The Phenomenon of Man

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

This book is probably one of the most significant books written. Teilhard describes how ever expanding consciousness, which he calls the interior of things, powers the flow of evolution in an ever increasing expression of Being. De Chardin was trained as a scientist and paleontologist as well as being a Jesuit priest. He was the co-discoverer of Peking Man.

Teilhard systematically observes how there is a pattern in nature, moving from a simple aggregate of atoms, to a synthesis into molecules and into organic matter, finally resulting in self-reflective man. He postulates this inner nature as organizing the external nature of matter. This inner nature has the effect of being anti-entropic. With each step towards greater complexity there is a greater expression of consciousness, which he defines as the ability to make a greater number of responses to a given stimuli. Eventually, with man, the possible number of responses becomes infinite, as mankind has the ability to self reflect, and thus consciously effect the direction of evolution. As a culmination, he speculates on the next possible step in evolution past mankind, which would be a synthesis of humanity where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and each individual is completely fulfilled in this association.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in the growth of consciousness and evolution.

Review by John Theobald