From Mind to Supermind: A Statement of Aurobindonian Approach :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

From Mind to Super nous A Statement of Aurobindonian ApproachABSTRACT In personal credit line to Western theories of head, Aurobindos theory is comprehensive and holistic. This theory derives from his ontology. With respect to mind, Aurobindo contends that evolution will not stop with homo sapien. Rather, he posits higher levels of consciousness high Mind, Illumined Mind, Intuitive Mind, Overmind, and Supermind. Higher Mind is an intermediary between the Truth-light above and the human mind. Illumined Mind is Spiritual light. Intuitive Mind possesses swift revelatory vision and bright insight. Overmind acts as an intermediary between Supermind and Intuitive Mind. Supermind contains the self-determining truths of Divine Consciousness it is the Real-Idea inherent in all cosmic force and existence. The various concepts and theories of mind prevalent now have had their origin and development in the West. They can be classified as Psycho-analytical (cf., Sigmund Freud, Karl Jung, A. Adler), Behavioural (cf., Gilbert Ryle), Gestalt (cf., Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, Wolfgang Kohler), Physiological (cf., J. J. C. Smart, U. T. Place, Feigl), Psycho-physical (cf., Karl Popper), Evolutionary (cf., Henry Bergson, Samuel Alexander, Whitehead), serviceable (cf., R. Rorty, Peter Smith, O. R. Jones), and Mental or Homo Sapiens-oriented (cf., Roger Penrose). The outcome of all such discussions is that mind is mysterious and beyond all scientific explanation. According to the main modern view, in particular, there is something essential in human understanding that is not possible to simulate by any computational means. This indicates that the nature of mind continues to remain a source of acute discomfort to the Western thinkers. Even their new empirical findings regarding the highly complex mental acitivity is dubious. The object of this paper is to kick downstairs that in this context of the Wests indecisiveness and perplexity, Aurobindos approach to mind comes as a breath of fresh air. Aurobindos theory of mind is as much inclusive of the essence of the Western schools of thinkers cited above, as it is contrastive. The pioneers in this area from William James and McDougall through Freud, Jung and Adler etc, established the paradigm of the iceberg with character reference to the nature of mind. This can be designated as the infra-structural theory of the entity. The views of the evolutionists (Darwin, Laplace, Bergson, S. Alexander, Whitehead, for instance,) are different but not enriching. All of them fail to recognise that any infra-structure can, and must have, logically speaking, a supra-structure as well, in order to be complete and holistic.