Check it out at: or or New paperback, $16.95 Read more about Conscious Energy: Blurb. Written by the world-renowned Bodhi Tree Bookstore of Los Angeles Review. See what "The Journal Bridging Science and Religion" has to say. Preface. Lifted right from the book itself. Synopsis. Written by the author. Three Reading Strategies.

 
1. What the Bodhi Tree has to say about us...

 
2. Review of "The Philosophy of Conscious Energy"

Coinciding with the preceding book review, [note: other books were reviewed in th is British publication] the arrival of this book from America also pursues the quest for "ultimate explanations". This approach however, is through the development of philosophy, culminating in Teilhard de Chardin. I am going to straight away nail my colours to the mast, and say that I feel this book provides what we all need so much at the present moment, namely, an advanced primer to Teilhard's thought. Provenzano, who works at the California Institute of Technology, focuses his book on getting philosophy to measure up to providing answers to the "Big Questions"--What is it all about? How should we live? The criteria that he uses to examine each philosopher's stance are:
1. A philosophy should rest on a fundamental insight that is intuitively pleasing.
2. A philosophy should be internally consistent.
3. It should not contradict the findings of modern science.
4. It should reinforce the notion of the importance of the individual person.
With these criteria in mind, he commences to chart the evolutionary development of philosophy from Thales in the seventh century B.C. to Aquinas, Kant, Darwin, Kierkegaard, and Ayer in the twentieth. All in all, he examines thirty three major philosophers en route. But, he leaves the "piece de resistance" to the last--Teilhard de Chardin who he maintains, provides a breakthrough in relating philosophy to the "Big Questions". He provides an immediately understandable portrayal of the key concepts of Teilhard's thought and of its implications. This summary is without doubt the clearest that I have read on Teilhard. He then continues in truly evolutionary manner, to develop those concepts a little further into what he calls, The Philosophy of Conscious Energy. This he bases on four assumptions:
1. The Law of Consciousness and Complexity is the most fundamental law in the universe.
2. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, in the universe except energy, in one form or another.
3. The transformation of energy from one form to another, sometimes results in differences so great that the two forms are actually two distinct states of energy. This transformation must be thought of as a change of state.
4. All "laws" are potentially state dependent as a consequence.
From here he moves out to chart his philosophical system as moving through four states of evolutionary development--from Radiation to Matter, to Conscious Energy to Self--Conscious Energy. He applies his criteria (see above) to his own philosophical thought and makes therefore very clear links with everyday living. This ranges from putting the social crimes current in our lives such as drugs, into an explanatory context of consciousness--(because society has reached a state of higher consciousness, some wish to reduce consciousness and this is evil at a higher state)--to understanding the reason for evil; to explaining the drive for scientific research; to understanding God's "composition"; to the immortality of the soul. In short, a mind blowing book, yet very practical in its charting of implications, an extremely rare combination.

Reviewer: Tom Baxter, editor
 
 

 
3. Preface from "The Philosophy of Conscious Energy"

This is a book about philosophy, but it is a book for everyone--everyone who has ever wondered about the meaning of the universe and human life. This is not a religious book; it is based on what we can best understand by purely human means. It can be read equally well by believers, non-believers, Americans, Africans, Europeans, Asians, Communists, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddists, and even Republicans and Democrats. It discusses a basic outlook which--I believe--will become common to all of these diverse groups. The human race does not currently have such a fundamental vision, and that is why these diverse groups cannot have meaningful discussions on tough issues like human rights, abortion, and so forth.

Attempting to gain this fundamental vision was a goal of the philosophers of yesterday. However, they did not have the knowledge of the universe that we have today. For a number of reasons, most of the philosophers of today have abandoned this goal, and are concerned with matters of much less importance to the average person.

In my opinion, we have reached a critical point in human history. Not only can we once again think about the meaning of the universe and human life, but we can--for the first time ever--get some real answers. This type of thinking is like that of the great philosophers of yesterday, and can best be described as a "Return to Philosophy." The breakthrough I mentioned in the opening paragraph provides these answers in the form of a new fundamental vision, or philosophy, of the evolving universe.

There is no quick way to fully convey this new vision. It should be seen in the light of previous philosophical efforts. Therefore, the early and middle chapters address the past and present philosophers and my opinion why each has never been able to gain universal acceptance. I have tried to pull all of this together in the final few chapters and explain this new fundamental vision--a vision that provides real insights into the meaning of the universe and the role of human life.
 
 

 
4. Synopsis of "The Philosophy of Conscious Energy"

Part I (Chapters 1-2) introduces the "Two Big Questions" as a convenient way to discuss the ultimate questions of reality. The first deals with what is most basic about the universe: What is it all about? The second deals with ethical aspects of human life: How should we live? Although philosophers since the time of the early Greeks have tried to answer these questions, we still do not have universally accepted answers. In fact, most modern philosophers have said that we should quit trying. However, a breakthrough has finally been made that will allow the development of a universally accepted philosophy which answers the Two Big Questions. In order to be fully appreciated, this breakthrough should be seen in light of what has previously been tried in philosophy.

Part II (Chapters 3-11) presents the previous efforts in philosophy by providing a look at the important philosophers from before the time of Plato to the present. Thirty-three different philosophers are discussed, and each is presented using the same format: background, insight, theory, conclusions/ethical implications, and, finally, comments about what is keeping that philosopher from being universally accepted today. Part II ends with the surprising conclusion that no philosopher is universally accepted today because none of their fundamental insights (i.e., starting points) corresponds to what actually is *most* fundamental about the universe.

Part III (Chapters 12-14) covers three distinct areas. Chapter 12 presents the basic insight of the geologist, paleontologist, philosopher, and Jesuit priest, Teilhard de Chardin. He called his insight the "Law of Consciousness and Complexity." It states that the most fundamental aspect of the universe is that it contains an inherent tendency to produce entities that are increasingly complex and conscious. Chapter 13 introduces the Philosophy of Conscious Energy. It starts with Teilhard's fundamental insight -- but uses none of his religions assumptions, and adds the notion of "Conscious Energy." This same chapter then paints an integrated picture of *everything* in the universe. This integrated view is then used to develop purely philosophical answers to the Two Big Questions. The answers provided are potentially acceptable to "almost everybody." Chapter 14 (optional reading) then goes on to explore some religious possibilities and discusses the future of philosophy.
 
 

 
5. Three Reading Strategies

Complete Reading: Chapters 1 through 14.
This is the only way to fully understand and appreciate the Philosophy of Conscious Energy. It allows the reader to first see how some of the great philosophers have looked at and explained reality, before reading about the Philosophy of Conscious Energy.
 

Short Reading: Chapters 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, and 14.
This approach is for the reader who is somewhat curious about the history of philosophy, but does not want to read about it to the depth provided in the middle pages of the book. Chapters 2 and 11 will give the desired summary, and Chapter 12 provides additional background about the Philosophy of Conscious Energy.

Minimum Reading: Chapters 1, 13, and 14.
This approach is for the reader who is not interested in the history of philosophy -- but is interested in reading about a way of looking at reality that allows us to answer questions about the meaning of the universe and human life.
 
 

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