The Huxleys' Evolutionary Esotericism

[Paul Ferguson]

"The synthesis of evolutionary theories and esoteric teachings is a significant example of the contact between science and esoterism. The article examines the ideas of British biologist Julian Huxley and his brother Aldous Huxley for their correspondence to the concepts of evolutionary esoterism (E. Profet, V. Hanegraaff, J. Kripple). A distinction between the concepts of ‘evolutionary esoterism’ and ‘evolutionary mysticism’ is introduced. The following ideas are proposed to be the key elements of ‘evolutionary mysticism’: the recognition of the possibility of human transition to a new stage of evolution; the active role of man in evolution and his consideration as an engine of its development; the primacy of mental evolution in relation to physical evolution; the need to develop ‘supernatural abilities’ as a condition of evolution. The correspondence of the project ‘Evolutionary Humanism’ of J. Huxley and O. Huxley's views to the concepts of evolutionary esoterism of E. Profet and J. Krypla is established. The article demonstrates the similarity of the Huxley brothers' views on evolution, in particular their belief in the possibility of group progress through individual self-improvement, and argues for the possibility of studying their ideas about evolution as part of evolutionary esoterism."

In Russian.

https://srr.rsuh.ru/jour/article/view/401

https://www.deepl.com//translator