Wilbur Ken: quotes, biography, reviews, criticism

Modern knowledge of philosophy, psychology, psychotherapy need to be revised. So says the author of many books and scientific articles, Ken Wilber. Spiritual evolution, the sphere of the unknown, the development of consciousness, mysticism and ecology are only a small part of the interests of the contemporary writer.

Who is Wilber?

Full name - Kenneth Earl Wilber II - American philosopher, writer and publicist, theorist of transpersonal psychology. In the US, he is the most transferable academic author. In the works of the modern thinker, the themes of consciousness and religion are touched upon. A feature of Ken Wilber's work is the use of an integral approach to scientific knowledge.

By combining modern Western ideas with the past of the East, he tried to take a fresh look at the perception of the person around the world. Considering the role of religion in modern society, he preferred eastern literature. Realizing the inferiority of modern knowledge in the field of human sciences, the writer went deep into an integral approach to research. It requires knowledge from different areas that are correct in a certain context.

Biography. Childhood and youth

Ken Wilber was born on January 31, 1949 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His father was a military pilot, so the family had to constantly move. At school, he was a successful pupil and leader - several times he was elected head of class and chairman of the school committee. He was easily given tasks that required a lot of mental stress.

Outstanding success Wilber Ken did in the sport. He was fond of football, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball and athletics. The future philosopher was in the center of attention of his peers. As he himself mentions, in his childhood he was distinguished by his sociability and high activity.

The future philosopher was interested in medicine and wanted to know the possibilities of science. When he finished school, he was destined to relocate again - to Lincoln, Nebraska. The future philosopher Ken Wilber, whose biography has many unexpected turns, has always remained true to his ideas.

After school, he entered the University of Duke (Durham, North Carolina), where he studied medicine. Almost immediately he was transferred back to Nebraska to study biochemistry. Now he knew for sure that he was interested in psychology, philosophy, mysticism. After receiving a post-graduate scholarship, Wilber Ken focused on writing, leaving his studies.

Inspired by Eastern literature, in particular the teachings of Tao De Jing, he began to develop an integral approach to scientific study of man.

Personal life

In 1972, Ken met Emmy Wagner. Soon the wedding took place. At this time he earned his teaching. A few years later the philosopher devotes all his time to writing books. In order to provide himself with food, he is assigned to a low-paid job (a dishwasher).

In 1981, Ken divorces Emmy and goes headlong to work on the magazine "Revision". He moved to Cambridge. After 2 years he meets his future wife Terry Killem. Soon she is diagnosed with breast cancer, and the writer has been taking care of her loved one for 3 years. He practically stops writing from 1984 to 1987.

Having moved to Boulder (Colorado), Wilber K. and Killem T. are located near the Buddhist University of Naropa. In 1989, the wife of a great philosopher dies. Ken describes their shared experiences in the book "Grace and Fortitude".

In it, the writer comments on various approaches to the disease and treatment, considers issues of male and female, sheds light on the possibility of achieving harmony through suffering and humility.

Books

In 1973, Ken Wilber completed his first work, "The Spectrum of Consciousness." In it, he attempted to integrate the psychological schools of the West and the East. Many publishers refused to publish to the author due to the complexity of the material. Only after 4 years Ken's work is published by the Theosophical Publishing House Quest Books.

In the book, Wilber identifies 5 levels in the spectrum of consciousness:

1. The level of the mind. According to the eternal philosophy, it is the only real level of consciousness. He grants to man the erasure of all boundaries. The mind is able to reflect both the universe of material things, and the world of concepts.
2. Transpersonal bands. On this super-individual area of the spectrum, a person goes beyond the limits of the individual organism.
3. The existential level. A person associates himself with a psychophysical organism. He understands his isolation from the world around him. Awareness of their differences from other organisms and the environment helps to distinguish themselves from the usual notions of reality.
4. The level of ego. A person by imagination draws an image of himself and identifies with it.
5. The level of the shadow. The individual defines himself as part of the image of the ego. An incorrect idea of one's own essence is not reflected completely.

The publication of the book brought Wilber recognition in academic circles. At the same time, he becomes the editor-in-chief of the magazine "Revision". The publication discusses a new scientific paradigm for the development of transpersonal psychology.

Since 1983, the researcher has begun to severely criticize the provisions of transpersonal psychology. It indicates low standards. Serious work after a long break will be "Sex, Ecology, Spirituality" (1995). By the end of the 90s he is a co-founder of the Integral Institute. The author's later works concern the concept of integral post-metaphysics, as well as integral methodological pluralism.

The last published works of the writer include:

• "Eye of the Spirit" (1997).
• "Wedding of meaning and soul: the integration of science and religion" (1998).
• "One taste" (1999).
• "The theory of everything" (2000).

In 2006, the researcher published the work "Integral Spirituality". In it, the author presents an integral approach to spirituality.

Currently, the writer is working on the project "New Eternal Philosophy". It combines traditional mysticism and the theory of cosmic evolution. In the concept of "space" Wilber includes spiritual, physical and noetic ideas. He addresses both the achievements of modern metaphysics and the theory of Zen Buddhism.

Wide professional interests and original philosophical views make Ken Wilber the most inclusive philosopher of our time.

Religious views

For some time Ken practiced the methods of Buddhist meditation. He also deeply engaged in the teachings of Madhamika and Nagaryan. Ken's enthusiasm for Eastern literature stimulated his interest in religion.

In the book Integral Spirituality, Ken Wilber as simply as possible poses questions related to the role of science, religion and spirituality in modern society. He points to the importance of meditative practices, eastern and western views on religion. Ken Wilber adapted the views of the past to modern reality.

The book is intended for people interested in modern trends of psychology and philosophy. It combines the path of enlightenment of the East with the cultivated ideas of the West. According to the author, each of these areas of knowledge contributes to the creation of an integral picture of the world and spirituality in it.

"If you do not be friends with Freud, it will be harder for you to get to the Buddha," says the philosopher.

Wilbur Ken: Criticism

Wilber's integral approach is nothing more than a meta-critique of the main lines of modern scientific thought. Many scientists he was received without special cordiality. For example, Hans Willie Weiss argues that the Wilber system is closed, and its synthetic approach is absurd. To one of the works of the author he adds his commentary: "Metaphysics and science can not intersect. The scientific proof of God is in itself untenable. "

Wilber Ken himself, whose quotes are quite common among people who are far from science, is considered a serious philosopher in academic circles.

Ukrainian philosopher Sergei Datsyuk writes that the American researcher does not distinguish between the concepts of Western and Eastern traditions. He criticizes the possibility of combining these completely incompatible ways of thinking. The achievement of the union, says Datsyuk, is possible only in the case of a split consciousness, the presence of a dual language of understanding, which is a sign of cogitational schizophrenia (the process of destruction of consciousness).

Ken Wilber: Feedback

Today, Ken Wilber's books have been translated into more than 30 languages. The author very much likes Russian readers. Many say that after reading his writings they began a new period in their life. Someone considers his books a guide to action. Comments on the forums that are devoted to Wilber's books are presented by positive, often emotionally colored statements.

Describing many of the psychological problems of our time, Ken was able to convince the reader of the need to synthesize disparate knowledge and use of previously unknown resources of consciousness. Clear language and logical presentation are undoubted advantages of the writer's works. As noted by grateful readers, the work of a well-known philosopher helps to change the perception of a person by improving and expanding it.

Quotations of the philosopher

A lot of winged expressions of the American philosopher are taken from the books "No borders" and "A Brief History of Everything". For example, he writes that a person acquires a deeper understanding of life realities through suffering. So he becomes more alive, so says Ken Wilber. Quotes about love are presented in the book "Grace and fortitude".

In the work "No boundaries" the author notes that every thing is only an abstract boundary of experience. It is interesting to say about the human environment. Nature, according to Ken, is much smarter than we can think. Hatred of other people is born in contempt of one's own qualities. We look at the person and see not his, his (reflected) shortcomings. These quotes are not only a means of self-improvement, but also a more complete understanding of the world.

Interesting Facts

To hone his writing skills, Ken manually rewrote all the works of Alan Watts. Despite the sociability and active social position, in the youth many acquaintances considered him to be closed and unsociable.

The greatest philosopher and writer of modern times, the author of many popular books, Wilber Ken combined virtually incongruous ideas of the past and the present. He became a guiding star for those wishing to change their lives for the better.