12 Axioms of a ‘Second Enlightenment’ or 'New Renaissance' Worldview

Posted by Olly Robinson on 28 May 2009 | 4 Comments

Tags: Society, Politics

The SMN is part of a worldwide movement; a gradual but distinct rise of a new worldview. We at the Network are increasingly referring to this shift as a 'New Renaissance', and elsewhere it is referred to as the 'Second Enlightenment'. Below, I cite some of the axioms that seem to be integral to this emerging worldview.

1. Evolution of the universe, life and mind over billions of years is a fact and is continuing today as new forms of complexity are continually generated.

2. Our current stage of social, moral, scientific and political development is not the ‘end of history’ as some philosophers and thinkers suggest, but in fact is a transitional stage on the way to higher levels of moral, cognitive and spiritual development.

3. Science and an empirical attitude should be at the core of a transformational, sustainable worldview, but should not be considered as the sole source of theory and fact.

4. Deep feelings and intuitions may be both signposts on the path to truth and indicators of compassionate purposes and values.

5. Capacities and insights gained through contemplative and expressive practices should be embraced in the continued search for knowledge and wellbeing.

6. Wisdom is found in the integration of knowledge and feeling, analysis and synthesis, part and whole.

7. Consciousness is not only located inside the human brain, and non-ordinary states of consciousness may bring insights that our normal waking state cannot.

8. Physical and mental health should be promoted at all levels of human being and society, and encompass all valid forms of medicine and healing.

9. A worldview should contain no unquestioned assumptions, should consider no field of enquiry taboo, and should be continually open to challenge and advance.

10. A worldview should provide for a plurality of viewpoints and a kaleidoscope of expressions within a common framework of values.

11. A worldview should provide a foundation and justification for sustainable, peaceful and inspiring projects that meet human and environmental needs in the 21st century.

12. Local, low-impact production and simple lifestyles provide a necessary complement to the increasing complexity, speed and global interconnectedness of the 21st century world.

If you have any additional axioms, or any revisions to the above, please do leave them as comments.

Dr Olly Robinson