AN EVOLVING THEORY OF LEISURE CONSCIOUSNESS
Chester F. McDowell
Loisir et Société / Society and Leisure 1984 DOI: 10.1080/07053436.1984.10715171 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | Argues that a holographic, systems-oriented "re-visioning" of reality and consciousness is replacing the Newtonian-Cartesian mechanistic model, and proposes a tentative model linking this view to leisure. The author contends that mindfulness in leisure allows one to "lose oneself" in transpersonal subjective experience, so leisure may be characterized as a state of spirit rather than merely a state of mind or body. |
Abstract
The author suggests that are-visioningof reality is taking place, and is affecting science, arts, and metaphysical inquiry. New paradigms of thought support a systems, or bootstrap, approach which views reality and consciousness from a holographic perspective, rather than from an antiquated Newtonian-Cartesian mechanistic model. The author attempts to draw a relationship between such new perspectives of reality/consciousness and leisure. A tentative, explorative model for leisure consciousness is conceptually supported by analyzing 1) horizontal and vertical modes of consciousness, as affected by the physiological evolution of the brain, 2) a spectrum psychological view of consciousness, 3) the ordinary objective and transpersonal subjective nature of experience and consciousness, 4) the holographic concept, 5) the role of optimism, both physiologically and psychologically, and 6) the nature of leisure as aesthetic experience. The author concludes by suggesting that a state of mindfulness in leisure can allow one to «lose oneself» within the underlying spirit of transpersonal subjective experience, beyond the body mind preoccupation inherent in ordinary objective consciousness. Thus leisure may be characterized not merely as a state of mind or state of body, but a state of spirit.