IAC

Editor's Foreword

This issue of the JofC is the second in a series of thematic issues. It contains the papers presented during the First Global Symposium on Existential Inversion: Evolutionary Strategies, an event organized by the IAC, in association with the ASSINVEXIS, which took place in Portugal, at the IAC Campus, on November 29 and 30, 2006.

This issue represents a special 'bonus' for the JofC readers who did not have the opportunity to participate in the symposium, as they are now able to access a significant portion of the ideas and debates presented during this event. Papers appear here in the order they were presented at the event.

The focus on Existential Inversion - the central theme of the symposium and therefore of this issue - might be of particular interest to those studying or applying strategies for maximizing evolutionary productivity in their current life, aiming at the completion of their existential program.

The Global Symposium on Existential Inversion was an unprecedented event as it reached a new audience coming from several countries, who gathered at the IAC Campus to be apprised of developments and discussions regarding the technique known as existential inversion (in Portuguese, invéxis). This technique is allegedly accepted today as one of the most effective evolutionary strategies known and studied by conscientiology.

Two of the main strategies (or techniques) studied in conscientiology as a way to increase the chances of completing one's existential program are existential recycling and existential inversion. The latter aims at encouraging prioritization, since the early phase of life, of attaining full altruistic and evolutionary potential of one's life-plan - hence the name, inversion. Consequently, it has the possibility of contributing to accelerating the development of the young individual's inner maturity through the encouragement of applying discernment and lucidity in everyday life situations.

The symposium had an excellent atmosphere. It provided participants with opportunities to debate and learn how to apply this technique and, therefore, to ascertain how it could help them to complete their intended life accomplishments, planned prior to birth.

The existential inversion strategy entails being open to assist others, while constantly maintaining a posture of intimate self-renewal. Often in counter-flow with common societal values, existential inversion involves prioritization of the evolutionary needs of oneself and others.

This technique deeply respects individuals' choices, helping them to better withstand existential robotization (i.e., social pressures related with maintaining tradition as well as with resisting change or disapproving the new/different) and to actively carve out their own path in life, based on their own decision and feeling of what their life plan is or should be.

We hope that journal readers enjoy the challenging and thought-provoking topics covered in this issue. In addition to the papers published in this issue, readers are also invited to review the first edition of the IAC Global Award for Scientific Contribution to Conscientiology, which is available in the 'News and Notices' section. Authors and consciousness researchers are invited to apply for the award and submit their work for evaluation.

The Editor