   6 Jan 2015 @ 09:55, by Heiner Benking
Before I went to bed I found the Editorial: Sustainable Development as a "New Epiphany" [link] in the January 2015 issue of Mother Pelican. [link]
Only after looking at the definition I got what was meant: a moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way
and when checking further in WIKIPEDIA:
"An epiphany (from the ancient Greek ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia, "manifestation, striking appearance") is an experience of sudden and striking realization. Generally the term is used to describe scientific breakthrough, religious or philosophical discoveries, but it can apply in any situation in which an enlightening realization allows a problem or situation to be understood from a new and deeper perspective. Epiphanies are studied by psychologists[1][2] and other scholars, particularly those attempting to study the process of innovation.[3][4][5]
Epiphanies are relatively rare occurrences and generally follow a process of significant thought about a problem. Often they are triggered by a new and key piece of information, but importantly, a depth of prior knowledge is required to allow the leap of understanding.[3][4][6][7] Famous epiphanies include Archimedes's discovery of a method to determine the density of an object ("Eureka!") and Isaac Newton's realization that a falling apple and the orbiting moon are both pulled by the same force.[8][6][7] check WIKIPEDIA for the [footnotes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(feeling) ].
For me it was before something supernatural and religious, but now I agree with Lois that there is a need for epiphanies for Sustainable Development - read the editorial and the journal ! [link]
and maybe in an earlier issue of Mother Pelican my "Ignorance or Compassion" [link] elegantly polished by Louis....
Recalling "maimeutics" by my friend and mentor Helmut Krauch [link] one of the very few special and fine people I have met, I wonder how can make such rare "super"natural heurica "normal" as we need special help and guidance not only on holidays like today, but to adress the malaise and problematique [link] not only of "Sustainable Development". more about addressing this you can find at the 21stCentury Agora website... [link]
I recommend Quickstorming [link] by Hans Morawa, The New Renaissance https://www.scimednet.org/content/towards-new-renaissance-3-harmonising-spirituality-nature-and-health events by the SMN [link] (check Marilyn Wilhelm [link] - Her Wilhelm Scholê [link] and my slides [link]) and The Book of Synergy by Achmed Khamas [link] (see how Klaus Töpfer recommends it !) Both recommendations might provide some learning about what is already there and how to engage it ! Another recommendation needed? Grand Challenges in Environmental Sciences (2001) [link] check the evaluation process and find out which GRAND CHALLENGES have been taken already and which were ignored/forgotten...
Besides: New Year I decided to bring the central stories or paradigms I work on and feel should be brought together onto the STORIES [link] page of GlobalThinkers. Enjoy as I feel there are there well situated in a more terse and appropriate environment than this overfloodding blog!
Notes:
RSA and Chrispin Tikell and Dunlop ***
Don, are you saying that spirituality is linked to "the likelihood of their active participation in pursuit of paradigm change"? I can think of no one with greater 'likelihood of their active participation in pursuit of paradigm change" than rightwing Republicans. Their "Federalist Society," for example, has very actively and successfully pursued a paradigm change with respect to the interpretation of the due process and commerce clauses of the United States Constitution, and can now point with pride to having achieved that paradigm shift in the minds of at least four members of the United States Supreme Court. a much greater achievement in pursuit of paradigm change than any other group in American society over the last half century.. They are, in particular, responsible for the "Citizens United" decision, which represents a stunningly significant paradigm change.as to the meaning and operation of "representative democracy" itself. I'm not sure the word spiritual would have come to mind, but perhaps you were focusing primarily on nice paradigm changes. ************
Epiphany (feeling)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the feeling. For other uses, see Epiphany.
An epiphany (from the ancient Greek ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia, "manifestation, striking appearance") is an experience of sudden and striking realization. Generally the term is used to describe scientific breakthrough, religious or philosophical discoveries, but it can apply in any situation in which an enlightening realization allows a problem or situation to be understood from a new and deeper perspective. Epiphanies are studied by psychologists[1][2] and other scholars, particularly those attempting to study the process of innovation.[3][4][5]
Epiphanies are relatively rare occurrences and generally follow a process of significant thought about a problem. Often they are triggered by a new and key piece of information, but importantly, a depth of prior knowledge is required to allow the leap of understanding.[3][4][6][7] Famous epiphanies include Archimedes's discovery of a method to determine the density of an object ("Eureka!") and Isaac Newton's realization that a falling apple and the orbiting moon are both pulled by the same force.[8][6][7]
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Process
3 Myth
4 In religion
5 See also
6 References
History[edit]
The word epiphany originally referred to insight through the divine.[9][10] Today, this concept is used much more often also without such connotations, but a popular implication remains that the epiphany is supernatural, as the discovery seems to come suddenly from the outside.[9]
The word's secular usage may owe some of its popularity to James Joyce, who expounded on its meaning in the fragment Stephen Hero and the novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Referring to those times in his life when something became manifest, a deep realization, he would then attempt to write this epiphanic realization in a fragment. Joyce also used epiphany as a literary device within each short story of his collection Dubliners as his protagonists came to sudden recognitions that changed their view of themselves or their social condition and often sparking a reversal or change of heart. For the philosopher Emmanuel Lévinas, epiphany or a manifestation of the divine is seen in another's face (see face-to-face).
From "L'atmosphere" book of 1888
In traditional and pre-modern cultures, initiation rites and mystery religions have served as vehicles of epiphany, as well as the arts. The Greek dramatists and poets would, in the ideal, induct the audience into states of catharsis or kenosis, respectively. In modern times an epiphany lies behind the title of William Burroughs' Naked Lunch, a drug-influenced state, as Burroughs explained, "a frozen moment when everyone sees what is at the end of the fork." Both the Dadaist Marcel Duchamp and the Pop Artist Andy Warhol would invert expectations by presenting commonplace objects or graphics as works of fine art (for example a urinal as a fountain), simply by presenting them in a way no one had thought to do before; the result was intended to induce an epiphany of "what art is" or is not.
Process[edit]
Despite its popular image, epiphany is the result of significant work on the part of the discoverer, and is only the satisfying result of a long process.[11] The surprising and fulfilling feeling of epiphany is so surprising because one cannot predict when one's labor will bear fruit, and our subconscious can play a significant part in delivering the solution; and is fulfilling because it is a reward for a long period of effort.[4][11]
Myth[edit]
A common myth predicts that most if not all innovation occur through epiphanies.[6] Not all innovations occur through epiphanies; Scott Berkun notes that "the most useful way to think of an epiphany is as an occasional bonus of working on tough problems".[7] Most innovations occur without epiphany, and epiphanies often contribute little towards finding the next one.[7] Crucially, epiphany cannot be predicted, or controlled.[7]
Although epiphanies are only a rare occurrence, crowning a process of significant labor, there is a common myth that epiphanies of sudden comprehension are commonly responsible for leaps in technology and the sciences.[6][7] Famous epiphanies include Archimedes' realization of how to estimate the volume of a given mass, which inspired him to shout "Eureka!" ("I have found it!").[3] The biographies of many mathematicians and scientists include an epiphanic episode early in the career, the ramifications of which were worked out in detail over the following years. For example, allegedly Albert Einstein was struck as a young child by being given a compass, and realizing that some unseen force in space was making it move. Another, perhaps better, example from Einstein's life was his imagining an elevator falling, and realizing that a passenger would not be able to tell the difference between the weightlessness of falling, and the weightlessness of space - which led to his theory of General Relativity, which posited that gravitation was caused by a curvature of space. He surely must have had a similar experience in understanding that Maxwell's equations resulted in the speed of light being constant from any frame of reference - leading to Special Relativity. A similar flash of holistic understanding in a prepared mind was said to give Charles Darwin his "hunch" (about natural selection) during The Voyage of the Beagle. Another famous epiphany myth is associated with Isaac Newton's apple story.[4] Though such epiphanies might have occurred, they were almost certainly the result of long and intensive periods of study those individuals had undertaken, rather than an out-of-the-blue flash of inspiration about an issue they had not thought about previously.[6][7]
Epiphanies can be distinguished by a (usually spiritual) vision, as epiphanies are often triggered by irrelevant incidents or objects.[8][12]
In religion[edit]
Further information: Epiphany (holiday), theophany and hierophany
In Christianity, the Epiphany refers to a realization that Christ is the son of God. Western churches generally celebrate the Visit of the Magi as the revelation of the Incarnation of the infant Christ, and commemorate the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. Traditionally, Eastern churches celebrated Epiphany (or Theophany) in conjunction with Christ's baptism by John the Baptist and celebrated it on January 19; however, many have begun to adopt the Western custom of celebrating it on January 6, the twelfth day of Christmas.[13] Protestant churches often celebrate Epiphany as a season, extending from the last day of Christmas until Ash Wednesday.
In more general terms, the phrase "religious epiphany" is used when a person realizes his faith, or when he is convinced that an event or happening was really caused by a deity or being of his faith. In Hinduism, for example, epiphany might refer to Arjuna's realization that Krishna (incarnation of God serving as his charioteer in the "Bhagavad Gita") is indeed representing the Universe. The Hindu term for epiphany would be bodhodaya, from Sanskrit bodha 'wisdom' and udaya 'rising'. Or in Buddhism, the term might refer to the Buddha obtaining enlightenment under the bodhi tree, finally realizing the nature of the universe, and thus attaining Nirvana. The Zen term kensho also describes this moment, referring to the feeling attendant on realizing the answer to a koan.
See also[edit]
Anagnorisis
Eureka effect
Gnosis
Hierophany
Lateral thinking
Peripeteia
Satori
Theophany
Apophenia
References[edit]
Jump up ^ Arianna Jarvis (1996). Taking a break: Preliminary investigations into the psychology of epiphanies as discontinuous change experiences. University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
Jump up ^ McDonald, Matthew (2008). "The Nature of Epiphanic Experience". Journal of Humanistic Psychology 48 (1): 89–115. doi:10.1177/0022167807311878. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
^ Jump up to: a b c Scott Berkun (27 August 2010). The Myths of Innovation. O'Reilly Media, Inc. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-4493-8962-8. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Scott Berkun (27 August 2010). The Myths of Innovation. O'Reilly Media, Inc. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-1-4493-8962-8. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
Jump up ^ David Adams Leeming; Kathryn Madden; Stanton Marlan (September 2009). Encyclopedia of psychology and religion. Springer. p. 287. ISBN 978-0-387-71801-9. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Guy Kawasaki (1 December 2008). Reality check: the irreverent guide to outsmarting, outmanaging, and outmarketing your competition. Penguin. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-59184-223-1. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Scott Berkun (27 August 2010). The Myths of Innovation. O'Reilly Media, Inc. pp. 13–15. ISBN 978-1-4493-8962-8. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b Wim Tigges (1999). Moments of moment: aspects of the literary epiphany. Rodopi. p. 43. ISBN 978-90-420-0636-2. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b Scott Berkun (27 August 2010). The Myths of Innovation. O'Reilly Media, Inc. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-4493-8962-8. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
Jump up ^ Platt, V. J. (2011) Facing the Gods. Epiphany and Representation in Graeco-Roman Art, Literature and Religion. Cambridge University Press.
^ Jump up to: a b Scott Berkun (27 August 2010). The Myths of Innovation. O'Reilly Media, Inc. pp. 6–8. ISBN 978-1-4493-8962-8. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
Jump up ^ Scott Berkun (27 August 2010). The Myths of Innovation. O'Reilly Media, Inc. pp. 11–12. ISBN 978-1-4493-8962-8. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
Jump up ^ "The Season of Epiphany". Crivoice.org. 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
_________
eligion and social sciences[edit]
Epiphany (holiday), a Christian holiday on January 6 celebrating the appearance of the infant Jesus to the Magi
Epiphany season, the liturgical season following the Christian holiday
Epiphany (feeling), an experience of sudden and striking insight
Theophany, the appearance of a deity to a human being
Literature[edit]
Epiphany (novel), a 1997 novel by David Hewson
Epiphany, a lyrical poem by Tapan Kumar Pradhan
"Epiphany", a 1999 short story by Connie Willis
Business and technology[edit]
Epiphany, Inc., a software development company
Epiphany, previous name of Web (web browser), the GNOME graphical computing desktop
Epiphany, a multi-core processor made by Adapteva
Art[edit]
The Epiphany (Bosch), a triptych and earlier panel painting Epiphany by Hieronymus Bosch
Epiphany (painting), by Dutch painter Gerbrand van den Eeckhout
Epifania, a drawing by Michelangelo
Television and film[edit]
"Epiphany" (Angel), a 2001 episode of Angel
"Epiphany" (Stargate Atlantis), a 2005 episode of Stargate Atlantis
"Epiphany" (Desperate Housewives), a 2010 episode of Desperate Housewives
Epiphany Johnson, a character on the American soap opera General Hospital
"Epiphanies" (Babylon 5), a 1997 episode of Babylon 5
"Epiphanies" (Battlestar Galactica), a 2006 episode of Battlestar Galactica
"Epiphany", a character played by Lisa Bonet in the film Angel Heart
"Epiphany", a 1989 episode of War of the Worlds
"The Feast of Epiphany", a 2008 episode of Brothers & Sisters
Music[edit]
Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1, 1996 compilation album by Chaka Khan
Epiphany (T-Pain album), 2007 album by T-Pain
Epiphany (Ian Villafana album), 2010 album by Ian Villafana
Epiphany (Manafest album), 2005 album by Manafest
Epiphany (Chrisette Michele album), 2009 album by R&B singer Chrisette Michele
Epiphany (Chrisette Michele song), the lead single from the album of the same name
Epifanie (Berio), a musical composition by the Italian composer Luciano Berio
"Epiphany", a song by Bad Religion from their 2002 album The Process of Belief
"Epiphany", a song by Staind from their 2001 album Break the Cycle
"Epiphany", a song by Bowling For Soup from their 2006 album The Great Burrito Extortion Case
"Epiphany", a song by The Ocean from their 2007 album Heliocentric (The Ocean Collective album)
"Epiphany", a song by The Word Alive from their 2010 album Deceiver (The Word Alive album)
"Epiphany", a song by Stephen Sondheim in his musical, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
"Epiphany", a song on the Crank: High Voltage (soundtrack)
People[edit]
Epiphany (wrestler), ring name of the professional wrestler, Devorah Frost
Epiphanny Prince, a basketball player
John of Epiphania, sixth-century Byzantine historian
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