In the study of philosophy your quest often turns into a study of history. History almost always has two sides, and since we generally read the accounts of the victor or the conqueror, the story is often slanted from their view.

As might be expected, this problem has also affected the thoughts of some philosophers, but even so, when you probe the writings of the great thinkers of all time some small constants begin to emerge that are still applicable today.

British historian Arnold Toynbee (1889-1975) offered that: "Civilizations arise not because of genetically superior individuals (there are none) or because of favorable geographical environment, but because of a creative response by a minority of individuals to a situation of special difficulty.?

He continued, " A civilization grows and progresses when the responses to external difficulties are internal and spiritual, rather than external and material.?

Conversely, Toynbee argued, "A civilization breaks down and disintegrates when the creative minority fails to exercise it's creative power, leading to a withdrawal of the allegiance of the majority, a loss of social unity, and a failure of self-determination.?

The concept of the creative minority was also central to the Spanish philosopher Jose' Ortega Y Gasset (1883-1955) who in 1930 concluded in "The Revolt of the Masses? that civilizations were broken down to: the masses and creative minorities.

Ortega wrote: " The prototype of the mass man is the technocrat or the specialist, the person who knows very well a small corner of the universe, but who is ignorant of the rest. The creative minority is a man of dynamic excellence. This man is a hero in that he exerts his will in service to values and goals that are larger than himself; he lives the noble, rather than the common life, in that he lives it as a discipline for which he constantly trains.?

If we were ever at a time when our country could use some enlightened creativity it's today. Our creative minority seems to be shrinking and the masses yearn for a hero.

We have great thinkers and creative individuals to be sure, but no one is stepping up to set goals worthy of our energy.

Men and women of our world who excel in creative new thoughts and ideas, which allow man to stretch his limits, need to do so from the "internal and spiritual? as Toynbee stipulated. We need to be creative in the promotion of self-responsibility and self-determination of the common man and woman, and to eliminate reliance on government sponsored programs for income and services.

In the study of philosophy no matter how far back into history you go, the quest of many great thinkers has included the pursuit of scientific knowledge; the perceptions of understanding truth and existence, and goals of self-mastery and self-realizations.

Scientific goals are narrowing as that community runs out of things to discover, and only can, ultimately, search the heavens and the oceans for new frontiers. Once DNA has been fully explored and deciphered where will science go to explore once again on a grand scale? Only the human brain is left wide open and easily accessible.

Will it finally be time for humans to pursue self-mastery or will the external and materialistic drives continue to overtake our spiritual needs? Can the 21st century man/woman live in a purely externally motivated society and not reach a point where they desire more from life that the next high tech gadget?

The 1930's prophecies of Ortega regarding the specialist are here. Will those individuals become so complacent that they become truly ignorant of the universe around them?

As we exited the 20th century many people were turning to more spiritual ways of life; were they doomsday motivated or genuinely expressing the desire for a committed change?

Purveyors of New Age thinking such as Gary Zukav, Neale Donald Walsch, Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra and others have enjoyed recent limelight with a collective energy that boosted thinking to higher levels.

But in time, will they become as many New Year's resolutions lying dormant on the shelf of unrealized expectations waiting to be admired and explored once again?

If in fact we see continued growth in metaphysical studies, we may have turned the corner and the internal and spiritual may tackle the difficulties of the 21st century with exalted energy after all.

Maybe the fears the 20th century have frightened us into change, and we will actually embrace the power we have to bring love and light to the forefront of mankind's thinking. Unfortunately, it appears those fears will be with us for sometime and the need for continued work is obvious.

Who among us will be the creative minority to tackle the problem? You? Me?

Anyway you look at it it's fun to ponder.

Keith Renninson

Keith E. Renninson is a native of Colorado. After a tour of duty in Viet Nam, he returned home and spent 30 years as a financial planner and insurance agent. He was a two-term President of the Mile-Hi Association of Life Underwriters and four-term President of the Kipling Sun Homeowners Association. He is the Chairman of the 2006 Tour de Cure bicycle ride for the American Diabetes Association in Colorado. Keith is also the current Vice-President of COBRAS (Colorado Organization of Bicycle Racing Seniors).

In 1995, he self-published his first book, ?The Pain & Joy of Love: A Collection of Poetry, Black and White Photography and Short Stories.? In 2003, Keith was the Editor of the Arapahoe Community College Art and Literary Magazine ?The Progenitor,? and in 2004-2005 the Editor of the Arapahoe Observer newspaper.

During eight years of the 1990's, Keith wrote his column, "Philosophically Speaking" for the Downtown Denver News.

In August 2004, Keith's essay "Compassion at Death's Door" was published by The American Legion Magazine and received worldwide acclaim.

When neighbor Michael Conrad Kelley offered they work together on his manuscript ?Zooch the Pooch,? Keith was excited and honored to be involved in such a worthy project. An illustrated children's book and parenting tool, Zooch was published in November of 2005 and is available on their website or at Amazon.com.

Mike and Keith are also professional speakers presenting their inspirational talk & seminar "Seven Simple Steps to a More Fulfilling Life." They can be contacted directly for radio, TV and print interviews.

In December 2006, one of Keith's latest essays, "To Achieve Clarity in Life Make Meditation Part of Your Day" will appear in a new book "101 Ways to Improve Your Life" alongside notable authors such as Mark Victor Hansen of "Chicken Soup for the Soul" fame.

Keith formed Golden Years Videos, LLC with business partner Jeff Forman which produces exercise videos for senior citizens, and those unable to perform standing exercises. Always the exercise enthusiast Keith, wanted to provide a series of videos which would assist those in need of conditioning. You can see more about this at the Golden Years Videos website listed above.

In his leisure time, Keith studies philosophy, competes in American Cycling Association bicycle races around Colorado, loves to downhill ski, practices yoga, writes and climbs the Fourteener?s of Colorado?s Rockies.