Occupy Integral Interview (Part 2)

03.11.2012 By
Occupy-Integral-Thumb

"Occupy Integral!" was originally published in the online magazine Beams & Struts by my friends Terry Patten and Marco Morelli.  In Part 1 of the interview I asked them to describe what’s really happening to our world from an integral perspective.  Here in Part 2 of the interview, I ask them to elaborate on how the Integral Movement might have a greater impact for positive change during this time of significant transformation. Brett: Historically, the "integral movement" has been largely characterized by people interested in spiritual/philosophical/psychological theories, maps and models, along with a large focus on personal development. Your blog at IntegralRevolution.com suggests that integralists might play a significant role in the changes we are seeing on the planet. What mental or attitudinal shift, or what realization do you think integralists need to make in order to move from "watching from the sidelines" to getting "out onto the field" and into the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, Culture and Society, Current Events, Integral Movement, Leadership, Worldviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Occupy Integral (Interview)

03.11.2012 By
Occupy-Integral-Thumb

In this two-part interview, Brett Thomas asks the authors of Occupy Integral to explain what’s really happening to our world from an integral perspective and how the Integral Movement can have a greater impact for positive change. [Occupy Integral! was originally published in the online magazine Beams & Struts by Terry Patten and Marco Morelli.] In Occupy Integral! Terry and Marco write : We post this manifesto in what feels like a moment of calm before the storm... it seems to be the quiescence or exhaustion following a complicated year. From revolutions in the Middle East to the Occupy protests in the US and globally, there is an upheaval brewing . . . and spilling over. We are four years into the global economic crisis, yet the fundamental issues relating to sustainability, debt, inequality, and so on have not been truly addressed, let alone resolved. Our political systems are in stalemate. Environmental signals are growing more distressing. Not only melting ice … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, Culture and Society, Current Events, Integral Movement, Integral Theory and Methodology, Leadership, Worldviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Evolution of Civilization

11.01.2010 By
futuristic city metropolis

The American archeologist Howard Winters defined civilization as “the process in which one gradually increases the number of people included in the term ‘we’ or ‘us’ and at the same time decreases those labeled ‘you’ or ‘them’ until that category has no one left in it.” Civilization today includes a rainbow of perspectives along this spectrum.  Each step along civilization’s spiraling evolution involves deeper and wider perspectives – from egocentric (“I matter”) to ethnocentric (“My group matters”) to worldcentric (“All humans matter”). To glimpse the civilization of tomorrow, one need not look further than the most comprehensive and inclusive perspectives of today.  The integral frameworks created by worldcentric pioneers foreshadow a new civilization that works for everyone, where all perspectives—though far from equal—have a right to exist. Integral mapmakers aim to find a place for the horizontal and vertical diversity that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture and Society, Development, Integral Practice Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

On the Use of the Term Integral

08.08.2010 By
use of integral thumb

The dictionary definition of "integral" is: possessing everything essential; indispensable; required; essential or necessary for completeness of the whole; entire; constituent." And that's exactly what we mean by integral. Integral perspectives (including those found on this site) are more comprehensive and more complete than conventional perspectives. Does that simply mean integral thinkers are smart or especially knowledgeable about their field? No, that is not what we mean by integral. While the dictionary definition is adequate, there is an additional meaning of the word integral. Many of our readers (although not all) know that all of the integral thinkers featured on this site have one thing in common. And no, that one thing is not that they are smart or knowledgeable about their field although most would agree they are.... the important thing they have in common is that they are scholar-practitioners of the field of "integral theory and methodology." So in this case, the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Integral Movement, Integral Practice, Integral Theory and Methodology Tagged With: , ,