Are you curious to understand the unfolding of the universe, Earth, and humans by drawing upon both science and the humanities? Interested in what cosmological events contribute to our existence? Want to assess the history & development of cosmological thought as it has unfolded over time & as it spans multiple disciplines in science & humanities?

Long term online programme: Journey of the Universe: A Story for Our Times

Dates: any time

Duration: 5 months

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0 out of 595 ratings (see top rating courses here)

Participating countries: any country

Organizer: Yale University at Coursera

Cost:

  • FREE
  • $49 with sharable certificate

Journey of the Universe: A Story for Our Times

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the unfolding of the universe, Earth, and humans by drawing upon both science and the humanities.

  • Understand what cosmological events contribute to our existence.

  • Assess the history & development of cosmological thought as it has unfolded over time & as it spans multiple disciplines in science & humanities.

Instructors

 

Long term online programme Journey of the Universe: A Story for Our Times:

  • Journey of the Universe: The Unfolding of Life. Journey of the Universe weaves together the discoveries of the evolutionary sciences together with humanities such as history, philosophy, art, and religion. The course draws on the Emmy-award winning film, Journey of the Universe, and the book from Yale University Press.Journey explores cosmic evolution as a creative process based on connection, interdependence, and emergence. It examines a range of dynamic interactions in the unfolding of galaxies, Earth, life, and human communities. It investigates ways in which we understand evolutionary processes and the implications for humans and our ecological future. The Journey course, thus, is based on a new integration that is emerging from the dialogue of the sciences and humanities. Journey tells the story of evolution as an epic narrative, rather than as a series of facts separated by scientific disciplines. This changes our perception so that we begin to see ourselves as an integral part of this narrative. By situating ourselves within this story we can better appreciate the complexity and beauty of processes such as self-organizing dynamics, natural selection, emergence, symbiosis, and co-evolution. As we discover these intricate processes of evolution, we awaken to the beauty and complexity of our natural environment at this critical juncture in our planetary history.
  • Journey Conversations: Weaving Knowledge and Action. Journey of the Universe weaves together the discoveries of the evolutionary sciences together with humanities such as history, philosophy, art, and religion. This course draws on the Journey of the Universe Conversations, a series of 20 interviews with scientists and environmentalists. The first 10 interviews are with scientists and historians who deepen our understanding of the evolutionary process of universe, Earth, and humans. The second 10 interviews are with environmentalists, teachers, and artists who explore the connections between the universe story and the practices for a flourishing Earth community.
  • The Worldview of Thomas Berry: The Flourishing of the Earth Community. Thomas Berry (1914-2009) was a historian of world religions and an early voice awakening moral sensibilities to the environmental crisis. He is known for articulating a “new story” of the universe that explores the implications of the evolutionary sciences and cultural traditions for creating a flourishing future.This course investigates Berry’s life and thought in relation to the Journey of the Universe project. It draws on his books, articles, and recorded lectures to examine such ideas as: the New Story, the Great Work, and the emerging Ecozoic era. The course explores Berry’s insights into cosmology as a context for locating the human in a dynamic unfolding universe and thus participating in the creative work of our times. In particular, we will examine Berry’s reflections on renewal and reform in the areas of ecology, economics, education, spirituality, and the arts. Course Rationale: Thomas Berry was an original, creative, and comprehensive thinker, especially regarding the critical nature of our global environmental crisis. His intellectual importance resides in his response to the ecological crisis by bringing together the humanities and science in an evolutionary narrative. In addition, he articulated the need for the moral participation of the world religions in addressing environmental issues. He came to this realization largely through his study of cosmologies embedded within religious traditions. Sensing the significance of these stories as “functional cosmologies” he explored the widespread influence that these stories transmitted through a tradition, for example, in rituals, ethics, and subsistence practices.