 13. Charles G. Finney; 14. Alexander Pushkin; 15. Emerson; 16. Tennyson; 17. J. B. B.; 18. H. D. Thoreau; 19. J. B.; 20. C. P.; 21. H. B.; 22. R. P. S.; 23. E. T.; 24. Ramakrisana Paramahansa; 25. J. H. J.; 26. T. S. R.; 27. W. H. W.; 28. Richard Jefferies; 29. C. M. C.; 30. M. C. L.; 31. J. W. W.; 32. J. William Lloyd; 33. Horace Traubel; 34. Paul Tyner; 35. C. Y. E.; 36. A. J. S.; Part VI. Last Words.