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The Axial Age and the Emergence of the ‘New Man’

by Sangharakshita

It was in what the philosopher Karl Jaspers called the Axial Age that 'New Men' emerged as pioneers of higher evolution. Sangharakshita explores Jaspers' ideas from a Buddhist perspective.

Talk given in 1969.

This talk is part of the series The Higher Evolution.

Tracks (click play to listen)

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1. Summary of previous lecture (12:54) 
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2. Introduction to the Axial Age (5:14) 
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3. The Promethean Age (6:34) 
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4. The Age of Agriculture (3:02) 
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5. The Axial Age and the Age of Science and Technology (11:42) 
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6. Karl Jasper's account of the Axial Age (6:32) 
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7. Characteristics of the New Man: i. Self-consciousness (4:33) 
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8. ii. True Individuality (2:48) 
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9. iii. Creativity (3:39) 
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10. iv. Aloneness (3:48) 
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11. v. Unpopularity (3:02) 


Total running time: 1:03:48