This text is intended to be something of a reflective journey. One that follows the rise of consciousness suggested as an information-processing mode of development. The journey comes to involve a consideration of the development of civil life - religion, the sciences, philosophy, governance, the arts - A primary theme is 'evil' and how this has been expressed as an integral, if dismal, aspect of humankind's history. As well as being descriptive and analytic, the text also seeks to offer a challenge to the reader. For you to decide whether to go through life more as a passive observer accepting the relativity of your social circumstances ......or to seek to transcend these and chose to engage with the global issues - environment, conflict, inequality - facing humankind as a species. To, in effect, chose to become entangled with the issues of our time.