The Philosopher's Stone pdf

Colin Henry Wilson, an English writer, philosopher, and novelist, left an indelible mark on the literary and philosophical landscape. Born on June 26, 1931, in Leicester, Wilson's prolific career spanned across diverse subjects such as true crime, mysticism, the paranormal, and more, resulting in a remarkable collection of over a hundred books.

Wilson coined his philosophy as "new existentialism" or "phenomenological existentialism," reflecting a commitment to forging a new and optimistic existential perspective throughout his life's work. His philosophical endeavors were central to his identity, as he saw himself primarily as a philosopher with the purpose of shaping this innovative existentialism.

Raised in Leicester as the first child of Arthur and Annetta Wilson, he developed an early interest in science during his time at Gateway Secondary Technical School at the age of eleven. By fourteen, he had already compiled a comprehensive work on science titled "A Manual of General Science." However, as he departed school at sixteen, his passion shifted towards literature, sparked by the influential writings of George Bernard Shaw, particularly "Man and Superman."

Colin Henry Wilson's life and contributions encapsulate a journey from early scientific curiosity to a profound exploration of literature and philosophy. His legacy as a writer, philosopher, and explorer of the unknown continues to influence those who delve into the realms of true crime, mysticism, and the paranormal.

The Philosopher's Stone pdf by Colin Wilson

Wilson probably has earned a reputation more as a scholar & biographer than as a novelist; but this novel, originally published in 1969, proves that he possesses significant skills in the area of fiction as well. He weaves a great deal of speculation into the meaning of existence & the future of the species into the plot; so much so that the book at times seems as much a work of philosophy as of fiction. The story centers on the experiences of Howard Lester, an enterprising young intellectual whose work with fellow researcher Henry Littleway leads to the discovery that implanting a minute bit of a metallic alloy into the prefrontal cortex can introduce a higher state of conciousness. (As in the case with Carlos Castaneda in his thematically-similar Don Juan chronicles, the researchers later discover that the artificial catalyst is unnecessary, but rather a convenient means to overcome years of conditioning). Lester & Littleway perform the operation upon themselves & proceed to refine their new skills until they are able to employ a sort of time vision that allows them to tap into racial memories. With this knowledge comes the realization that there are shadowy periods in our species' past that have been kept hidden from us by more powerful beings. Lester relates his moment of insight: "I knew with certainty that there is something in the world's prehistory that cannot be found in any of the books on the past. & it was obscurely connected with [a] sense of evil..." In the course of discovering how the Earth & humankind truly evolved, this tale touches upon everything from Mayan civilization to Abraham Maslow to H.P. Lovecraft's elder Gods.--From Independent Publisher (edited)