Colin Wilson

Colin Wilson was an English writer, philosopher, and novelist whose prolific career spanned over a hundred books. He developed a philosophy he termed 'new existentialism' or 'phenomenological existentialism,' aiming to create an optimistic outlook on existence. Wilson's early work, 'The Outsider,' published when he was 24, became a bestseller and helped popularize existentialist ideas in Britain by examining social alienation in the works of various cultural figures. He was associated with the 'angry young men' literary movement but carved his own path, focusing on philosophical and existential themes.

Throughout his career, Wilson explored a wide range of subjects beyond his initial existentialist focus. He delved deeply into mysticism, the paranormal, true crime, and the nature of consciousness, seeking to understand human potential and experiences of heightened awareness. Wilson developed a concept known as 'Existential Criticism,' arguing that art should be evaluated not only on aesthetic merit but also on its contribution to understanding the meaning of life. His later works increasingly focused on metaphysical themes, exploring concepts like 'Faculty X,' telepathy, and the possibility of life after death.

Born in 1931, Colin Wilson's early life saw a burgeoning interest in science, leading him to compile an extensive manual on the subject by age fourteen. However, by the time he left school at sixteen, his focus shifted towards literature, significantly influenced by George Bernard Shaw. After periods of unfulfilling employment and a brief, conflict-ridden stint in the Royal Air Force, Wilson experienced periods of instability and travel. During a particularly isolated period in Leicester, he began journaling his feelings of alienation, drawing parallels with literary characters. This introspection led to the conception of his first major work, 'The Outsider in Literature,' which he began writing in his journal.

Wilson's breakthrough came with the 1956 publication of 'The Outsider,' a book that analyzed the theme of social alienation in the works of prominent figures like Camus, Sartre, Hemingway, and Dostoyevsky. The book resonated widely, becoming a bestseller and significantly contributing to the popularization of existentialism in Britain. It has remained in print and been translated into numerous languages. Wilson continued to develop his philosophical ideas, which he called 'new existentialism,' aiming for a more optimistic and empowering framework for understanding human existence. This philosophical exploration formed the core of his 'Outsider Cycle' of books written within the first decade of his career.

As Wilson's career progressed, his interests expanded beyond existentialist philosophy to encompass metaphysical and occult subjects. His 1971 book, 'The Occult: A History,' explored figures and concepts such as Aleister Crowley, Gurdjieff, Helena Blavatsky, and Kabbalah. He also authored biographies on spiritual visionaries like Carl Jung and Rudolf Steiner. Wilson investigated phenomena he termed 'Faculty X,' which he believed could lead to heightened meaning and awareness, and explored abilities like telepathy. His later writings touched upon the possibility of life after death and the existence of spiritual realms, reflecting a sustained engagement with the esoteric and the nature of consciousness.

Wilson developed a critical approach he named 'Existential Criticism,' proposing that art's value lies not solely in its aesthetic qualities but in its capacity to address fundamental questions of human existence and purpose. He applied this framework in numerous essays and books, including 'The Strength to Dream' and 'Poetry and Mysticism.' Wilson also wrote extensively on music, true crime, and psychology, notably engaging with the work of Abraham Maslow, whose theories on 'peak experiences' influenced Wilson's ideas about inducing states of heightened consciousness. His prolific output covered a vast array of topics, demonstrating a consistent drive to explore the human condition from multiple perspectives.

“It struck me that I was in the position of so many of my favourite characters in fiction: Dostoyevsky's Raskolnikov, Rilke's Malte Laurids Brigge, the young writer in Hamsun's Hunger: alone in my room, feeling totally cut off from the rest of society. It was not a position I relished . . . Yet an inner compulsion had forced me into this position of isolation. I began writing about it in my journal, trying to pin it down. And then, quite suddenly, I saw that I had the makings of a book. I turned to the back of my journal and wrote at the head of the page: 'Notes for a book The Outsider in Literature'”

“No art can be judged by purely aesthetic standards, although a painting or a piece of music may appear to give a purely aesthetic pleasure. Aesthetic enjoyment is an intensification of the vital response, and this response forms the basis of all value judgements. The existentialist contends that all values are connected with the problems of human existence, the stature of man, the purpose of life. These values are inherent in all works of art, in addition to their aesthetic values, and are closely connected with them.”