• The World Transformation Movement
  • World Transformation Movement™

    www.HumanCondition.com

Home Publications Beyond The Human Condition Professor John Morton
Watch/Read below, PDF, Print, Share
Choose option
  • Print your own copy:

    A4 PDF US Letter PDF

  • Download PDF:

    A4 PDF US Letter PDF

  • Share this page:

 

Emeritus Professor John Morton

 

John Morton (1924-2011), Emeritus Professor of Zoology, University of Auckland; Lay Canon of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland; Fellow St. John’s Theological College, Auckland

 

Professor Morton’s commendation for A Species In Denial (2003)

‘A Species In Denial is a superb book, a marvellous continuation of Jeremy Griffith’s previous work, Beyond The Human Condition. It calls out for deeper thought, both in the biological and spiritual arms of mankind. These are fields of understanding that are drawing closer together. Jeremy’s book brings out the truth of a new and wider frontier for humankind, a forward view of a world of humans no longer in naked competition amongst ourselves and with all others. The fittest and indeed the only humanity able to survive today will be a species evolving and deepening, into a greater harmony with ourselves and with creation at large. We go forward into this new century with a drive for a wider science and a deeper spirituality, to find again for ourselves the place we had come so near to losing: the part that should be ours in a world of loving and understanding.’

 

Professor Morton’s commendation for Beyond (1991)

‘Beyond The Human Condition is a book about anthropology and the human future. So it is necessarily about Christianity and importantly relates it—as Christianity must ultimately be related—to biology. It is a forward view of humanity’s moral progress and destiny…I am sure it should be read by Christians, especially young ones in schools, and also taken home by them. I believe it foresees the same vista as Teilhard de Chardin did in his more orthodox terms, which is in fact the consummation promised for humanity set free, in the Christian Gospel.

 

This book, though not in traditional Christian language should concern all Christians, because it will stir them to think, and its challenging message contains nothing out of line with a Christian world.

 

Jeremy Griffith would equate the Noosphere—our present state of cosmic “upset”—with the consciousness of “sin” and our disabling sense of guilt. To confront “sin” with a directness that Teilhard was not to bring to bear, is certainly theologically necessary today, even if it carries theological risks.

 

…This vision—that I believe to be an authentic one for humanity—will fascinate…[and] many people could get engrossed with this book that would not turn to Christian theology.’ (Oct 1991)

 

Launch of Beyond the Human Condition in New Zealand (1992)

In May 1992, Professor John Morton launched Jeremy Griffith’s second book, Beyond The Human Condition, at Auckland University.

 

Professor Morton’s commendation for Free (1988)

‘By a compelling leap, it invites consideration in the terms of Teilhard de Chardin’s view of an evolving cosmos. The “Noosphere” with the glory—and the uniqueness—of “the human phenomenon” as it appeared to Teilhard, succeeds the “Biosphere”—arising out of the biological ground-base of all the non-human creation. So, Griffith’s book is by such token a discussion also about biological evolution.

 

The immediate forbears of human-kind, Griffith’s would see as still part of the Biosphere. With the exercise of a consciousness only yet in part reflective, their blessedness was manifested at a level we might technically call “AESTHESIS” perceiving, feeling, recognising, the properties of their world in a sensory way. Or, in Platonic terms, the “value” already being given ever-so-primordial recognition, was that of BEAUTY. Theirs was agenetic, instinctive, harmony of “conscience”, integrated, holistic, rather than intellectual or analytic. By this they were able to fit into a total accord with nature, being as one with the environment with which they lived.

 

The myth of the “fall”, with all its veridical power to symbolise the loss of this innocence, must have come around the time of the crossing of the threshold from BIOSPHERE to NOOSPHERE [mindsphere], prolonged and gradual though that transition must have been. The reflective and analytic, the “knowledge-seeking” mind that was to ensue would be that of the single constitutive species of the Noosphere, or of what Julian Huxley was to call the “Psychosphere”.

 

From such “advance” (and I use this term necessarily and advisedly) towards reflective consciousness, the Platonic virtue now being apprehended will be no longer just BEAUTY but also TRUTH. The key technical word—if one be needed—would move from AESTHESIS to ALETHEIA. This will be manifested in the thrusting towards that knowledge of things, with the apprehension of “good” and “evil” that Adam had become engrossed in. The new achievement of our species…and, with it, of the Noosphere, is hence to reflect upon, analyse, handle or “manipulate” the properties and materials of the world environment.…

 

…There is the paradox of sin. We find human beings resentful of sin in all its nasty realisation: resentful of the conflict being generated with the struggle of conscience against intellectuality: in the insistence by Mind to vindicate and assert itself as being “right” or self-justified.’

 

 

This is a scientific pursuit and was not created for profit. For this reason, all information and materials are provided free of charge.

Share this page
Print this page

Copyright © Fedmex Pty Ltd (ACN 096 099 286) 1998-2023 | All rights reserved | View our Terms of use, Privacy policy, or cookie policy | Media Enquiries

Contact
x
Contact Us
    • Website: www.HumanCondition.com
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Phone: + 61 (0)2 9279 4060

    The WTM is represented by two registered charities, one in Sydney, Australia, and another in New York, USA, and by WTM Centres around the world – see WTM Organisations page and WTM Centres page.

    For general enquiries or feedback:

  • By clicking ‘send’ you confirm that you have read, understood and accept the WTM’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The WTM will only contact you in relation to this enquiry and will manage all personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy.

  • Hidden

Please note, because we are a charity with limited resources, we may not respond to questions or criticisms already prominently answered on our comprehensive website with its many freely available books, essays and FAQs that can be easily searched electronically.

  • Subscribe To The
    WTM Mailing List

    and receive notifications of live events, one free essay by Jeremy Griffith each week, and rare news flashes. I understand I can opt out any time (Privacy Policy).

  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

x World Transformation Movement Logo
  • HOME
  • CONTACT
  • SEARCH
  • Resolution of the human condition

  • Books by Jeremy Griffith
  • Translations
  • Videos
  • Essays
  • Live Events
  • FAQs
  • Commendations
  • Publicity
  • About the WTM

  • The WTM
  • The Great Transformation
  • Jeremy Griffith
  • How To Help
  • Media Facility
  • WTM Centres
  • Community
  • Members
  • Join Mailing List
  • Join Facebook Group
  • Other Social Media
  • Helpful tools

  • Contact Us
  • WTM App
  • Share
  • Search
  • Print
  • Donate
  • Products
    • Share this page

    • Print this page

      A4 PDF US Letter PDF
  • Visit the WTM Social Media

This website uses cookies

We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our website, to show you personalized content and targeted ads, to analyze our website traffic, and to understand where our visitors are coming from. You can change your preferences at any time by visiting our Cookie policy page.

Accept cookies Cookie options

Print This Page

Note, our pages have a specific layout that can only be printed in PDF, just choose your preferred PDF paper size:

US letter PDF or A4 PDF

For more info see PDF Help and Troubleshooting

HumanCondition.com Search Results

    Filter results by specific document type:

    Entire Website
    • Entire Website
    • Books by Jeremy Griffith
    • Freedom Essays
    • FAQs
    • Video & Audio Transcripts
    • Blog
    • PDFs
    • Images

    Filter search results for specific books

    • FREEDOM
    • Transform Your Life
    • Death by Dogma
    • Freedom Expanded 1
    • Freedom Expanded 2
    • Book of Answers
    • Human Condition Doco Proposal
    • The Great Exodus
    • A Species In Denial
    • Beyond
    • Free

    Showing results (includes EXACT & CLOSE matches) for ‘’ from Entire Website:

    Sorry, we couldn’t find any results matching ‘’.

    You haven’t searched anything yet. Please use the search field above to start a search.