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IHCMD Online Study/Training Program
Sustaining Human Existence in Changing Conditions
and Human Conceptual and Mental Development
Beyond Religion, Philosophy and Science:
Setting the Conceptual and Mental Conditions
(October 1999 to April 2000)
A. Program
The Institute for Human Conceptual and Mental Development (IHCMD) is presenting an Online Study and Training Program: Sustaining Human Existence in Changing Conditions and Human Conceptual and Mental Development -- Beyond Religion, Philosophy and Science: Setting the Conceptual and Mental Conditions (starting at the first full week of October 1999 and continuing until the end of April 2000).
The Program is an exercise in individual conceptual and mental development. Developing individual understanding and mental skills and practices to comprehend and manage human existence in equitable and sustainable ways in changing conditions, individually setting the conceptual and mental conditions.
B. Focus and Background
The focus and concentration of the Program are persisting and growing human, social, and environmental conditions, problems and challenges we face today individually, as societies and as a species globally. The objective is understanding the fundamentals and principles of the nature and conditions and of comprehending and managing, primarily human mental existence, the nature, origins and common human causes and the direction of the answers and solutions to the conditions and problems we face. The approach is establishing clarity and coherence of mind and detailed and in-depth understanding of the known reflected in human experience, not pushing the frontiers of the unknown.
The Online Program will take participants through a discussion of; (a) the fundamental and common nature, conditions, demands and challenges, especially of human mental existence; (b) the historical path of human conceptual and mental development, of human beings trying to comprehend and manage their existence that has brought humanity to where we find ourselves today; (c) where today we are in conceptual and mental development, the understanding and the mental skills and practices we develop and on which we rely in comprehending and managing human existence, their limits, shortcomings and problematic human, social and ecological consequences; and (d) the direction we need to take individually and as a species in conceptual and mental development to address the conditions and problems we face, change the historical path of human development and sustain human existence in equitable ways in changing conditions and narrowing natural parameters within the boundaries set by nature.
The Program presents an approach to understanding beyond religion, philosophy and science to set the conceptual and mental conditions to manage existence in equitable and sustainable ways in changing conditions and narrowing natural parameters. It presents a different view of the fundamentals and principles of the nature and conditions and comprehending and managing human existence and human development and the nature and causes, answers and solutions to the conditions and problems we face. The Program provides a conceptual framework to understand, and differentiate and distinguish between natural and socio-cultural conditions and developments and between individual and social-collective reality and conditions, needs and challenges, and contradictions and conflicts between them. A conceptual framework to differentiate and distinguish between natural conditions and change that lie beyond human control to which we must respond and adjust, and socio-cultural conditions and developments, which are the product of human choices, decisions and actions for which we must take responsibility and which must be corrected where they contradict and conflict with and fall short in responding to natural conditions and demands of existence. And to differentiate and distinguish between social-collective and individual conditions, order and stability, and contradictions and conflicts between them.
The Online Study and Training Program is based on a long term and ongoing study, Sustaining Human Existence in Changing Conditions (SHEHCMD) Study, which is part of a larger project, Human Conceptual and Mental Development (HCMD) Project, of the Institute for Human Conceptual and Mental Development (IHCMD). The material has previously been presented Online as an introduction to the issues and the Human Conceptual and Mental Development perspective in a six-week Online Workshop in 1997, an eight-month Online Sessions in 1998 and a four-month Online Summer School in 1999. The Online Study and Training Program presents the material not merely as an introduction to the issues and perspective but as a study and training program of individual conceptual and mental development, of setting individually the conceptual and mental conditions to sustain human existence in changing conditions. (For information about the SHEHCMD Study, the HCMD Project and Institute see the IHCMD web site at http://www.ncf.ca/~ab097/ihcmd.htm.)
C. Conceptual & Mental Development
The Program is designed for those intend on developing their own understanding and mental skills and practices as a necessary first step to deal with persisting and growing human, social and environmental conditions and problems locally and globally and set the conceptual and mental conditions to sustain human existence in changing conditions and narrowing natural parameters within the limits defined by nature. The Program is designed for those who see current efforts to be limited, with traditional and contemporary approaches concentrating primarily on symptoms, consequences and crises, instant relieve and short and medium term measures, but not touching on more fundamental and deeper rooted problems and causes and considering long term change. It is designed for those who want to move beyond the conceptual limits and shortcomings of conventional understanding and practice and the limits of their own conceptual framework through individual conceptual and mental development and growth.
Conceptual development will involve developing individually clarity and coherence of mind and detailed and in-depth understanding of the fundamentals and principles of the nature and conditions and of comprehending and managing, especially mental existence and mental reality, of the nature, causes and the direction of the answers and solutions to the conditions and problems of existence and the conceptual and mental conditions of sustaining human existence in changing conditions. Conceptual development involves moving beyond generalities, unsubstantiated and unwarranted beliefs and speculation and abstractions about the nature and conditions of human existence and human development. It involves moving beyond individual doubt, fear and confusion, uncertainty and insecurity. It involves individually establishing greater clarity and coherence of mind and detailed and in-depth understanding of the known reflected in human experience.
Mental development involves developing individually, through constant exercise and practice the mental skills of focusing, directing and concentrating the mind and conscious awareness, mental discipline, flexibility and effort, being mentally alert, active and engaged. It includes developing the mental skills and practice of establishing and maintaining mental order, stability and certainty, making sense of individual experience--the changing contents of sensory perceptions, feelings and sensations, establishing clarity and coherence of mind and detailed and in-depth understanding of the nature and conditions of existence reflected in human experience, creating clear and detailed image in conscious awareness and connecting them into a coherent conceptual framework. It includes developing the mental skills and practice to make informed and considered choices, clear and firm decisions, careful and detailed planning and organizing of goals and objectives, systematic, step-by-step directing and guiding actions and responses and clearly and concisely articulating and communicating one's understanding, choices and decisions, plans and objectives, actions and responses.
D. Who Should Participate
The Online Study and Training Program will be of interest to those concerned with the direction of human development and comprehending and managing human existence in equitable and sustainable ways in changing conditions and narrowing natural parameters within the limits set by nature. It will benefit those with an interest and concerned and those actively engaged in dealing with persisting and growing human, social, economic, and environmental conditions and problems in education (both educators and students), academia and science, international development, public policy, NGOs and social movements. The Program will be of interest to those concerned with issues of peace, social and economic justice and equality, human rights, sustainable development, education and human, cultural, social, economic, scientific-technological development and change. The Program should be of interest especially to educators and trainers.
E. Information and Registration
For more details and registration information see the IHCMD web site at http://www.ncf.ca/~ab097/ihcmd.htm or contact Dr. Axel Dorscht at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Dr. Axel Dorscht | Institute for Human Conceptual
Tel: 1-613-233-8354 | and Mental Development (IHCMD)
Fax: 1-613-233-8354 (call first) | 9 Second Avenue, Suite 2
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Ottawa, ON K1S 2H2 Canada
Website: http://www.ncf.ca/~ab097/ihcmd.htm
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