Talk:Spiritual evolution
The pen is mightier than the sword? Dirk Steele (talk) 18:43, 10 November 2012 (UTC)
I suppose this view encompasses the concept that an idea or thought or some esoteric metaphysical aetherical 'substance' can have a physical impact on the world. I can see why people may have this view but I do not subscribe. I take the view that memes must always exist in a physical form. As replicating patterns much like life itself. Thoughts, ideas, even spirituality can only be transmitted via physical forces. I do not believe that an spiritual form can exist - without being transfered between neurological patterns formed in the brain. Can a 'theory' exist without a physical medium? Dunno but I suspect not. --Dirk Steele (talk) 18:59, 10 November 2012 (UTC)
- Spiritual evolution is not found in mainstream science anymore but back in the day some famous scientists supported it. Alfred Russel Wallace believed that a supernatural or "spiritual" force had guided the evolution of the human brain for example. Like you say the question is how can a totally immaterial substance have an impact on physical matter, how does it occur and what is the relationship?. Most new ager writers are now claiming quantum physics backs up their views becuase matter has no physical substance. DinoCrisis (talk) 19:48, 10 November 2012 (UTC)
- Ummm. Is this wacky "spiritual evolution" really claimed to be somehow guiding biological evolution? The wikipedia article seems to be talking about something closer to cultural evolution.--Weirdstuff (talk) 21:22, 10 November 2012 (UTC)
- Spiritual evolution is not found in mainstream science anymore but back in the day some famous scientists supported it. Alfred Russel Wallace believed that a supernatural or "spiritual" force had guided the evolution of the human brain for example. Like you say the question is how can a totally immaterial substance have an impact on physical matter, how does it occur and what is the relationship?. Most new ager writers are now claiming quantum physics backs up their views becuase matter has no physical substance. DinoCrisis (talk) 19:48, 10 November 2012 (UTC)
- It's a view similar to vitalism or orthogenesis, but the force guiding evolution is usually described as spiritual or metaphysical instead of physical. As I said this view was taken seriously back before the 1930's in biology and philosophy but is only found in occult and new ages publications in recent years. The wikipedia article is wrong, it was created originally by a new ager M Alan Kazlev but was later expanded into different definitions of spiritual evolution all on one article. Wikipedia has a problem of dumping different things on single pages, especially when it comes to fringe views. DinoCrisis (talk) 22:05, 10 November 2012 (UTC)
- It's something about which I know little. But if "spiritual evolution" has multiple (possibly competing) definitions then wouldn't it be quite appropriate to mention this in an article on that subject?--Weirdstuff (talk) 10:50, 11 November 2012 (UTC)
- It's a view similar to vitalism or orthogenesis, but the force guiding evolution is usually described as spiritual or metaphysical instead of physical. As I said this view was taken seriously back before the 1930's in biology and philosophy but is only found in occult and new ages publications in recent years. The wikipedia article is wrong, it was created originally by a new ager M Alan Kazlev but was later expanded into different definitions of spiritual evolution all on one article. Wikipedia has a problem of dumping different things on single pages, especially when it comes to fringe views. DinoCrisis (talk) 22:05, 10 November 2012 (UTC)