Pari Center for New Learning
Encyclopedia
The Pari Center for New Learning is a non-profit educational center located in the village of Pari in Civitella Paganico
of the Province of Grosseto
, Italy. The center is directed by F. David Peat
, who co-authored the book Science, Order, and Creativity
with theoretical physicist David Bohm
. The center hosts, with the support of its renowned fellows from academia
and the arts, the academy Accademia dei Pari as well as conference meetings.
The center is dedicated to education, learning and research and fosters an interdisciplinary approach linking science, the arts, ethics and spirituality. Above all, the Pari Center for New Learning is dedicated to the principle of “the spirit of place”. Its location in a medieval village provides a setting for visitors of the center to pause and think about the future and the values, meaning and direction of contemporary society
. It is intended that the wooded countryside and traditional farming methods in the surroundings of the center draw attention to the importance of ecological
considerations in comparison to progress and consumerism
.
The Pari Center takes a “gentle” approach to learning, emphasizing human interaction in simple, pleasant surroundings without the intrusion of unnecessary technology. The underlying philosophy and approach is that of Gentle Action laid out in the book by David Peat of the same title.
given by David Peat and other members of the Center's faculty.
The center has hosted the Accademia dei Pari, the name of which has a double meaning in Italian language, signifying both the academy of the people of Pari and the academy of equals. The fellows of the academy include theoretical physicist Basil Hiley
who collaborated over decades with David Bohm, art historian Deborah Klimburg-Salter
who has studied the impact of the Sanghata Sutra
, theoretical physicist Ignazio Licata, astronomer and space scientist Roger Malina
, physicist Roy McWeeny
and Paavo Pylkkänen
who has published articles on consciousness
with Basil Hiley.
Along with organisations in Berlin, London, Stockholm, Tromso and Lisbon, the Pari Center for New Learning is partner in the project UniGrowCity, for which it hosted a members' meeting in November 2011. The project, intended to address experienced-based learning for a more sustainable city of the future, was initiated by six organisations in six European countries and is part of the EU programme Grundtvig on adult education.
The center is associated with Pari Publishing, a small publishing house specialized in science, religion, society, psychology, linguistics and the arts, managed by Eleanor Peat.
Civitella Paganico
Civitella Paganico is a comune in the Province of Grosseto in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 90 km south of Florence and about 30 km northeast of Grosseto in the valley of the Ombrone river....
of the Province of Grosseto
Province of Grosseto
The Province of Grosseto is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Grosseto.-Geography:It has an area of 4,504 km², and a total population of 227.498...
, Italy. The center is directed by F. David Peat
F. David Peat
F. David Peat was born in Waterloo, England and is a holistic physicist and author who has carried out research in solid state physics and the foundation of quantum theory....
, who co-authored the book Science, Order, and Creativity
Science, Order, and Creativity
Science, Order, and Creativity is a book by theoretical physicist David Bohm and physicist and writer F. David Peat. It was originally published 1987 by Bantam Books, USA, then 1989 in Great Britain by Routledge...
with theoretical physicist David Bohm
David Bohm
David Joseph Bohm FRS was an American-born British quantum physicist who contributed to theoretical physics, philosophy, neuropsychology, and the Manhattan Project.-Youth and college:...
. The center hosts, with the support of its renowned fellows from academia
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
and the arts, the academy Accademia dei Pari as well as conference meetings.
Origin and aims
It was created by F. David Peat and Maureen Doolan in 2000, with the support and assistance of external advisors, of the people of Pari, of Pari's village association Sette Colli and of the comune di Civitella-Paganico.The center is dedicated to education, learning and research and fosters an interdisciplinary approach linking science, the arts, ethics and spirituality. Above all, the Pari Center for New Learning is dedicated to the principle of “the spirit of place”. Its location in a medieval village provides a setting for visitors of the center to pause and think about the future and the values, meaning and direction of contemporary society
Contemporary society
Contemporary society, according to social and political scientists, is characterised by at least three fundamental directions:* increasing human interconnection through a network of relationships that is progressively covering the whole planet;...
. It is intended that the wooded countryside and traditional farming methods in the surroundings of the center draw attention to the importance of ecological
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
considerations in comparison to progress and consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
.
The Pari Center takes a “gentle” approach to learning, emphasizing human interaction in simple, pleasant surroundings without the intrusion of unnecessary technology. The underlying philosophy and approach is that of Gentle Action laid out in the book by David Peat of the same title.
Activities
The center's activities include residential courses and conferences that reflect the Center's philosophy, opportunities for scholars and researchers to spend extended periods in Pari as well as mentoringMentoring
Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person....
given by David Peat and other members of the Center's faculty.
The center has hosted the Accademia dei Pari, the name of which has a double meaning in Italian language, signifying both the academy of the people of Pari and the academy of equals. The fellows of the academy include theoretical physicist Basil Hiley
Basil Hiley
Basil Hiley, born 1935, is a British quantum physicist and professor emeritus of the University of London.- Work :Hiley published a paper in 1961 on the random walk of a macromolecule, which was followed by further papers on the Ising model, and lattice constant systems defined in graph theoretical...
who collaborated over decades with David Bohm, art historian Deborah Klimburg-Salter
Deborah Klimburg-Salter
Deborah Klimburg-Salter is an art historian and professor for non-European art history at the Department of Art History of the University of Vienna...
who has studied the impact of the Sanghata Sutra
Sanghata Sutra
The Sanghata Sutra is a Mahāyāna Buddhist scripture widely circulated in northwest India and Central Asia.-History and Background:...
, theoretical physicist Ignazio Licata, astronomer and space scientist Roger Malina
Roger Malina
Roger Malina is a physicist, astronomer, editor-in-chief of Leonardo magazine and distinguished professor at the University of Texas at Dallas. His work focusses on connections among digital technology, science, and art....
, physicist Roy McWeeny
Roy McWeeny
Roy McWeeny, born May 19, 1924 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, is a physicist and academic.His first degree is in Physics from the University of Leeds...
and Paavo Pylkkänen
Paavo Pylkkänen
Paavo Pylkkänen is a Finnish philosopher of mind. He is associate professor in philosophy at Skövde University College and adjunct professor of philosophy at the University of Helsinki...
who has published articles on consciousness
Consciousness
Consciousness is a term that refers to the relationship between the mind and the world with which it interacts. It has been defined as: subjectivity, awareness, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind...
with Basil Hiley.
Along with organisations in Berlin, London, Stockholm, Tromso and Lisbon, the Pari Center for New Learning is partner in the project UniGrowCity, for which it hosted a members' meeting in November 2011. The project, intended to address experienced-based learning for a more sustainable city of the future, was initiated by six organisations in six European countries and is part of the EU programme Grundtvig on adult education.
The center is associated with Pari Publishing, a small publishing house specialized in science, religion, society, psychology, linguistics and the arts, managed by Eleanor Peat.