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I would recommend Tony Jones’ (Reverend Hunter) new book The God of Wild Places. https://reverendhunter.com/tgowp

@Kathleen – I believe we have similar intuitions about consciousness.

I return to the phrase that consciousness is “late emergent phase in the evolution of very complex ‘living’ organisms.” How complex does it need to be?

The single cell “paramecium has no central nervous system, no brain, no neurons, but it swims around, finds food, finds a mate and avoids danger. It seems to make choices, and it definitely seems to process information. Hameroff believed he could find the answers in the paramecium’s only internal structure: microtubules, the paramecium’s cytoskeleton.”

So maybe my definition of consciousness is different from ANW? Or maybe there are levels of consciousness. There are states of consciousness.

During surgery, I had a different state of consciousness. My normal state was non-existent. (Note: Hameroff was an anesthesiologist.)

After 2-3 glasses of wine I experience a different state of consciousness.

One describes having a different state of consciousness when experiencing a psychedelic trip.

During my experience of spontaneous awakening, there was a state change that led to a new level of consciousness.

During normal stages of human development, we appear to experience new levels of consciousness if all proceeds “normally.”

“Process philosophy is a complex and helpful model to understand reality–but it is still a model” Yes. Take seriously, but hold lightly. A new, different, and better(?) model will likely come about.

This view appears to align with Whitehead’s emphasis on “prehension,” where every actual entity arises from and feels the influence of past actual occasions. All experiences would involve some form of interaction, even if subtle, shaping the new entity’s becoming. However, another perspective would suggest that “experience” isn’t a separate entity but the very process of interaction with datum and potentials. In this view, the actual entity’s becoming and experiencing are inseparable.

What a beautifully described experience. A wonderful way to discover the protection you deserve.

Eric – since Wilber references and uses several ANW concepts, it makes sense you would see these similarities. I see them as well.

Good to meet another exvangelical from the 80’s back before deconstruction was cool.

I also find examples very helpful to understanding ANW. Well done.

Bill – I’m thinking that perhaps their experiences to that point have not prepared them yet to prehend what is being presented. One could see this in the context of cognitive development, but also other lines of development may also be involved. As I reflect on current life experiences, I see there were prior experiences necessary in order for certain prehensions to emerge. This appears to have occurred in mental, physical, spiritual and other developmental domains.

A child feels a creative urge to move beyond their current space. This urge is an embodiment of the child’s developmental journey, prehending past sensations, muscle movements, and the desire to explore. The child’s prehensions contribute to the mundane yet unique experience of their first step. They feel the texture of the floor, the pull of gravity, and the support of their legs. The prehensions shape their understanding of their body and the environment. Each sensation becomes part of the ongoing experience, influencing and refining their understanding. I find using a simple example like this helps point me to what ANW’s might mean by creativity, experience, and feelings.

Benjamin – As lesson 1 presented, all experiences must be included. No wonder you feel at home in process.

Love this. It’s refreshing to know he intimately lived the metaphysics he taught.

Chris and Bruce – I wonder if the constraint is developmental. Based on Bruce’s experience, my hypothesis would be that only a portion were developmentally capable of comprehending the concepts. Not that we shouldn’t present them for the portion that can comprehend, but setting our own expectations based on the developmental bell curve we are likely to encounter in high school and college courses; needing to present various approaches appropriate for various levels of development.

Thanks for the share!

I love the multiple ways individuals find their way to ANW/Process!