The Spirit of the Internet: Speculations on the Evolution of Global Consciousness
 
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The Spirit of the Internet: Speculations on the Evolution of Global Consciousness [Paperback]

Lawrence Hagerty (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)


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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An exciting romp through the future of cyberspace." -- Carla Higdon, Director of Community Relations, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)

"Larry Hagerty is a 21st century techno-shaman who carries the ancient traditions forward..." -- Matthew J. Pallamary, author of Land Without Evil

Product Description

Written by Lawrence Hagerty with the non-technical reader in mind, "The Spirit of the Internet" explains in everyday language how the Internet works, who is in charge, and some of its future possibilities. It also describes different aspects of “spirit,” as manifest in the Internet community. Throughout the book, speculations about the Internet, the noosphere, virtual reality, shamanic plants, and other seemingly unrelated domains are woven into a fascinating tapestry of thought about the evolving Gaian consciousness that is beginning to envelop the planet.

"The Spirit of the Internet" is a wake-up call to the human species. Although we are making significant advances in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and other sciences, our species-consciousness has not yet expanded much beyond the point of self-interest. We have polluted our land and water and are about to reach the point where biological life as we know it may no longer be sustainable on this planet. The Internet, however, through the interconnection of millions of minds, provides a way out of this technological cul-de-sac if we will only listen to its spirit.

As the subtitle suggests, many of the ideas in this book are speculative, some people will say highly speculative. For example, the concept of an ephemeral “sphere of mind” encapsulating the Earth, as originally theorized by Teilhard de Chardin in 1938, is not a mainstay in most established schools of thought. This is the subject of the chapter titled “The Internet and the Noosphere.” Other ideas, such as the ones you will encounter in the opening chapter concerning Virtual Reality and Inhabited Virtual Worlds, may sound speculative but are actually descriptions of activites that are now common in cyberspace.

"The Spirit of the Internet" provides a timely, positive message for those who are looking for ways to engage in the ongoing global discussions about the direction in which our technology seems to be leading us. Every day, thousands of seemingly inconsequential technical and regulatory decisions are being made by businesses and governments. One-by-one, these little decisions are building the foundation upon which the human rights of free speech and privacy will stand for another millennium.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Matrix Masters (October 9, 2000)
  • ISBN-10: 097036511X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0970365118
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,401,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting theory on where we're all headed., February 4, 2001
By Wiley P. Long, III "colohealth" (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Spirit of the Internet: Speculations on the Evolution of Global Consciousness (Paperback)
Is the spiritual wisdom of the ages materializing itself via the internet? Maybe so.

The world is changing rapidly today, and the internet is a driving force. The author attempts to explain the changes humanity is going though by expanding on a 1938 theory by a Jesuit priest, Teilhard de Chardin, of a of a "sphere of consciousness" enveloping the earth. In Chardin's opinion, the density of the information underlying a mass of complexity is what creates self-awareness. In Haggerty's follow-up to that thesis, he postulates that as information continues to become more dense and more widely available, a further expansion of human consciousness will follow. In the process he discusses chaos theory, the implications of ever-increasing computer power, conscious evolution, the importance of freedom (especially cognitive freedom) and the power and responsibility of every individual. Ultimately he suggests that the internet may be a stepping stone to a higher state of consciousness for all of humanity.

It's really an easy read, and I found the book to be quite fascinating and thought provoking.

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