illustrative concept included in the book and the course that combines theory and application . Humans are psychologically predis-posed to make sense of themselves and the world in terms of stories or narratives . Narratives are a dynamic and sequentialized mode of understanding , and provide meaning , purpose , and identity for people , both personally and collectively . A very effective way to heighten future consciousness ( and wisdom ) is to create and implement an ideal future personal narrative based on the pursuit and development of wisdom ; that is to write and then attempt to live a “ wisdom narrative ” in the future . At a personal level , consciously creating and living a wisdom narrative is the most efficacious way to self-responsibly self-evolve . For society as a whole we should aspire toward an “ Age of Wisdom ” as the most ethical and consciousness enhancing narrative to address our present problems and facilitate the future evolution of humanity .
As purposefully evolving beings who exist within an evolutionary universe , our good future will be to become better , more evolved human beings . We should see ourselves within the cosmic evolutionary context as a unique and yet resonant expression of the ongoing evolution of evolution within the universe . It is the story in all its variations and possibilities that we should tell ourselves .
At the end of the book I introduce the science fiction writer and philosopher , Olaf Stapledon , who wrote grand cosmic futures narratives that were wisdom narratives about the future evolution of humanity and intelligence in the universe . As stated above , there have been diverse expressions of future consciousness throughout human history , and narratives , as a mode of conscious understanding , in particular resonate with the human mind . Our history is filled with stories of the future , many of which come out of science fiction . As I have argued
( Lombardo , 2015 ), science fiction is the evolutionary mythology of the future , a narrative mode of future consciousness that is psychologically holistic and personally engaging , generating “ whole person immersion ” in the future . As one noteworthy example among many science fiction writers , Stapledon created highly immersive evolutionary narratives that inspire our emotions and stimulate our imagination and intellect regarding possible and preferable futures . As the next step , building on the theory of future consciousness developed in my new book , later this year the first volume of my historical study of Science Fiction : The Evolutionary Mythology of the Future ( 2018 ) will be published . Researching and creating this historical saga of human imagination in science fiction through the ages is part of my own wisdom narrative for the future ; it is another adventure into the expansive reaches of consciousness .
Notes
Most of the articles and selected chapters from books cited in this essay , as well as numerous videos , can be accessed on the Center for Future Consciousness website : http :// www . centerforfutureconsciousness . com / index . html . The online course can be accessed on this website as well .
A more extensive introduction to Future Consciousness : The Path to Purposeful Evolution can be found at Lombardo , 2016 . Available online at : http :// www . centerforfutureconsciousness . com / pdf _ files / 2016 % 20Articles / Future % 20Consciousness % 20 Article % 20Complete % 20FinalWFRCited . pdf
For regular bi-monthly updates on writings , videos , presentations , and news relevant to the Center for Future Consciousness and The Wisdom Page , see and subscribe to the online newsletter and journal Wisdom and the Future : http :// www . centerforfutureconsciousness . com / archived _ newsletters . htm
References
Lombardo , T . ( 1987 ) The Reciprocity of Perceiver and Environment : The Evolution of James J . Gibson ’ s Ecological Psychology , Hillsdale , NJ : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates .
Lombardo , T . ( 1996 ) The Odyssey of the Future . Unpublished manuscript .
Lombardo , T . ( 2002 ) The Future of Science , Technology , and the Cosmos [ Online ], Center for Future Consciousness . Available at http :// www . centerforfutureconsciousness . com / ST _ Readings . htm ( Accessed 1 January 2018 ).
Lombardo , T . ( 2006a ) The Evolution of Future Consciousness : The Nature and Historical Development of the Human Capacity to Think about the Future , Bloomington , IN : AuthorHouse .
Lombardo , T . ( 2006b ) “ The pursuit of wisdom and the future of education ”, in Mack , T . ( ed ) Creating Global Strategies for Humanity ’ s Future , Bethesda , MD : World Future Society , pp . 1 – 23 .
Lombardo , T . ( 2006c ) Contemporary Futurist Thought : Science Fiction , Future Studies , and Theories and Visions of the Future in the Last Century , Bloomington , IN : AuthorHouse .
Lombardo , T . ( 2007 ) “ The evolution and psychology of future consciousness ”, Journal of Futures Studies , vol . 12 , no . 1 , pp . 157 – 86 .
Lombardo , T . ( 2009 ) “ The wisdom of future consciousness ”, in Wagner , C . ( ed ) Innova-tion and Creativity in a Complex World , Bethesda , MD : World Future Society , pp . 357 – 82 .
Lombardo , T . ( 2010 ) “ Wisdom facing forward : What it means to have heightened future consciousness ”, The Futurist , vol . 44 , no . 5 , pp . 34 – 42 .
Lombardo , T . ( 2011a ) Wisdom , Consciousness , and the Future : Selected Essays , Bloomington , IN : Xlibris .
Lombardo , T . ( with Lombardo , J .) ( 2011b ) Mind Flight : A Journey into the Future , Bloomington , IN : Xlibris .
Lombardo , T . ( 2014 ) “ The future evolution of consciousness ”, World Future Review , vol . 6 , no . 3 , pp . 322 – 35 .
Lombardo , T . ( 2015 ) “ Science fiction : The evolutionary mythology of the future ”, Journal of Futures Studies , vol . 20 , no . 2 , pp . 5 – 24 .
Lombardo , T . ( 2016 ) “ Future Consciousness : The Path to Purposeful Evolution - An introduction ”, World Future Review , Vol . 8 , No . 3 , pp . 116-140 .
Lombardo , T . ( 2017 ) Future Consciousness : The Path to Purposeful Evolution , Winchester , UK : Changemakers Books .
Lombardo , T . ( 2018 ) ( Forthcoming ) Science Fiction : The Evolutionary Mythology of the Future , Volume One : Prometheus to the Martians , Winchester , UK : Changemakers Books .
Lombardo , T . and Richter , J . ( 2004 ) “ Evolving future consciousness through the pur-suit of virtue ”, in Didsbury , H . ( ed ) Thinking Creatively in Turbulent Times , Bethesda , MD : World Future Society , pp . 257 – 88 .
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