William Irwin Thompson est un philosophe social, critique culturel et poète américain, dont il décrit le style d'écriture et de parole comme du 'mind-jazz sur des textes anciens'. En tant que fondateur de la Lindisfarne Association, son travail explore les liens complexes entre culture, histoire et conscience. Il puise profondément dans la mythologie et les traditions religieuses pour examiner l'évolution de la compréhension humaine et des structures sociétales.
Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture
Exploring the nature of myth, William Irwin Thompson delves into its persuasive power in shaping culture. He examines how humans create and communicate through symbols, highlighting the interplay between myths that embody male and female forms of power. Through this lens, the book offers insights into the fundamental role myths play in human experience and societal development.
Like Shetland, Orkney was heavily influenced by Viking traders and raiders from Scandinavia, and for a long period it formed an outlying part of the kingdom of Norway. This guide covers the mysterious islands of Orkney ranging in its breadth from prehistoric settlements to contemporary controversies of oil and, also Scandanavian allegiance.
Exploring the evolution of consciousness, this book delves into the interplay between art, culture, and human thought. It traces a journey from early stone carvings to the literary insights of Marcel Proust, the artistic expressions of Christo, and the philosophical teachings of Lao Tzu. Blending jazz-inspired rhythms with scholarly analysis, the author presents a unique perspective on how these elements shape our understanding of humanity and propose a path toward a new planetary culture. This insightful exploration connects our past, present, and future.
The studies in this volume concern cultural history. They grew out of the author's work over the last two decades with colleagues in the Lindisfarne Association, and especially his eighteen-year collaboration with the chaos mathematician Ralph Abraham.
Traces the history of religion and examines the explosion in religious violence in light of ongoing cultural transformation.
A Memoir of the Lindisfarne Association, 1972-2012
The memoir offers a captivating glimpse into the life of William Irwin Thompson, a cultural historian who founded the Lindisfarne Association. For four decades, he fostered dialogue among influential scientists, artists, and thinkers, aiming to cultivate a new cultural vision. Through his engaging narrative, readers can explore the dynamic interactions that shaped this innovative community, enhanced by numerous photographs. This work not only documents Thompson's journey but also invites readers to engage with the transformative goals of his collective efforts.
The author reflects on a lifelong passion for poetry, tracing influences from classical and modern poets while exploring the Romantic tradition of descriptive meditation. After decades of writing, they focus on their experiences in Portland, Maine, crafting street poems that capture their transient existence. Despite feeling like a wanderer, the author finds solace in a mystical connection with the stars, contemplating the intersection of time and eternity. This collection serves as a personal exploration of place and identity, blending local observations with cosmic reflections.
A unique analysis that assesses how we can determine which country will be the next world leader. Will China surpass the United States as the world's leader? In American Global Pre-eminence, William R. Thompson argues that the answer depends on leads in technological innovation, energy, and global reach. These are the forces that influence the hierarchy of global power--a system which began emerging a thousand years ago and started becoming more evident after the 1490s, especially after Dutch activities in the seventeenth century and British operations in the nineteenth century. The US followed in this fashion after 1945. Yet leads do not last forever. Ironically, as it becomes clearer how technological innovation, military force, and energy power interact, the processes under scrutiny may themselves be fundamentally transforming. Thus, Thompson contends, the real policy question is not whether the US is ahead or behind China but, rather, whether it will remain possible for a single state to lead the global system. As technological innovation, energy consumption, and global reachcapability grow less concentrated, the prospects for systemic leadership shrink--even as global problems become more complex and acute. With a sweeping analysis of global power, Thompson provides a foundation for understanding the realities and possibilities of lead states past, present, and future.
The problem of the Clearances is often associated simply with the Highlands, but on the small island of Rousay one of the most dramaticconflicts of all took place between tenant and landowner in the dramatic years from 1840 to 1890