Course Descriptions

This course considers Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950), Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925), and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955), the three major 20th-century exponents of the evolution of consciousness. It studies these thinkers both comparatively and in their own right. It also introduces some of the assumptions, terminology, and leading ideas of three distinct methodologies: the Neo-Hindu mysticism of Sri Aurobindo, the esoteric philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, and the scientific/biological mysticism of Teilhard. The course will use two books edited by the instructor, The Essential Aurobindo and The New Essential Steiner. The section of the course devoted to Teilhard will use Ursula King, ed., Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, and Teilhard de Chardin, Human Energy.