Ervin László facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ervin László
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László (center) with Tamás Paulinyi (left) and Bence László Tarr (right), circa 2007
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| Born | 12 June 1932 Budapest, Hungary
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| Died | 29 June 2026 (aged 94) Cecina, Italy
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| Citizenship | Hungarian American |
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| Spouse(s) |
Carita Jägerhorn
(m. 1956) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | honorary doctorate from University of Pécs |
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Ervin László (born June 12, 1932, died June 29, 2026) was a brilliant thinker. He was a Hungarian-American philosopher, a systems theorist, and a talented classical pianist. László explored big ideas about how the universe works. He also studied how our minds and the world are connected.
Contents
Who Was Ervin László?
Early Life and Musical Talent
Ervin László was born in Budapest, Hungary, on June 12, 1932. His father made shoes, and his mother was a pianist. Ervin started playing the piano at age five. He was very talented. At just nine years old, he performed with the famous Budapest Symphony Orchestra. After World War II, László moved to the United States.
A Career in Science and Ideas
László taught at the Graduate Institute in Bethany, Connecticut. He wrote many books, about 75 in total. He also published over 400 articles. He was the editor of a journal called World Futures. In 2010, he became a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He also helped lead a campaign in Hungary. This campaign focused on protecting the environment and addressing global warming.
Family and Later Years
Ervin László married Carita Jägerhorn on November 16, 1956. They had two sons, including Alexander Laszlo. Ervin László passed away on June 29, 2026. He was 94 years old.
László's Big Ideas
Understanding Systems
Ervin László was a big supporter of Ludwig von Bertalanffy's general systems theory. This idea looks at how different parts of something work together as a whole system. László believed this theory was important for science. He also thought it could help us understand human values. He felt it showed how we should respect all natural systems around us.
Working for a Better Future
The General Evolutionary Research Group
In 1984, László helped start a group called the General Evolutionary Research Group. This group included many scientists and thinkers. They met in secret to discuss big ideas. Their main goal was to find new ways to understand evolution. They hoped this understanding could lead to a better world for everyone.
The Club of Budapest
In 1993, László created the Club of Budapest. He wanted this club to focus on human values and awareness. He believed these were key to solving global problems. The club aimed to guide the world towards a future of kindness, good choices, and a healthy planet.
The Akashic Field: A Universe of Information
In his 2004 book, Science and the Akashic Field, László shared a fascinating idea. He suggested that the entire universe is filled with a special field of information. He called this the "Akashic field" or "A-field." The word Akasha comes from ancient languages and means "space." László thought this field holds all the information about the universe. It includes everything from the past, present, and even future. He believed this field helps explain why our universe seems perfectly set up for life. It also suggests that evolution might be a guided process, not just random.
Exploring Consciousness
László also explored ideas about consciousness with Anthony Peake. Peake studied how special experiences, like deja vu or vivid dreams, sometimes feel like they show us the future. He wondered if these feelings were actually memories from a past version of our lives. László and Peake wrote a book together called The Immortal Mind. It looked at how our consciousness might continue even beyond our physical brain.
Changing the World Together
In his book You Can Change the World, László encouraged people to work together. He suggested that groups focused on sustainable development could connect online. This way, they could make a bigger difference for the planet.
Sharing His Story
László also wrote a book about his own life. It was called Simply Genius! And Other Tales from My Life. This book was published in 2011.
Awards and Recognition
In 2002, Ervin László received a special award. He was given an honorary doctorate from the University of Pécs in Hungary. This was a recognition of his important work.
Books by Ervin László
- Introduction to Systems Philosophy: Toward a New Paradigm of Contemporary Thought, Gordon and Breach, 1972; Harper Torchbooks, 1973.
- The Systems View of the World: A Holistic Vision for Our Time, Hampton Press, 1996.
- The Whispering Pond: A Personal Guide to the Emerging Vision of Science, Element Books, Ltd., 1996.
- Evolution: The General Theory, Hampton Press, 1996.
- Macroshift: Navigating the Transformation to a Sustainable World, Berrett - Koehler, 2001
- The Connectivity Hypothesis: Foundations of an Integral Science of Quantum, Cosmos, Life, and Consciousness, State University of New York Press, 2003.
- You Can Change the World: The Global Citizen's Handbook for Living on Planet Earth: A Report of the Club of Budapest, Select Books, 2003.
- Science and the Akashic Field: An Integral Theory of Everything, Inner Traditions International, 2004.
- Science and the Reenchantment of the Cosmos : The Rise of the Integral Vision of Reality, Inner Traditions, 2006.
- The Chaos Point: The World at the Crossroads, Hampton Roads, 2006.
- Quantum Shift in the Global Brain: How the New Scientific Reality Can Change Us and our World, Inner Traditions, 2008.
- WorldShift 2012: Making Green Business New Politics & Higher Consciousness Work Together, McArthur & Company, 2009.
- The Immortal Mind: Science and the Continuity of Consciousness Beyond the Brain, with Anthony Peake, Simon and Schuster, 2014.
- The Intelligence of the Cosmos, Inner Traditions, 2017.
- Reconnecting to the Source: The New Science of Spiritual Experience, How It Can Change You, and How It Can Transform the World, St. Martin's Essentials, 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Ervin László para niños
