Fred Kohler (author)
Encyclopedia
Fred Kohler is an inventor, author and lecturer who appears to be the first person to write about the human species becoming a "Societal Organism", (his original terminology) or Super Organism (in the popular modern usage) as a further development in the human evolution of life.
, Germany
in 1920 into a secular, middle-class family of mostly German-Jewish ancestry. His mother died when he was eight years old and his father died when he was eleven. Kohler, an only child, was granted a life-saving visa as an orphan to enter the USA in 1935.
After graduating from Stuyvesant High School
in New York City
in 1937 he was admitted to Cooper Union
, a highly competitive, "tuition-free" college where he was, in 1942, granted a degree in Chemical Engineering
.
Kohler obtained American citizenship in 1943. Unable to join the Armed Forces in World War II
because of eyesight problems, he engaged in war work as an engineer.
Kohler was married for several years in the 1950s, but he has no children nor close relatives.
In 1975 he obtained an M.A. from Southern Oregon University
in Ashland
, Oregon
.
1957 - 1965 Director of Research and Design, Thermatool corporation
1966 - 1967 Chief Engineer, Industrial Microwave Division of Eimac-Varian
Kohler continued to pursue his profession as a research engineer, as a designer of industrial electronic equipment, and as a consultant and lecturer. Kohler was granted many patents for various inventions in the course of his activities. Kohler's achievement with the greatest technological impact was patent 3243753 making possible the polyswitch, an automatically resetting circuit protection device which shuts off a circuit when a current overload is sensed but automatically resets when the surge is over, thus avoiding blown fuses and machine stoppages
Kohler's resettable fuse
is now a passive component of many batteries in computers, VCRs, cars, and a host of other products. The cumulative sales of protective devices utilizing this material have run into several billions of dollars. Kohler derived no monetary rewards from this invention.
a book entitled Evolution and Human Destiny that he started writing in 1950. In this book Kohler argued that there is an integration process in evolution, homologous with other consolidation processes that have occurred in the evolution of life during previous epochs, that is leading in the human species towards the formation of a Super Organism on a higher level of complexity, which Kohler originally called a "Societal Organism." In the form presented, this was a novel concept in 1952 and met with considerable skepticism, but also some support.
Kohler's book has been recently re-introduced to a new generation by being digitized on the internet by the initiative of the Marine Biology Laboratory. Now the concept of an emerging super organism is far more acceptable to the intellectual community. Similar ideas are currently being expressed in several books, perhaps most clearly in "Metaman
" by Dr. Gregory Stock
and "Lucy's Legacy" by Dr. Alison Jolly
.
In 2010 Kohler published on the internet through "Internet Archives" an essay entitled "Evolution and Human Destiny: Reflections of the Author Sixty Years after the Book was Written." In that essay he corrects the antiquated Biology and Chemistry of the original book, but re-affirms his central concepts. He also discusses some unsolved problems in Cosmology
and expresses gratification that the most important concepts in "Evolution and Human Destiny" have largely been vindicated during his lifetime. He also reflects on his own life in that essay.
and is active in discussions concerning the current status and future of humankind.
Early years
Kohler was born in NurembergNuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1920 into a secular, middle-class family of mostly German-Jewish ancestry. His mother died when he was eight years old and his father died when he was eleven. Kohler, an only child, was granted a life-saving visa as an orphan to enter the USA in 1935.
After graduating from Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School , commonly referred to as Stuy , is a New York City public high school that specializes in mathematics and science. The school opened in 1904 on Manhattan's East Side and moved to a new building in Battery Park City in 1992. Stuyvesant is noted for its strong academic...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1937 he was admitted to Cooper Union
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
, a highly competitive, "tuition-free" college where he was, in 1942, granted a degree in Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
.
Kohler obtained American citizenship in 1943. Unable to join the Armed Forces in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
because of eyesight problems, he engaged in war work as an engineer.
Kohler was married for several years in the 1950s, but he has no children nor close relatives.
In 1975 he obtained an M.A. from Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University
is a public liberal arts college located in Ashland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1926, it was formerly known as Southern Oregon College and Southern Oregon State College . SOU offers criminology, natural sciences, including environmental science, Shakespearean studies and theatre arts programs...
in Ashland
Ashland, Oregon
Ashland is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, near Interstate 5 and the California border, and located in the south end of the Rogue Valley. It was named after Ashland County, Ohio, point of origin of Abel Helman and other founders, and secondarily for Ashland, Kentucky, where other...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Industrial activity
1946 - 1956 After World War II he started his own Company designing and building equipment for welding plastics.1957 - 1965 Director of Research and Design, Thermatool corporation
1966 - 1967 Chief Engineer, Industrial Microwave Division of Eimac-Varian
Kohler continued to pursue his profession as a research engineer, as a designer of industrial electronic equipment, and as a consultant and lecturer. Kohler was granted many patents for various inventions in the course of his activities. Kohler's achievement with the greatest technological impact was patent 3243753 making possible the polyswitch, an automatically resetting circuit protection device which shuts off a circuit when a current overload is sensed but automatically resets when the surge is over, thus avoiding blown fuses and machine stoppages
Kohler's resettable fuse
Resettable fuse
A polymeric positive temperature coefficient device is a passive electronic component used to protect against overcurrent faults in electronic circuits...
is now a passive component of many batteries in computers, VCRs, cars, and a host of other products. The cumulative sales of protective devices utilizing this material have run into several billions of dollars. Kohler derived no monetary rewards from this invention.
Philosophical writings
In 1952 Kohler published through the publishing house, Philosophical LibraryPhilosophical Library
Philosophical Library is a United States publisher specializing in psychology, philosophy, religion, and history. It was founded in 1941 by Dagobert D. Runes to publish the works of European intellectuals after the 1930s diaspora in the face of racial and religious discrimination...
a book entitled Evolution and Human Destiny that he started writing in 1950. In this book Kohler argued that there is an integration process in evolution, homologous with other consolidation processes that have occurred in the evolution of life during previous epochs, that is leading in the human species towards the formation of a Super Organism on a higher level of complexity, which Kohler originally called a "Societal Organism." In the form presented, this was a novel concept in 1952 and met with considerable skepticism, but also some support.
Kohler's book has been recently re-introduced to a new generation by being digitized on the internet by the initiative of the Marine Biology Laboratory. Now the concept of an emerging super organism is far more acceptable to the intellectual community. Similar ideas are currently being expressed in several books, perhaps most clearly in "Metaman
Metaman
Metaman: The Merging of Humans and Machines into a Global Superorganism is a 1993 book by author Gregory Stock. The title refers to the concept of a superorganism comprising humanity and its technology....
" by Dr. Gregory Stock
Gregory Stock
Gregory Stock is a biophysicist, best-selling author, biotech entrepreneur, and the former director of the Program on Medicine, Technology and Society at UCLA’s School of Medicine...
and "Lucy's Legacy" by Dr. Alison Jolly
Alison Jolly
Alison Jolly is a primatologist, known for her studies of lemur biology. She has written several books for both popular and scientific audiences and conducted extensive fieldwork on Lemurs in Madagascar, primarily at the Berenty Reserve, a small private reserve of gallery forest set in the...
.
In 2010 Kohler published on the internet through "Internet Archives" an essay entitled "Evolution and Human Destiny: Reflections of the Author Sixty Years after the Book was Written." In that essay he corrects the antiquated Biology and Chemistry of the original book, but re-affirms his central concepts. He also discusses some unsolved problems in Cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
and expresses gratification that the most important concepts in "Evolution and Human Destiny" have largely been vindicated during his lifetime. He also reflects on his own life in that essay.
Recent activity
Kohler has lived as an adult in New York, Hawaii, California, Arizona and in Ashland, Oregon where he has resided since 1984. He has traveled widely and enjoys good physical and mental health for a man who has celebrated his 91st birthday. He still enjoys hiking on the Pacific Crest TrailPacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
and is active in discussions concerning the current status and future of humankind.
Works
- and Human Destiny. New York: Philosophical Library, 1952.
- Evolution and Human Destiny: Reflections of the Author Sixty Years after the Book was Written.", Self-published, 2010.