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The '''eight-circuit model of consciousness''' is a ] originally presented as psychological philosophy (abbreviated "psy-phi"{{sfn|Davis|2019|p=251}}) by ] in books including '']'' (1973) and ''Exo-Psychology'' (1977), later expanded on by ] in his books '']'' (1977)<ref></ref> and '']'' (1983), and by ] in his books ''Angel Tech'' (1985) and ''The Eight-Circuit Brain'' (2009), that suggests "eight periods " within the model.{{sfn|Leary|1987|loc=p. xii}} This model has been described as a potential route towards reconciling different interpretations of what it means to be a human being.{{sfn|Danylova|2017}}{{Unreliable fringe source|reason=journal it is published in notes its index copernicus value|date=June 2023}} The eight circuits, or eight systems or "brains", as referred by other authors, operate within the ]. Each corresponds to its own ] and subjective experience of reality.<ref>Leary, Wilson, Alli, et al. (1977-95).</ref> Leary and Alli include three stages for each circuit, detailing developmental points for each level of consciousness.{{sfn|Leary|1987|loc=7th printing (2011), p. 16}}{{sfn|Alli|2009|p=42}}{{sfn|Leary|Wilson|1979|loc=2nd ed, p. 48}} The '''eight-circuit model of consciousness''' is a ] originally presented as psychological philosophy (abbreviated "psy-phi"{{sfn|Davis|2019|p=251}}) by ] in books including '']'' (1973) and ''Exo-Psychology'' (1977), later expanded on by ] in his books '']'' (1977)<ref></ref> and '']'' (1983), and by ] in his books ''Angel Tech'' (1985) and ''The Eight-Circuit Brain'' (2009), that suggests "eight periods " within the model.{{sfn|Leary|1987|loc=p. xii}} This model has been described as a potential route towards reconciling different interpretations of what it means to be a human being.{{sfn|Danylova|2017}}{{Unreliable fringe source|reason=journal it is published in notes its index copernicus value|date=June 2023}} The eight circuits, or eight systems or "brains", as referred by other authors, operate within the ]. Each corresponds to its own ] and subjective experience of reality.<ref>Leary, Wilson, Alli, et al. (1977-95).</ref> Leary and Alli include three stages for each circuit, detailing developmental points for each level of consciousness.{{sfn|Leary|1987|loc=7th printing (2011), p. 16}}{{sfn|Alli|2009|p=42}}{{sfn|Leary|Wilson|1979|loc=2nd ed, p. 48}}


The model lacks scientific credibility and has largely been ignored in academia.<ref>Cultural historian ] states that Leary hoped to rebuild his academic reputation by pivoting away from psychedelics and toward speculation on human evolution, but that " attempt at scientific credibility was doomed to fail, partly because he was the infamous Timothy Leary and his reputation would always tower over him, but mainly because it simply isn't good science to create a theoretical model and claim that it represents different things at the same time. This
This model doesn't restrict its sources to just mainstream psychology or neurology, but uses concepts or metaphors from diverse modern sciences, transpersonal psychology, and Eastern spiritual traditions which perceive all objects and phenomena as various interrelated aspects of a single supreme reality. That blend has sparked criticism from some as "fringe" science or worse.<ref>Cultural historian ] argues that Leary's idea of the mindmap exemplified by his book '']'' is "arguably Leary's most important work", but was greatly diminished by newspaper accounts of his prison escape and related travails. Journalist ] said that Leary sounded "like a Raving Madman from Outer Space. It was at this point that many of his former followers decided that Tim had overdosed—both on acid and on life." ({{harvnb|Higgs|2006|p=209}}.)</ref>
thinking was, essentially, occult or mystical, and would never be taken seriously by
the establishment."{{harvnb|Higgs|2006|p=236–237}}</ref>


==Overview== ==Overview==

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Philosophical concept by Timothy Leary This article is about Timothy Leary's model of consciousness. For other models of consciousness, see Models of consciousness.

The eight-circuit model of consciousness is a holistic model originally presented as psychological philosophy (abbreviated "psy-phi") by Timothy Leary in books including Neurologic (1973) and Exo-Psychology (1977), later expanded on by Robert Anton Wilson in his books Cosmic Trigger (1977) and Prometheus Rising (1983), and by Antero Alli in his books Angel Tech (1985) and The Eight-Circuit Brain (2009), that suggests "eight periods " within the model. This model has been described as a potential route towards reconciling different interpretations of what it means to be a human being. The eight circuits, or eight systems or "brains", as referred by other authors, operate within the human nervous system. Each corresponds to its own imprint and subjective experience of reality. Leary and Alli include three stages for each circuit, detailing developmental points for each level of consciousness.

The model lacks scientific credibility and has largely been ignored in academia.

Overview

Of the "eight circuits" in this model of consciousness, the first four circuits concern themselves with life on Earth, and the survival of the human species. The last four circuits are post-terrestrial, and concern themselves with the evolution of the human species as represented by so-called altered states of consciousness, enlightenment, mystical experiences, psychedelic states of mind, and psychic abilities. The proposal suggests that these altered states of consciousness are recently realized, but not widely utilized. Leary described the first four as "larval circuits", necessary for surviving and functioning in a terrestrial human society, and proposed that the post terrestrial circuits will be useful for future humans who, through a predetermined script, continue to act on their urge to migrate to outer space and live extra-terrestrially. Leary, Wilson, and Alli have written about the idea in depth, and have explored and attempted to define how each circuit operates, both in the lives of individual people and in societies and civilizations.

The term "circuit" is equated to a metaphor of the brain being computer hardware, and the wiring of the brain as circuitry.

Leary used the eight circuits along with recapitulation theory to explain the evolution of the human species, the personal development of an individual, and the biological evolution of all life.

See also

References

  1. Davis 2019, p. 251.
  2. Cosmic Trigger excerpt
  3. Leary 1987, p. xii.
  4. Danylova 2017.
  5. Leary, Wilson, Alli, et al. (1977-95).
  6. Leary 1987, 7th printing (2011), p. 16.
  7. Alli 2009, p. 42.
  8. Leary & Wilson 1979, 2nd ed, p. 48.
  9. Cultural historian John Higgs states that Leary hoped to rebuild his academic reputation by pivoting away from psychedelics and toward speculation on human evolution, but that " attempt at scientific credibility was doomed to fail, partly because he was the infamous Timothy Leary and his reputation would always tower over him, but mainly because it simply isn't good science to create a theoretical model and claim that it represents different things at the same time. This thinking was, essentially, occult or mystical, and would never be taken seriously by the establishment."Higgs 2006, p. 236–237
  10. Wilson 1983, 21st printing, pp. 33–41.
  11. Leary & Wilson 1979, 2nd ed. (1993), p. 4.
  12. Leary & Wilson 1979, 2nd ed. (1993), p. 86.
  13. Leary 1987, 7th printing (2011), p. 5.

Bibliography

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