Hi Linda, only through dating a girl that was studying philosophy. By my generation, UK Grammar schools were geared towards producing economists, accountants, doctors and scientists rather than philosophers, so I'm a bit of an ignoramus in that respect; and I'm not inclined to dig through that particular heap to find the gems, rather I rely on fate to present me with the gems I need to discover; and by and large fate has not failed me. Have you encountered Colin Stott? http://www.philosophy-dynamism.co.uk/colin-stott/
BTW, there's another Colin Stott from Manchester UK, I think he may appeal to Kevin http://www.colinstottdowser.co.uk/contact.asp
I think Pere Teilhard de Chardin was one of those people who glimpsed the flow and evolution of matter, mankind and mind, the connections, the patterns, the symmetry and the structure, both obvious and not so obvious; so for him the question was not "How could life emerge from this chaos?" but "Given the circumstances, how could life have been avoided?". de Chardin said "Christ is realized in evolution", a courageous viewpoint for a Jesuit to take and one the Church took exception to, which is why even in the C20th we have the sad tale of a man who dare only share his ideas posthumously.
He believed we were heading to a new crossroads and an upshift of complexity in our mental structures and I believe he is entirely correct in this.
Our destiny is to evolve into Timeless, Ageless Beings of Light (and NOT the Goddam Borg, Dr Kaku)
"If you seek evidence of God's handiwork, look around you"