The Creative Cosmos: A Unified Science of Matter, Life and Mind [Hardcover]

Ervin Laszlo (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0863151728 | ISBN-13: 978-0863151729 | Publication Date: April 1996

The world's foremost systems philosopher, Ervin Laszlo draws on a vast and unique range of knowledge and experience to present a theory which challenges our very understanding of reality itself. Laszlo starts by asking the question, one long avoided by conventional science: how is it that the universe defies our current understanding of fundamental physical laws, demonstrating natural order and convergence rather than disorder and divergence? Searching for the 'missing factor', Laszlo explores the persistent anomolies in quantum physics, evolution, mind and consciousness, and leads us towards a fascinating new hypothesis. At the heart of his theory, Laszlo proposes a universal psi-field underlying and interconnecting all of matter. Like waves on a cosmic ocean, the whole of reality rests upon an infinite and subtle medium from which all proceeds and to which all returns. He examines the probable nature and workings of this medium and comes to the challenging conclusion that we exist in an intrinsically creative cosmos which preserves and renews the imprint of all that is and ever was. Laszlo's revolutionay thesis pushes back the boundaries of metaphysics, poses fundamental questions to both natural and social sciences, and frames the debate between religion and science in a dramatically altered perspective. Written in a clear and accessible style, The Creative Cosmos makes vital reading for not only the professional involved but all those searching to understand the emerging paradigms for the interdisciplinary science of the approaching millennium.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Considered the world's foremost exponent of systems philosophy and general evolution theory, Ervin Laszlo is the author of over fifty books, many of them published internationally as foreign editions. His degrees and awards include the Doctorates-Lettres et Sciences Humaines of the Sorbonne, Paris, and an honorary doctorate in Human Sciences from the Saybrook Institute of San Francisco. Lazlo is a member of the Club of Rome, and the International Academy of Science. He is currently Rector of the Frankfurt Academy for Evolutionary Management and Advanced Studies, and Science Advisor to the Director-General of UNESCO. His published work includes Goals for Mankind, and The Choice: Evolution or Extinction in the Twenty-first Century (1993).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 255 pages
• Publisher: Floris Books (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0863151728
• ISBN-13: 978-0863151729
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,243,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ervin Laszlo, twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, is editor of the international periodical World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution and Chancellor-Designate of the newly formed GlobalShift University. He is the founder and president of the international think tanks the Club of Budapest and the General Evolution Research Group and the author of 83 books translated into 21 languages. He lives in Italy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The meaning of life is not "42", August 1, 2001

By 

"andy_pizza" (Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Creative Cosmos: A Unified Science of Matter, Life and Mind (Hardcover)

Well where do you start when trying to communicate and theorize on something as 'the theory of everything' ? It is a difficult book to read as the concepts are truly mind-boggling, but nevertheless Laszlo draws the reader along to startling conclusions, yes, occasionally going up various side streets, but for a clear purpose, to try and explain, by way of various examples from established scientific principles as well as other emerging ones. If you are searching for the meaning of life, and not quite convinced that it is the number "42" (as per Monty Python), then this book is a must to read. Don't rush it, re-read pages or whole chapters if you are struggling with the concepts. Also think about this: if it were all that easily explainable, then somebody would have explained it a long time ago...yet no-one has been able to, until Laszlo gives it the best try yet. When you finish the book, you will be left with a certain warm cosy feeling that you truly have gained some special insight into creation, the universe, an all. Truly revealing, and a real milestone book - but not for the ordinary Janet or John, that is most of the inhabitants of the USA or England. Not the opium of the masses. Thank goodness for that. Thank Laszlo for that.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Failed attempt, June 2, 2009

By 

Rosatto (Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Creative Cosmos: A Unified Science of Matter, Life and Mind (Hardcover)

The title and subtitle of the book are very appealing, but the contents are rather stupid.

The author launches the hypothesis that a "psi" field of "virtual energy" interacts with the "normal", "observable" fields. This "psi" field has some interesting qualities (similar to classical ether) that explain some weird quantum phenomena. From what I have heard and read in passing, this sounds similar to the ideas defended by the Tesla fanatics (with all respect) and other fringe-scientists (again, with respect to the fringe-people). I may be wrong.

So far so good.

The real problem and the miserable failure comes when Mr. Laszlo tries to use this hypothetical field to explain what he calls "mysteries" of life and consciousness. First, many of his "mysteries" are not so, and his presentation is unashamedly tendentious. Secondly, his hypothesis does not really explain anything, since he does not give us the mechanism by which "interacting" with electromagnetic fields and "recording" their "fourier transforms" in an "holographic matrix" (which could be _kind of_ contemplated at the quantum level) help an embryo grow into the precise shape of an infant or help us bring to our consciousness images of our own past (long term memory). He describes a "3n dimensions" "virtual" field which works at the quantum level, and then in the next chapter we have to accept that this "psi" field is working also at the macroscopic level, being able to (magically?) store information about different biological species separately, and allowing the extremely focused retrieval of such information by a growing embryo.
He follows the same path in his explanation of telepathy, memories of past lifes, etc.

I am sorry, but there is a huge difference between "recording" the trajectory of a particle and storing the complexities of people's bodies, and using the same mechanisms, even if "3n dimensional", is not believable.

By the way, his explanation of the "double slit" and EPR experiments is the worst I have ever encountered.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not as successful as his other books, January 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Creative Cosmos: A Unified Science of Matter, Life and Mind (Hardcover)

This was Laszlo's attempt to do what no one has done before him -- and, alas, he doesn't come anywhere near to pulling it off. The academic grounding that Laszlo tries here to create makes for too many contorted kinds of arguments. The author points to all the right issues, and he goes at them in ways that might, under another pen, have produced some startling breakthoughs in thought. But Laszlo is not the one to take this on. For those who still hjunger for a grand synthesis of all things -- human and cosmic - I suggest turning instead to someone like Ken Wilber, or -- if you have a few months of non-stop reading time -- to the colletced works of Alice A. Bailey.

I do give him an "A" for effort, however.