The Ethic of Consciousness
The Ethic of Consciousness: Milton Erickson’s Legacy and the Future of Human Understanding
Milton Erickson’s Revolutionary Approach
Milton Erickson, a world-renowned American psychiatrist and psychologist, transformed the fields of medical hypnosis and family therapy with his innovative methods. He rejected rigid theoretical frameworks, believing they constrained the infinite variety of human thought and behavior. Erickson’s philosophy embraced the boundless creativity of the human mind, recognizing that each individual’s experience is unique and shaped by the vast diversity of the human race.
A Species-Wide Ethic for a Critical Era
Erickson once stated that the possibility of species-wide destruction necessitates a universal ethic. But what is this ethic? At its core, it is a profound respect for the sacredness of life. In an era dominated by objective, mechanistic views—where humans and animals are often reduced to mere hardware and wiring, and artificial intelligence lacks emotion—this ethic centers on the innate capacity of all living beings to feel and experience consciousness. This shared ability to feel fosters a sense of truth, correctness, and interconnectedness, rooted in the mystical essence of life itself. Life, in this view, thrives on cohesiveness, integration, cooperation, and reciprocal maintenance.
This ethic of truth calls for recognizing the inherent value within ourselves and every living entity. While diverse belief systems shape individual notions of right and wrong, a species-wide ethic demands a universal acknowledgment of the sanctity embedded in the soul or depth of every being. Our shared DNA and consciousness unite us, placing humanity at a pivotal moment in history. With knowledge of 14 billion years of cosmological evolution, we bear a responsibility not only for our own lives but for the entire living biosphere of which we are a part.
The Threat of Extinction and Transhumanism
Humanity has faced multiple extinction events, yet each time, it has revived. Today, we confront a new convergence of crises: climate change, biodiversity loss, and the rise of artificial intelligence and transhumanism. Transhumanism, in particular, poses a philosophical challenge, rooted in the notion that life is not eternal and must be preserved through technology to counter the second law of thermodynamics and entropy. Proposals like Elon Musk’s vision of enhancing cognitive abilities by wiring human brains to the internet cloud—already tested on animals—raise ethical concerns. Musk’s deployment of thousands of satellites to enable global 5G transmission, despite potential deleterious effects on biological systems, further complicates this landscape, as authorities often dismiss these risks.
Rethinking Consciousness
Consciousness remains one of the most debated concepts in science. Many scientists view it as a mere epiphenomenon of the brain, but an alternative perspective sees it as an intrinsic aspect of life, expressed through a quantum field rather than a purely electromagnetic one. This view positions consciousness as the essence of truth, manifesting the nature of life in every conceivable way. Research, such as that conducted by the Institute of Noetic Sciences and Dean Radin, supports this idea, demonstrating nonlocal entanglement of minds and the ability to communicate beyond conventional frameworks through intuitive faculties.
This emerging understanding of consciousness calls for a new science—one that transcends traditional boundaries and explores the quantum field as a divine matrix of love. Such a science would harness the super-rational capacities of human beings, enabling access to deeper truths.
The Cambridge Declaration and Morphic Fields
In 2012, the Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness affirmed that humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates that generate consciousness. However, this framing overlooks the concept of a quantum field of consciousness. Biologist Rupert Sheldrake’s theory of morphic fields offers a complementary perspective, suggesting that every life form generates patterns that evolve through interaction with its environment. This dynamic interplay, seen in the growth of plants or an acorn becoming an oak tree, underscores the interconnectedness of life.
A Nested Hierarchy of Existence
Ancient theological thought, from St. Thomas Aquinas to Dionysius the Areopagite, described a hierarchy where divine light flows through intermediaries to humans, with material things subordinate. Modern understanding, however, embraces a nested hierarchy or holonarchy, where complexity emerges through interconnected systems. We are holograms of one another, microcosms of the macrocosm, receiving divine or universal intelligence according to our capacity. The Gnostic Gospels liken this to climbing a mountain only to discover another peak, reflecting the ongoing ascent toward enlightenment inherent in every human.
Interconnection in a Digital Age
Today’s interconnected world—through platforms like YouTube, blogs, and social media—offers unprecedented access to information. Yet, as spiritual masters have long taught, human connection, communication, and relationships remain essential. Mathematician and cosmologist Brian Swimme describes the human as the space where the universe’s comprehensive compassion begins to surface within consciousness. Love, as the act of being seen and heard, enhances consciousness and fosters interdependence, driving positive change in thought and society.
Einstein’s Insight and the Power of Inspiration
Albert Einstein famously said, “You cannot solve a problem from the same level on which it was created.” While resources are finite, the human mind is infinite. The spiritual core of enlightenment lies within every individual, where the universe dwells in an unfolded state. Inspiration—derived from the Latin inspirare, meaning to breathe in—connects us to the essence of life. Our bodies balance oxidation and reduction, breathing in oxygen and exhaling metabolized carbon dioxide, mirroring the give-and-take of life’s essence. Visionaries like Shakespeare, Mozart, and Wordsworth, who drew from nature’s beauty in works like The Prelude, tapped into this universal life force to create timeless art.
Accessing the Unbounded Mind
Meditation, contemplation, and prayer allow access to states of being marked by creativity, stable mood, and reduced depression, as evidenced by electroencephalograms showing slower brainwaves indicative of the unbounded mind. Nichiren, the 13th-century Japanese Buddha, likened the mind to an ocean—deep, mysterious, and infinite, containing treasures of bliss, happiness, and love. This unbounded consciousness, shared by all, reflects the ultimate reality and connects us to the protective entities within the universe’s quantum field.
A New Science for a New Era
As humanity navigates these existential challenges, people are awakening to their innate capacities through a science that transcends conventional limits. This new science removes the constraints of the second law of thermodynamics, embracing the infinite potential of the human mind. By fostering love, connection, and consciousness, we can heal ourselves and our planet, ensuring that the ethic of truth—rooted in the sacredness of life—guides us through the final gateway into a deeper understanding of existence.
