The Noosphere: The Thinking Layer of Earth with Brian Thomas Swimme, Ph.D. and Monica DeRaspe-Bolles

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Are we living in and collectively participating in a planetary nervous system? Does the Earth itself have a reflective capacity and are we all creative participants in guiding Earth’s destiny? Here we focus on the noosphere. The noosphere (from Greek nous, meaning "mind" or "intellect") is a concept describing the planetary sphere of humanity’s cognitive, social, and technological activities, where ideas, communication, culture, and shared knowledge transcend individual minds to create a unified "planetary mind." It represents the third major evolutionary layer enveloping Earth, following the geosphere (inanimate matter) and the biosphere (biological life). As Swimme reports, “The Noosphere is the earth. It is the universe thinking through humans about its own birth and development.” Swimme and DeRaspe-Bolles challenge us to ask ourselves the question: How can I spend less time imposing my ideas about what’s right and wrong on others and replace it with how can I live so that others may live and be creative?  (hosted by Justine Willis Toms)

Bio

Brian Thomas Swimme, Ph.D. is Professor of Evolutionary Cosmology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. He is the Director of the Third Story of the Universe at The Human Energy Project He is the host of the Emmy-award winning PBS special "Journey of the Universe," written with Mary Evelyn Tucker. He is also the host of the 35-part video series "Story of the Noosphere," created for the Human Energy Project. 

Monica DeRaspe-Bolles is a doctoral student at the California Institute of Integral Studies in the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness program. Her area of research is the “Third Story of the Universe” and the potential emergence of a new structure of experience fostering cosmogenic awakening. She is a collaborator with Brian Swimme of the video series “Story of the Noosphere.”

They are the co-authors of the book The Story of the Noosphere (Orbis Books 2024) Illustrated by Brian’s son, Sebastian Swimme.

To learn more about the work of Swimme and DeRaspe-Bolles go to www.humanenergy.io

Topics explored in this dialogue include:

• What is the evolution of collective brains on Earth from simple marine animals to complex human brains
• What is the significance of the launching of the James Webb Space Telescope in 2021
• What is the relevance of knowing our human trajectory from the Paleolithic era to the present
• How can we be in harmonious alignment with earth’s entelechy, with Earth's aim
• Who was the philosopher Zarathustra, born in the 10^th century BCE
• How the universe is in continuous evolution
• What was the significance of the observation of light from the beginning of the universe
• How we are born into a matrix of information that we can draw upon
• How convergence can lead us from nation states to a vibrant Earth community
• How the concept of creativity can replace the concept of consciousness
• Why each of us has a responsibility to add to the tipping point of collectively shifting civilization to a higher trajectory that will benefit the whole earth community

Host: Justine Willis Toms    Interview Date: 7/11/2025   Program Number: 3845

Music Playlist

From Album: Gratitude
Artist: David Darling

Essay Music: Track 01 Laughing At The Moon
Midbreak music: Track 02 Of Faith