The Trumpeter - Journal of Ecosophy (Athabasca University)

Shepard, Florence R.

Morton, Kathryn Ann

Paul Shepard: A Photobiography

Drengson, Alan

The Trumpeter  
ISSN: 0832-6193 
Volume 22, Number 1 (2006) 
 
 
SWAN Flies at Oslo Reception 
 
Alan Drengson 
 
We are pleased to announce the official publication of the Selected 
Works of Arne Naess (SWAN) in ten volumes by Springer Publishing. 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
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6Alan Drengson (left), co-editor of the ten-volume Selected Works of 
Arne Naess, with Arne and Inge Bostad, professor of philosophy and 
vice Chancellor of the University of Oslo at the book launch in Oslo.  
Photo by Kit-Fai Naess he official reception, announcing the publication of SWAN, was held 
t the University of Oslo on November 17, 2005. The reception was 
ttended by Arne Naess; his wife Kit-Fai; Harold Glasser, the series 
ditor; Alan Drengson, associate editor; Charles Erkelens, 
epresentative of the publisher; Inge Bostad, professor of philosophy 
nd vice Chancellor of the University of Oslo; and many other 
The Trumpeter  
 
 
distinguished guests. The launch, moderated by Nina Witoszek from 
SUM, was a great success. There was considerable interest in the 10 
elegant volumes that were on display. Music was provided by 
Norwegian violinist Arve Tellefsen, one of Norway’s top violinists. His 
pieces were drawn from traditional folk as well as contemporary music. 
One piece he played is named “Mountains.” Arne’s son Ragnar spoke 
movingly about what he had learned from his father. The reception was 
a solemn and yet funny, joyful celebration of Naess’s life and work. 
Arne arm-wrestled many of the people who shook his hand, and also 
offered to spar with several of them using Gandhian boxing. There were 
many toasts. 
 
This letter from Doug Tompkins, of the Foundation for Deep Ecology, 
which sponsored the SWAN project, was read by Rob Waring at the 
reception.  
 
Hi Arne and Kit-Fai,
 
I have just read your email and was very excited to hear that the set of SWAN 
finally arrived in your hands. I feel like Mission Accomplished! It may have 
taken longer than planned, but it goes to show that if you put your mind to 
something, keep working on it long enough, you can get it done!
 
Of course all the credit really goes to you Arne, because you not only are the 
person behind the thousands and thousands of words and ideas contained 
between the covers, and the reason that all of us worked to get them there. 
You are the light that shines on the path of most all of those who worked on 
the books, each in our own way, within our own capabilities. This was a true 
labor of love. Speaking for myself, although I think I can speak for everyone, 
it is because you changed our thinking and taught us, and we love you for 
that. You have given us reasons beyond those we also may have had to do 
whatever we are doing. There are few who inspire, you are one of them.
 
I hope too that this compilation of your most important work, extraordinary 
by any standard anywhere, will serve its intended purpose and put you 
forever in your rightful place in philosophy history, at the top. Although I am 
not going to say that the Nobel Committee will come around to the 
Philosophers Prize within the next 15 or 20 years while you are still alive, but 
somewhere down the line there will be something to that effect!
 
. . . 
 
All the very best, and have drink for me. 
 
Doug
 
The Selected Works of Arne Naess (SWAN) is now available as a 
complete, boxed set. SWAN information is available from Springer 
Publishers: www.springeronline.com 
Volume 22, Number 1 7
 
Price: October 2005, ISBN: 1-4020-3727-9, US$1,900 (before March 
2006), US$2,300 (after March 2006). 
 
The 10 SWAN volumes are: 
 
Volume I Interpretation and Preciseness 
Volume II Scepticism 
Volume III Which World Is the Real One? 
Volume IV The Pluralist and Possibilist Aspect of the Scientific 
Enterprise 
Volume V Gandhi and Group Conflict 
Volume VI Freedom, Emotion, and Self-Subsistence (in Spinoza) 
Volume VIII Communication and Argument 
Volume VIII Common Sense, Knowledge, and Truth (Selected Papers) 
Volume IX Reason, Democracy, and Science (Selected Papers) 
Volume X Deep Ecology of Wisdom (Selected Papers) 
 
 
The Trumpeter 8 


SWAN Files at Oslo Reception

Devall, Bill

Living in Mixed Communities

Naess, Arne

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Systems:  
Theory, Elements, and Language 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Festschrift Section, Volume 22, Number 1 (2006) 
 
3
 
The Trumpeter  
ISSN: 0832-6193 
Festschrift Section 
Volume 22, Number 1 (2006) 
 
 
 
The Interconnected Universe 
1995 
Arne Naess 
 
 
 
 
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4This short paper was written as a forward to Ervin Laszlo's The Interconnected 
Universe, published in 1995 in Singapore and Riveredge NJ, by World 
Scientific. It is reprinted here with slight revisions. ow, at the end of the twentieth century, it appears that at its beginning 
omething happened which may have a profound influence far into the 
uture. Without losing touch with observation under carefully registered 
onditions, the level of abstract thought in natural science theorizing 
ncreased immensely. The steps of deductions increased proportionally. 
he fundamental theoretical postulates of the new physical theories 
end to contain concepts more and more abstruse, and seemingly of an 
rbitrary character. What for most people must appear as an increase of 
nfounded speculation and more invention than discovery is, in reality, 
he consequence of a liberating synthesis of thought and imagination. 
he wave-like development has impinged upon philosophy in 
npredictable ways. The creative work of Ervin Laszlo is a brilliant 
estimony of how conceptual imagination—deductively related to 
areful observation—can make us see a Cosmos, and our place within 
he Cosmos, in new ways of great inspirational value. Reality as 
onceived by Ervin Laszlo seems to have what I call ‘gestalt 
haracter’—a predominance of internal rather than external relations.  
t is a good thing that Ervin Laszlo uses frequently the term 
speculations’ and does not pretend, for instance, that recent research 
mplies any definite conception of consciousness. He differs from the 
ore uncritical author Stanislaw Grof who says that modern 
onsciousness research reveals “that our psyche has no real 
The Trumpeter  
 
 
boundaries.”1 The book is admirably sober—no spiritual Schwermerai 
in the Kantian sense. 
 
Laszlo rightly emphasizes the simplicity of the theories he explains so 
well. It is a simplicity that takes a lot of training to perceive. Beginners 
find the theories ‘complicated.’ But they have a remarkable simplicity 
in relation to their great power of explanation, the new, formidable 
range of phenomena covered by their conceptual framework. 
 
Some philosophers, and I am one of them, intensely admire the creation 
of mathematical physics—the little we understand of quantum physics 
and Einstein’s space-time theory and its cosmological consequences. 
One of the things we wonder about is what would have happened if the 
famous physical constants, such as the Planck's constants, somehow 
had been different, perhaps only a little bigger or smaller quantities. 
Physicists tend to answer that the evolution of the Cosmos would have 
been vastly different, mostly there would have been no cosmos created. 
What might explain the existence of these precious constants? Did they 
evolve out of something? But how? Ervin Laszlo attempts to answer, 
very, very tentatively, questions of this level of depth. 
 
It does not seem possible that any kind of observation could be of any 
use—at least not today. Answers must be purely speculative, Laszlo 
admits. A lot of postulates seem to be required. Ultimate premises need 
to be tentatively adopted. They might explain otherwise unexplainable 
phenomena. But some simple reflections may help us start to formulate 
clearly the relevant questions. 
 
“A universe of isolated components governed by pure chance could not 
give rise to the orders that now meet our eye,” says Laszlo in his 
preface. I would rather say that even if it were conceivable, the next 
moment might see the destruction of everything. If so, why bother?  
 
Obviously we not only can bother, but we can also contemplate events 
interconnected systematically. Laszlo formulates in his own preface the 
question his book tries to answer: “How could the evolutionary 
trajectories of the many things we observe, or infer from observations—
not only divert but also convert with each other, even when they are 
separated in space and time?”   
 
A central part of Laszlo’s conceptual framework is in what he calls the 
QVI-hypothesis. It is a highly sophisticated theory rather than a 
hypothesis in the terminology I find most convenient. I cannot but hope 
that it is taken seriously by the few professionals who will be able to 
Festschrift Section, Volume 22, Number 1 (2006) 
 
5
judge its scientific merit. Potential readers of the book are advised to 
joyfully continue reading even if many sentences are incomprehensible 
to them. It is a pity that so many stop reading when most of a text is not 
understood. One can get a lot of aha-experience in spite of this. Some 
parts of the conceptual framework are: “the Dirac sea of quantum 
vacuum,” “sequential emergence of diversified, yet ordered, systems,” 
“bias producing interconnections that subtly bias the evolutionary 
trajectories of the universe,” “the holographic field.” Extremely 
simplified, one might say that Laszlo envisions a world that is 
constantly created and where every event that happens locally, as for 
instance what happens in one's consciousness, is connected with what 
happens everywhere else. There is no absolute determinism, but 
evolution has had a measure of bias in favour of certain trajectories, and 
directions, rather than others. Complete randomness is out of the 
question or, strictly speaking, incomprehensible. The time is ripe to 
work out exact theories of general evolution of the Cosmos, 
transcending the usual deep distinction between theories of physics and 
biology, and between the physical and the mental.  
 
There are many of us who wish to see a mounting trend of speculation 
inspired by such courageous, but not pretentious efforts, such as those 
of Ervin Laszlo. 
 
Note 
                                                 
1 Ervin Laszlo. 1995. The Interconnected Universe. Singapore and Riveredge, NJ: 
World Scientific. See especially pp. 5–28. 
 
The Trumpeter 6 


The Interconnected Universe

The World of Concrete Contents

Quick, Tim

Naess on Pluralism

Weston, Anthony

Multicentrism

Gandhian Nonviolent Communication: The Necessity of Training

 
 
The Trumpeter 
Festschrift Section of Volume 22, Issue 1 (Winter 2006) 
Works by Arne Naess  
Alan Drengson and Bill Devall, guest editors for the Naess series 
Introduction ......................................................................................................1 
Total Systems: Theory, Elements, and Language 
Arne Naess 
The Interconnected Universe ............................................................................4 
Arne Naess 
The Limited Neutrality of Typologies of Systems: 
A Reply to Gullvåg ...........................................................................................7 
Arne Naess 
Notes on the Methodology of Normative Systems .........................................14 
Arne Naess 
Possibilism and Reflections on Total Systems................................................29 
Arne Naess 
The World of Concrete Contents ....................................................................43 
Arne Naess and Ingemund Gullvåg 
Vagueness and Ambiguity ..............................................................................56 
Arne Naess 
Is It a Plus to Have a Definite Metaphysics in Common?...............................75 
Arne Naess 
Total Views, Personal or Not? .......................................................................78 
Arne Naess 
Pluralism in Cultural Anthropology: 
Comments on an Article by Hans Skjervheim................................................80 
Relations, Places, and Practices 
Arne Naess 
Self-Realization in Mixed Communities 
of Humans, Bears, Sheep, and Wolves ...........................................................89 
Arne Naess 
Gandhian Nonviolent Communication: 
The Necessity of Training.............................................................................100 
Arne Naess 
Friendship, Strength of Emotion, and Freedom in Spinoza ..........................112 
 


Introduction

Morito, Bruce

  
 
Volume 22 Number 2   Summer 2006 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Publisher 
 
The Trumpeter is published by the 
International Consortium for the Advancement of 
Academic Publication with the support of 
Athabasca University. 
 
 
Editorial Staff 
 
Bruce Morito, Editor 
 
Michael T. Caley, Associate Editor 
 
Thomas Henighan, Poetry Editor 
 
John Ollerenshaw, Managing Editor  
(johno@athabascau.ca) 
 
Editorial Address 
 
The Trumpeter 
Athabasca University 
1 University Drive 
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3 
Canada 
 
 
The Trumpeter is an environmental journal dedicated to the pursuit of understanding and 
wisdom as it attempts to aid in the development of an ecosophy, or wisdom, born of 
ecological understanding and insight. As such, it serves the deep ecology movement’s 
commitment to explore and analyze philosophically relevant environmental concerns in 
light of ecological developments at every relevant level: metaphysics, science, history, 
politics, etc. Depth in penetrating to a deeper understanding involves a comprehensive set 
of criteria that include analytical rigour, spiritual insight, ethical integrity, and aesthetic 
appreciation. 
 
The cover photo, taken by Tim Quick in 2002, shows Arne Naess in the woods outside 
his townhouse on the outskirts of Oslo. Reproduced with permission. 
 
Copyright of all material is held exclusively by the creators, except for material that has 
been previously published.  
 
 

The Trumpeter 
Volume 22, Number 2 (2006) 
Special Issues on Arne Naess, His Life and Work 
Part Two: Extending Naess’s Inquiries 
Bruce Morito 
Editorial ....................................................................................................................................... 1 
Alan Drengson and Bill Devall, guest editors for this Naess series 
Arne Naess, His Life and Work, Part Two: The Continuing Development  
of the Long-range, Deep Ecology Movement .............................................................................. 2 
Ontology, Values, and Pluralism 
Tim Quick 
Holons or Gestalts? A Response to Wilber and Zimmerman....................................................... 9 
Jorge Conesa-Sevilla 
The Intrinsic Value of the Whole: Cognitive and Utilitarian Evaluative Processes as  
they Pertain to Ecocentric, Deep Ecological, and Ecopsychological "Valuing" ........................ 26 
Manual Couret Branco 
The Interaction of Cultural and Economic Factors: Arguments for a Pluralist  
Political Economy of Development............................................................................................ 43 
Nature, Stories, and Rituals 
Petr Kopecký 
Nature Writing in American Literature: Inspirations, Interrelations, and Impacts of  
California Authors on the Deep Ecology Movement ................................................................. 77 
Ruth Rosenhek 
Earth, Spirit and Action: The Deep Ecology Movement 
as Spiritual Engagement ............................................................................................................. 90 
John Seed 
The Ecological Self .................................................................................................................... 96 
Personal Impressions, Possibilities, and Future Visions 
Espen Gamlund 
Arne Naess’s Humanistic Ethic: Personal Impressions and Reflections.................................. 104 
Andrei Whitaker 
Arne Naess and Possibilism ..................................................................................................... 118 
George Sessions 
Wildness, Cyborgs, and Our Ecological Future:  
Reassessing the Deep Ecology Movement............................................................................... 121 
  
 


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