Global Philosophical and Ecological Concepts (2 Vols): Cycles, Causality, Ecology and Evolution in Various Traditions and their Impact on Modern Biology

We live in a time when humanity itself has become an ecological and evolutionary problem for the earth rather than a participating friend. At the same time we live in a unique epoch where many cultures of past and present come together, intermingle and fructify each other.

The concepts of cycles in nature, causality, hierarchical relationship, ecology and evolution are discussed from the angle of a select number of high cultures which determine our views and attitudes. This work is a selected presentation of important expressions concerning these concepts found in the cultures under study, their contrast with general occidental scientific thinking, and speculation about what may be the outcome of the blending of the heritage of the ages. At the end of the book, recorded interviews based on 20 questions with representative personalities in India, America and Europe have been printed in full.

The study is carried out in full and equal respect for all human thinking, and it values the achievements for the great minds of all cultures under study on the same level. It is the conviction of the author that, running through the garland of multicolored beads which make up the totality of human evolution, is the thread called truth, and that despite the differences in approach, truth is what everyone is yearning for.

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About the Author(s)

Rudi Jansma was born in 1949 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He studied neo-tropical vegetation science and nature preservation. He worked for various environmental groups concerned with tropical ecosystems. Also he studied philosophy and Sanskrit. He did intensive studies in Theosophy and Eastern and other non-occidental thought systems, which led to a PhD. at the Intercultural Open University based in The Netherlands. He traveled extensively and was in close contact with many cultures. At present he lives in Rajasthan, India. He hopes and expects that the knowledge and ethics of these and other cultures will significantly contribute to the global culture of the coming ages.