Eschatology and the Technological Future by Burdett Michael S

Author:Burdett, Michael S. [Michael S. Burdett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781317576631
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

5.2.1 The Without and Eschatology

As concluded in the previous section, Teilhard’s account of history has left humanity with an imperative. At the pinnacle of universal history humanity is faced with a choice: It can choose to uphold and continue the trajectory of cosmic evolution that has led to humanity or it can deny and reject it. The way into the future is laid before man and Teilhard considers the various options between which man must decide.

The first option is one of choosing between either an optimistic or pessimistic view of the future.66 Teilhard argues that this choice depends upon one’s basic metaphysical view of whether existence is inherently a good or bad thing. Humanity is faced with whether it ought to continue in the development of life and Being or move against this in favour of affirming life’s utter meaninglessness and non-Being. If one does choose the optimistic view of the future then one must contend with how one achieves this sense of optimism. This optimism can come from an attitude of engagement with the world or, as Teilhard explains of Eastern religions,67 from a retreat from the physical world. The final choice, if one chooses to engage in the world, is to decide between plurality and unity.68 Should one pour effort into greater individuality within the human race or into greater unity?

Teilhard rejects the pessimistic view of the world and the choice of non-Being for the precise reason of the past evolutionary history leading to man.69 Humanity’s existence in the world already speaks towards the choice in favour of optimism of being and becoming over nothingness and purposelessness. The second decision between withdrawal and immersion is not as easily made as the first. This is especially difficult because Teilhard does say that humanity will ultimately separate from the material world. He urges, however, that this should not be premature. There is still much to be gleaned from immersion in the material world and the spirit inherent in it. For this reason, Teilhard maintains immersion in the world over withdrawal. The final option, choosing between plurality and unity, is the most difficult because greater differentiation created through evolution creates more robust phyla and has led to the emergence of consciousness itself. This divergence, despite being historically advantageous, only leads to brief moments of flourishing for each individual. If it is to sustain real growth at the special level then convergence and communalisation are preferred. The only viable way forward for humanity, given this gift of consciousness, is to push still further into the development of the Noosphere and its basic direction towards convergence of all of humanity.70

If Teilhard advocates not only the complete acceptance, but even the human advancement of the trends toward the future then it behoves one to consider these trends directly. Already spoken of briefly in Teilhard’s account of history, he gives three distinct features which will be major aspects in the future and which are the major players in shaping future history’s development towards the eschaton.

First, social unification will continue to thrive.

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