Google these cutting edge science topics—evolutionary cosmology, consciousness theory, systems theory, quantum holography, or the Akashic field theory—and Ervin Laszlo's name will dominate the first ten hits every time. In fact, no serious discussion of these topics can fail to consider his seminal contributions. But his overarching perspective isn't merely scientific in nature. The deeper currents underpinning Dr. Laszlo's work and philosophy draw upon a fundamental positivity and implicit belief in the power of consciousness as an evolutionary force in the universe. In this talk, Dr. Laszlo maps the global landscape as he sees it today. He defines the promise and the pitfalls we face as a species at this point of bifurcation—when the choices we make will determine whether we degrade or evolve to a higher level of awareness and harmony.
BIO
Ervin Laszlo is the author or editor of sixty-nine books translated into as many as nineteen languages, and has over four hundred articles and research papers and six volumes of piano recordings to his credit. He serves as editor of the monthly World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution and of its associated General Evolution Studies book series.
Laszlo is generally recognized as the founder of systems philosophy and general evolution theory, serving as founder-director of the General Evolution Research Group and as past president of the International Society for the Systems Sciences. He is the recipient of the highest degree in philosophy and human sciences from the Sorbonne, the University of Paris, as well as of the coveted Artist Diploma of the Franz Liszt Academy of Budapest. His numerous prizes and awards include four honorary doctorates.
His appointments have included research grants at Yale and Princeton Universities, professorships for philosophy, systems sciences, and future sciences at the Universities of Houston, Portland State, and Indiana, as well as Northwestern University and the State University of New York. His career has also included guest professorships at various universities in Europe and the Far East. In addition, Laszlo worked as program director for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). In 1999 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Canadian International Institute of Advanced Studies in Systems Research and Cybernetics.
Laszlo serves as president of the Club of Budapest and head of the General Evolution Research Group, which he founded. He is an advisor to the UNESCO Director General, ambassador of the International Delphic Council, member of both the International Academy of Science, World Academy of Arts and Science, and the International Academy of Philosophy. He is the former president of the International Society for Systems Sciences.
