Changes

The term '''involution''' refers to different things depending on the writer. In some instances it refers to a [[process]] that occurs prior to evolution and gives rise to the [[cosmos]], in others an aspect of [[evolution]], and still others a process that follows the completion of evolution in the human form.

The term '''involution''' refers to different things depending on the writer. In some instances it refers to a [[process]] that occurs prior to evolution and gives rise to the [[cosmos]], in others an aspect of [[evolution]], and still others a process that follows the completion of evolution in the human form.

==Involution according to Esoteric cosmology==

==Involution according to Esoteric cosmology==

In [[Theosophy]], [[Anthroposophy]] and [[Rosicrucianism]], involution and evolution are part of a complex sequence of [[cosmic cycles, called ''Round''.  When the [[universe]] attains a stage of sufficient density, the [[individual]] [[spirit]] is able to descend and participate in the evolution.  Involution thus refers to the incarnation of [[spirit]] in an already established [[matter]], the necessary prerequiste of evolution:

In [[Theosophy]], [[Anthroposophy]] and [[Rosicrucianism]], involution and evolution are part of a complex sequence of [[cosmic cycles, called ''Round''.  When the [[universe]] attains a stage of sufficient density, the [[individual]] [[spirit]] is able to descend and participate in the evolution.  Involution thus refers to the incarnation of [[spirit]] in an already established [[matter]], the necessary prerequiste of evolution:

:''As an example, the so-called descent of the Monad into matter means an involution or involving or infolding of spiritual potencies into material vehicles which coincidentally and contemporaneously, through the compelling urge of the infolding energies, unfold their own latent capacities, unwrap them, roll them forth; and this is the evolution of matter.'' – [[Gottfried de Purucker]][http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dp5/cyclicevo.htm]

:''As an example, the so-called descent of the Monad into matter means an involution or involving or infolding of spiritual potencies into material vehicles which coincidentally and contemporaneously, through the compelling urge of the infolding energies, unfold their own latent capacities, unwrap them, roll them forth; and this is the evolution of matter.'' – [[Gottfried de Purucker]][https://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dp5/cyclicevo.htm]

That period of time devoted to the attainment of self-[[consciousness]] and the building of the vehicles through which the spirit in man manifests, is called "Involution." Its purpose is to slowly carry life lower and deeper into denser and denser matter for the building of forms, till the nadir of materiality is reached. From that point, life begins to ascend into [[Dimensions|higher worlds]]. This succeeding period of existence, during which the individual human being develops ''self-consciousness'' into ''[[divine]] [[omniscience]]'', is called "[[spiritual evolution]]."

That period of time devoted to the attainment of self-[[consciousness]] and the building of the vehicles through which the spirit in man manifests, is called "Involution." Its purpose is to slowly carry life lower and deeper into denser and denser matter for the building of forms, till the nadir of materiality is reached. From that point, life begins to ascend into [[Dimensions|higher worlds]]. This succeeding period of existence, during which the individual human being develops ''self-consciousness'' into ''[[divine]] [[omniscience]]'', is called "[[spiritual evolution]]."

==Others==

==Others==

===Clifford Geertz===

===Clifford Geertz===

A term for the relationship in some societies between socioeconomic stagnation and increasingly elaborate cultural production.[http://0-www.oxfordreference.com.library.acaweb.org/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t104.e864]

A term for the relationship in some [[Society|societies]] between socioeconomic stagnation and increasingly elaborate [[Culture|cultural]] production.[https://0-www.oxfordreference.com.library.acaweb.org/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t104.e864]

 

===Andre Lalande===

===Andre Lalande===

André Lalande, the French philosopher, was born in Dijon and entered the École Normale Supérieure in 1885. He took his doctorate in 1899 and taught in lycées until he was appointed first to a lectureship and then, in 1904, to a chair of philosophy at the University of Paris.

André Lalande, the French philosopher, was born in Dijon and entered the École Normale Supérieure in 1885. He took his doctorate in 1899 and taught in lycées until he was appointed first to a lectureship and then, in 1904, to a chair of philosophy at the University of Paris.

Lalande was a rationalist whose whole life was devoted to the cause of international communication and the dissemination of knowledge. His constant preoccupation after 1902 was the launching, and subsequent reediting, of the Vocabulaire technique et critique de la philosophie, which aimed at the concise definition and standardization of philosophical terminology. His own philosophical work corresponds to this recognition and promotion of an interdependent humanity.

Lalande was a rationalist whose whole life was devoted to the cause of international [[communication]] and the dissemination of [[knowledge]]. His constant preoccupation after 1902 was the launching, and subsequent reediting, of the Vocabulaire technique et critique de la philosophie, which aimed at the concise definition and standardization of philosophical terminology. His own philosophical work corresponds to this re[[cognition]] and promotion of an interdependent [[humanity]].

In his thesis of 1899, L'idée directrice de la dissolution opposée à celle de l'évolution, Lalande challenged Herbert Spencer's thesis that progress is evolutionary and differentiating, and held that, on the contrary, dissolution—or, as he later called it, involution—is more widespread and significant. Involution, or movement from the heterogeneous to the homogeneous, is observable in nature as entropy, or increase of randomness. In human life, however, this movement toward uniformity is fruitful and is served by reason, which, in scientific investigation, leads to the progressive subsumption of more and more classes of phenomena under fewer general laws.

In his thesis of 1899, L'idée directrice de la dissolution opposée à celle de l'évolution, Lalande challenged Herbert Spencer's thesis that progress is evolutionary and differentiating, and held that, on the contrary, dissolution—or, as he later called it, involution—is more widespread and significant. Involution, or movement from the heterogeneous to the homogeneous, is observable in [[nature]] as entropy, or increase of [[random]]ness. In human life, however, this movement toward uniformity is fruitful and is served by [[reason]], which, in [[Scientific Method|scientific investigation]], leads to the progressive subsumption of more and more classes of [[phenomena]] under fewer general laws.

Lalande disapproved of an imposed uniformity, which represents merely the transference from the individual to the group of evolutionary, divisive drives. True reason ensures that although people feel differently, they shall think in the same way and thus understand each other even when they do not resemble each other. Lalande's concern was for the individual, whose uniqueness is sacrificed to function in a rigidly specialized and differentiated society. The application of reason to life in the technological field liberates the individual from his functional role, and the application of reason in the cultural field enables men to afford, and to benefit from, the diversity that is their birthright.

Lalande disapproved of an imposed uniformity, which represents merely the transference from the [[individual]] to the group of evolutionary, divisive drives. True reason ensures that although people feel differently, they shall think in the same way and thus understand each other even when they do not resemble each other. Lalande's concern was for the individual, whose uniqueness is sacrificed to function in a rigidly specialized and differentiated society. The application of reason to life in the technological field liberates the individual from his functional role, and the application of reason in the cultural field enables men to afford, and to benefit from, the diversity that is their birthright.

In La raison et les normes Lalande restated his involutionist case in the light of recent philosophies of "being-in-the-world." He took cognizance, for example, of the argument that geometrical, objective space is derived from the neuromotor "spaces" of man facing his tasks, but for Lalande the superiority of a common space amenable to conceptualization remained unimpaired. Similarly, he preferred chronological time to the "real" time of naive emotional experience. Lalande reaffirmed his universalist conception of rationality against more recent phenomenological thinking.[http://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do?&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX3446801060&source=gale&userGroupName=tel_a_uots&version=1.0]

In La raison et les normes Lalande restated his involutionist case in the light of recent philosophies of "being-in-the-world." He took cognizance, for example, of the argument that [[Geometry|geometrical]], objective [[space]] is derived from the neuromotor "spaces" of man facing his tasks, but for Lalande the superiority of a common space amenable to [[concept]]ualization remained unimpaired. Similarly, he preferred chronological time to the "real" time of naive [[emotion]]al [[experience]]. Lalande reaffirmed his universalist conception of [[rationality]] against more recent phenomenological [[thinking]].[https://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do?&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX3446801060&source=gale&userGroupName=tel_a_uots&version=1.0]

==See Also==

==See Also==

== External links ==

== External links ==

* [http://www.gurusoftware.com/GuruNet/Creation/Involution.htm Theory of Creation - the Involution] (2006)

* [https://www.gurusoftware.com/GuruNet/Creation/Involution.htm Theory of Creation - the Involution] (2006)

* [http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Involution/id/69068 Involution in Theology]

* [https://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Involution/id/69068 Involution in Theology]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]