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Integral World: Exploring Theories of Everything
An independent forum for a critical discussion of the integral philosophy of Ken Wilber

Zakariyya IshaqZakariyya Ishaq is a writer who has just completed his first book on the subject of spiritual cosmology. An original new theory he feels can rival any: THE ELLIPSE: THE FALL AND RISE OF THE HUMAN SOUL: SECRETS OF THE COSMOS. In addition to being a writer he is a musician, computer professional, and community activist. He is a Graduate of Devry University in Digital Electronic Technology. Ishaq has been a mystical seeker of enlightenment for 30 years, a member of 3 Sufi Orders: and has studied formally and informally Buddhism, Vedanta Cosmology, Cabala, Taoism, Sufism, Integral Philosophy, and various other mystic esoteric and exoteric schools of thought.

Establishing the
Integral Paradigm

and the future of Integral Politics

Zakariyya Ishaq

The Integral Paradigm

As Rome wasn't built in a day, neither was Caesar

Today's post modern philosophical thinking is before our eyes trying to produce out of the cauldron of evolutionary thought a novel paradigm[1] in which we call the Integral philosophy.

Though it is presently not too popular within the culture of today's thought, only so in the elite scholarly, religious, and philosophical layman and professional circles has it had popularity, and a potential for impact on the culture.`

In this essay I will postulate the idea that it may be imperative that this philosophy become more universally known and understood in the world's public square of ideas before Integral politics can have any possibility of even a reality. As the title of this essay implies this is the reason for the juxtaposition of Integral Politics with the notion of Integral Philosophy establishing itself as a paradigm in the post modern age. Because Integral Politics is at present a name without a reality, and for this notion to take hold in the difficult realm of power politics in my view it must become a widespread paradigm wherein the people can utilize it as a tool of influence on their leaders. Just as many people in our world put pressure on their governments to adapt the modernist concept of freedom and democracy we need to do the same thing so the philosophy of the Integral Paradigm can take hold in our political, intellectual, spiritual and moral discourse. This will not do if the idea doesn't generate the numbers and influence of great numbers of people who have been convinced of the positive aspects of the philosophy.

This not at all has to be spiritual, or religions, though the potent and useful Integral spiritual tools should be offered to all that want them.

Additionally the philosophy should never be diluted or compromised to spread Integral ideas as merely a political correct notion. In other words Integral philosophy must have integrity!

In fact the Integral paradigm or worldview does not have to be presented to the general public as an elitist abstruse or distant idea from the average thinking person but the core principles of the Integral philosophy should be emphasized in any presentation of its ideas. Most modern thinking people are already convinced of the necessity of much of what is fine and noble in the modern Integral Philosophy, but they are unaware that the sleeping giant of Integral Philosophy even exists!

This is not an attempt to make a race of Ken Wilber clones- who can extrapolate the subtleties of the Integral theory at the drop of a hat - but an attempt to truly bring the Integral Paradigm to the consciousness of humanity on a widespread enough level as to have moral impact. For instance, as noted above the positive principles of freedom and democracy- one of our living paradigms- if Integral Philosophy can rise to that level of acceptance and awareness then I believe it can have a profound effect on the political and moral structures of the world. Remember behind the simple words of freedom and democracy lie a huge body of western philosophy and humanist thinking at its best that a similar positive notion of the Integral philosophy can have an enormous effect on the world.

An Integral philosophy for the masses does not have to be [as one might think] a completely watered down version of some more advanced level of Integral understanding, but if the proper education of interested people is done with the notion of at least giving them a correct, comprehensive and intelligent understanding of the Integral concept then a positive view of the philosophy can take hold popularly.

I may add that there may be a danger in not moving fast to popularize the Integral paradigm in the minds of the public on a wider scale in a positive fashion, for all the Integral movement needs to set it back is a Jim Jones type Integral cult to rear its head and have the name INTEGRAL associated in peoples minds on a level like that. Not that I am advocating Madison Ave mysticism, but whom in this media driven world is not conscious of the reality and the powerful effect of negative publicity associated with a name or idea.

Many people don't realize that Integral Philosophy has a long way to go to bring it out of its insular world of philosophy, science, spirituals and scientific mysticism and make a name for itself as a secular philosophy or be utilized as a secular tool, as well on scientific and spiritual levels to have a positive impact on politics.

Now I know there are loads of websites, books, theorists, practitioners who have dealt in Integral Philosophy, but let's be real. Ask the average person on the street what Integral Philosophy is?

Bottom line, it is still a very new concept in the modern world that has very few adherents, or people like myself who have been practicing Integral Philosophy through the practice of Integral Metaphysics for years.

Of course it should not be spread obsessively or dogmatically or with any cultic variables but in an intelligent fashion amongst the general lot of humanity. This of course has immense challenges in itself that I will bring up later.

Politics is about power and people and there nurturing one way or the other towards societal motifs, and paradigms that allow people to rule themselves with some degree of civilization. To think as some due naively that something as obscure as “Integral Politics” from the obscurity of Integral philosophy can have any impact on the milieu of world politics, or even local politics, is to be dealing in wishful thinking in my view.

So I say we need a real education campaign to bring this idea out in the open and lay the groundwork for among many of its step children- in this case Integral Politics- to have real life, outside of the minds of a few elite theorists, and the few genuine practitioners of the Integral sciences.

This is one of the greatest challenges to Integral adherents. Are you going to just be another small group of advocates amongst the many, and settle in the world as just another clique among many taking a bite out of the apple of the human ocean of ideas and beliefs, and not break out of its shell and truly enter the psychic apparatus of archetypes to become the paradigm of the age. Do not be fooled, in this modern world of mega information, and a world of indoctrination of the victims of cultic trance it is an extreme challenge to actually bring a concept to any degree of popularity beyond just becoming one of the tongues from the tower of Babel. Indeed this information age with its myriad levels of many groups and multitude of increasing philosophies can bury Integral Philosophy under its weight and thereby never allowing it to become a nutrient for society and civilization.

Why should we want to do this? Spread the Integral Paradigm more widely.

The first reason is the one I offer above, that is the practical reality that numbers often times equal power and the ability to implement ideas if people accept them on much more of a general basis than Integral Philosophy is known presently, this I think is the only way that Integral Politics will get a chance to exist.

On another level if we examine the fruits of the Integral Philosophy we see clearly the need for its nutrient value to society.

Here is a list of some of the fruits of the tree of the Integral Paradigm:

Moral: Nurtures world unity and brotherhood [human hood] based not only on spiritual values but scientific certainties

Spiritual: The fruits of integral metaphysics are clear in the reality of diminishing sectarian squabbles, nurturing respect and love of others, as well as providing a unique opportunity to offer people various paths to spirituality without conflict with others. Practically speaking the essence of genuine Integral metaphysics has immense value to the metaphysical student in terms of applying distinct methodologies to their practices.

Philosophical: The need to foster the philosophy of the usefulness of all potential ideas that fall into the realm of human experience. This notion obeys the concept that eventhough some might not accept religion; they have to accept the reality that religion is somehow important, and necessary for the great number of people on the earth.

Scientific: Science by its nature is more integrally inclined than the spiritual sciences in an objective sense of existential knowledge, but is as subjective as spiritual sciences in terms of its understanding of epistemology in general. It is the Integral Paradigm that may be the only device that can corral science to the concept of aligning itself with other modes of knowledge something Ken Wilber is nobly attempting to do [but failing] so far.

Integral Paradigm and some of its categories

Integral Metaphysics

Integral Science

Integral Politics

Integral Health

Integral Psychology

Integral Yoga

Integral Psychotherapy

In fact there is few limitations on life that this concept can't be applied to and enrich if properly understood in my opinion.

The good thing about many of these branches of Integral application is that they can be successfully practiced now- as an insular elite knowledge; unlike the aspect of Integral Politics that I believe requires the general popularity of the concept for it to have real impact.

The Integral Paradigm and the intention of the universe

“Man has a plan and god has a plan. He, god is the best of planners” Koran

I have written a few years ago on the Integral Naked forum that people who attach themselves to ideas and movements should always understand [I warned] that what the universe intends to do with something and what we humans have planed for it, are often divergent. This often times causes unique problems that will result in the failure of a new idea to succeed. Consequently many of us do not really know that we may be getting into something that we had no intention of getting involved with. This proposition also often is the cause of much grief in people who do not understand this and involve themselves in something without much thought.

As the Integral Paradigm I think it must be understood that it like anything that comes into this world comes with its own truth, and its own intentions.

“God [reality] is the inward and the outward, and the manifest and the hidden” So we can't perceive what is really going on in most cases all the time, on all levels.

All things have an outer protective core and an inner essential core

In other words, to the universe, it is not the concept at all which is important but what the concept produces as a nutrient to the human experience that matters.

There is a stark difference from those people who deal in these outer aspects of the Integral Paradigm

  • Power
  • Elitism
  • Intellectualism
  • Speculation

And those that deal in the essential aspects of the Integral Paradigm

  • Unity
  • Love
  • Change
  • Knowledge

This is not meant to be an expression of a real life dichotomy in Integral thought, [since we all are human and toggle all the time between these different values while we develop] just an illustration of the difference in the transcendent aspects of the Integral paradigm and the [accidental] pedestrian aspect of it and how often many of us get trapped in this later aspect.

So essentially we can see that the intentions of the universe on the good side of things is always as illustrated in the Integral philosophy has its own intentions and desires that are only in tune with those of similar intent. This is to say indeed, that some or even most will not be able to measure up to the essentials of the Integral Paradigm though they attach themselves to it.

The limitations of the Integral Paradigm

When over the river discard the boat Buddha

This is a subject for an essay in itself, though I will briefly broach this topic here to add balance and perspective to our subject.

Every idea or philosophy has many levels of reality to it. In the case of the Integral Philosophy we will use the standard analogy of the wheat and the chaff to put it in perspective.

Integral as a concept is working on all levels if it is applied and understood intelligently, and not devotionally or dogmatically.

The inner core or wheat in Integral is its nutrient value as a unifier on the spiritual level that broaches the moral level. As well this core includes a powerful formula for the acquisition of knowledge that would put the scientist to shame in that they have avoided this epistemology through their own rigidity and separation.

As a scientific tool it also adds a unique opportunity to the scientist, enquirer, student, and metaphysician many opportunities, ways, and modes of activating change.

This is all good until the age old nemesis of dogma, and rigid thinking invades our Integral Philosopher, and he becomes an advocate for Integral for its own sake, not the sake of it as a positive solver of human problems. Indeed when the Integral Philosopher begins to defeat his own philosophy and become a priest of Integral Philosophy, not a practitioner of a science of life, but just another dogmatist swimming in the gross level of awareness that never penetrates the subtle levels of reality wherein lie essential truth, then we have a problem.

Indeed integral can become a religious dogma as like any idea. This is what we always need to be vigilant against, for what good is an Integral doctor to his patient when he heals him yet doesn't see that, but still wants to take his patient through other “Quadrants” when the rigid doctor is so blinded by the light of his Integral dogma he doesn't see his work is done!

Integral philosophy just like anything is only a device to change. The philosophy in its full complexity can never apply 100 percent to all situations, and practitioners should understand this. It can be limited ironically by its own elegant theory, not only in the rigid practitioner but in the Integral thinker that doesn't realize this it is a science of life not a science of ideas, and that the comprehensive methodologies of the Integral theory can become if we are not careful- a block to change.

It is noted that some in what is called the Integral movement seem to want to keep the idea in an elite category, this matches exactly with the idea of second and third tier people secretly being groomed to rule the world.

Indeed some believe the idea may be more useful to humanity as an elite almost secret methodology. Why they believe this I do not know, but suspect it is because they may believe that to popularize it is to dilute it of its power. Now it may be that the Integral Philosophy is too abstruse for the general publics understanding [something I don't believe]. Though this is a possibility, since many philosophers believe that the modern human has been dumbed down to such an extent that they don't have the capacity to understand abstract thought. I personally know many advanced thinkers who believe this, and suspect many in the Integral movement are bitten with this elitist idea. In theory I have no problem with practical elitism, but in this case don't think it applies. I could be wrong and the elitist may be correct in this view for I am not certain my somewhat egalitarian idea is viable.

As for what happens if the Integral Paradigm remains in a small area of influence? First it must be said that it is a wonderful thing that even the small group of Integral practitioners may very well benefit from their experience with it, so in this sense we all should be grateful for this. For it may be the goal of well intentioned people and our desires to “spread the gospel” of Integral may be beyond our capacity, as well as the intention of the universe.

Integral Politics

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." Lord Acton

What is the idea of democracy where everyone can have their own truth versus the concept of authoritarianism where the postulate is that there is a truth and once found it is reasonable- in fact obligatory to impose this final truth on everyone. This idea on its face albeit abhorrent to any modern thinking man is perfectly reasonable in theory, notwithstanding the experiences we know this idea has done in the past to foster extreme suffering, injustice and just outright depraved ugliness: the catholic church and their religious medieval tyranny for centuries in Europe, the medieval Islamic empire and their imposition of religion on the populaces of many parts of the east and Africa.. This is all ugly to us now- the idea that there is an ultimate truth in which allows one group of adherents to impose its dogma on everyone else. This is not all religious phenomena since Nazism, Communism, and Fascism as well as western oligarchy has also claimed to harness some transcendent truth that allows them to start making all obey, or suffer the consequences.

What we might not see overtly is that this idea is intrinsic in any societies myths, indeed democracy itself has its own assumptions and dogmas built in it that preserve its own chauvinistic rights, and indeed has built in it the very idea of democracy only to maintain itself, as an idea of individual rights, not an idea overtly of collective rights; presumably the inner notion of authoritarian systems.

Can all these theories and different religions beliefs exist in a democracy with all these different ideas, and tensions? The inner religious obsession with fulfilling their religious fantasies of Jihad for its own sake that we see in the form of the militant Islamists who have entered some democratic societies as well in a much smaller degree the Christian literalists who want to bring forth Armageddon to fulfill their religious fantasies, and these vast contradictions with the homosexual, secular, ideas of humanism, pluralism, and atheism.

People don't often understand this is a very novel situation in human history. There has never been anything like it, and we have very little idea of what will become of this experiment in freedom and pluralism as averse to the very recent societies of authoritarianism that up until the early 20 century were still pervasive throughout the entire globe.

This is not a political notion on its surface[ though the political element I will bring in later] for the past colonized east and Far East was and still is as authoritarian as the British Empire as well as other European colonial powers were in their heyday. The modernist European political revolution in the years after world war 1 were the beginning of indeed a new age [ and the overthrowing of colonialism] where the overtaking of the western more vulnerable societies fell easy prey to modernism and eventually postmodernism and its most liberal and anti- authoritarian secular humanistic modes of thought. Eventhough the tension between the liberal and conservative strains of modernist democracy- the old versus the new are starting to produce all kinds of tensions in addition to the basic religious authoritarian vs. non religious theory of ultimate secular freedom based on democratic pluralism.

Beyond the constant violence inducing political strife of the world, we also need to look closely through Integral Politics at the vast differences of wealth in the elite wealthy and the poor and average suffering citizen of the world who in a sense has to live constantly at subsistence level.

The vast economic disparities of the world, and the real lack of the world being truly interested in dealing with the abysmal conditions of starvation and preventable disease of millions of its inhabitants, and refusal to stop genocides as the world goes idly by merely continuing the deadly games of war and death and the production of weapons of mass destruction in a constant culture of war. Indeed on all levels in the realm of politics, tensions and strife are rampant in out world.

How far can these tensions go? How far have they already gone? How far can they go before something cracks again- like Bosnia, or the present 911 induced extreme tension with the west and Islamic authoritarianism? Will permanently we have small and sometimes large political earthquakes like the above mentioned that eventually will tear at the fabric of civilization because of these innate tensions to such a degree of regularity, particularly in this world of massive technology, that this can threaten the very fabric of civilization?

This tenuous situation is in my view is first and foremost an opportunity for the universal spread of Integral ideas that foster human unity, understanding and the basic reality that all religions, ideas and philosophies have much in common. Beyond religion we must also appeal to the non religious people's humanism and affinity for democracy, pluralism, and justice.

This is also indeed a question for Integral politics, though I think the general idea of Integral philosophy mentioned above should come first to the human environment of ideas. In other words this new paradigm of human Integration and acceptance must be spread as at least the ultimate humanistic notion of human unity and perusal of peace, and justice. This must be done first in my view before there could be an effective Integral Politics.

We are obviously in a new realm, where we really have no idea whether democratic pluralism is viable. We really don't have any proof that it can or will last. In fact looking back to the early modern era of the early 20th century which began with the Armenian genocide by the Turks, then the Nazis of the Jews all the way up till today's genocides in modern Bosnia, Rwanda, and Dafur, gives us scant hope that these experiments in pluralism will work. Eventhough most of these were basically non democratic societies, [save in Nazi Germany ironically that began its sojourn in dark authoritarianism as a democracy] we cant rely on “democracy” because of the Nazi experience, on democratic structures to maintain freedom, as well particularly in the example of America, with its internment of the Japanese in world war 2, their genocide of the Native Americans, as well as the 4 century treatment of the Afro American people, before and after slavery.

Frank Visser points out in his blog-Wilber Watch that Integral politics is an international reality that far exceeds the local situations in the publicity and media capital of the USA, and political streams and levels are very different in different countries, something that superficial indulgences in “Integral political theory” won't do to solve. Indeed the international flavor of this dilemma we have is rearing its head all over the globe, and calls for an international approach to Integral politics, with new and challenging ideas.

Certainly the geo-political world today produced out of the oligarchial British, European, and American empires from World War 1 and before- to today that basis its power on economic capitalism, and neo-colonialism in the west has got to be looked at in a different light with the idea of changing the dynamics of its essence, which is the maintenance of the oligarchial power of inherited western elitist wealth.

Even with nominal democracy, and outward freedom this is obviously the power dynamic that rules the west, and any conservative neo- con notions about [conspiracy theories] that denies this is only an indication of that power dynamic maintaining itself. For since before and beyond the English colonialist Cecil Rhodes creation in the early 20 th century of his club of Anglophiles [accurately described in the writings of the historian Carol Quigley] to rule the world has been the clear power dynamic in the west that still is in its stride.

These power centers must be dealt with as well as the increasing powers in India and China as well the traditional re- emerging Soviet power, and the emerging European Union. By dealt with I mean the pressure of the people in their respective countries as well as world citizens if properly educated in the Integral Paradigm.

All these groups would give lip service to an Integral political arrangement or application of some sort through the UN hierarchy, and institution, but this is not enough in today's world in my view to get to the root of the problems of pluralism that we are trying to establish as a viable international political structure that really works, unlike the present system that rarely attempts to get to the root cause of these ever occurring horrors of human injustice that always are dealt with in the form of the cliché “ never again” until the next inevitable human tragedy nobody seems to know how to prevent comes upon us: then only another apathetic institutionalized club house politician like Bill Clinton can only offer an apology that he did nothing while almost a million Rwandans were massacred.

Initiating merely on paper Integral approaches as some universal theoretical mode of action when there is a true power vacuum in the earth that some Integralist won't acknowledge for their own political reasons will not work. Something has to give for real change and acceptance, and ultimately trust that a true new era of unitary justice, not another theory, or promises like these live aid G8 promises to Africa that never materialize in anything resembling substantial reality. The Integral approach applied without coming to grips with this power vacuum at all is farcical, and will prevent any real Integral political ideas from ever coming into fruition. The power imbalance and injustice imbalance if not understood, admitted, and dealt with- by the powers involved will not do a thing to move along this line of Integral politics the world needs to move forward, or even to survive. This reality can't be glossed over by some airy mega theory of consciousness while the lopsided condition of humanity is not addressed in Integral politics.

The absolute destruction and displacement of various third world societies “Quadrants' by racialist, and neo, and colonial aggression has to be considered as a substantial key element in applying any Integral Political theory to the world.

On the other hand this in addition to the third world leaders particularly in Africa whom seem to always be interested in taking as much as they can from their own people, and depositing the ill gotten gains in a account in a European bank, thereby not only raping their own country but also depriving them of any economic independence or growth. In other words these leaders of many third worlds ex colonial countries have to come to grips with their own greed, however that vice was inculcated into them, if not progress will be very difficult.

Additionally many of the Asian countries who are still bound to mediaeval political structures have to begin to make sincere concessions and moves to change these antiquated systems. In short these Asian and African countries that lag behind in this regard either because of religion or just the remaining culture of the tribal war lord, or the legacy of colonialism, must be pressured to slowly change these unjust and antiquated political structures and enter into modernity, of course without any idea of coercion by other powers.

In other words it is not just the west that has responsibilities in this regard to change, for the problems are universal and at their root are the age old human frailties of selfishness, and ethnocentrism, that all peoples exhibit.

All this says that the application of any Integral Politics to the world, has tremendous challenges to it, and means essentially that if this concept is to have any reality much more research and thinking and debating must take place, as well a general spreading to mainstream culture of the Integral idea, as a humanistic moral alternative to the established ethnocentric, and geo-political environment.

To apply a static Integral theory to this geo political milieu by some interested in peddling theories of neo con Boomeritus politics, and prejudice towards green meme attitudes will be a gross failure, and backfire in my view, and add more fuel to the fire. The injustice of historical realities can't be avoided by those who seem to want to maintain their own waning power.

To usher any Integral political anything into the dynamic structures of this world with any chance of success the people in question have to take responsibility [not as a guilt trip] for their activities towards their fellow humans, as well as the lesser amongst their own. Therefore it is seems that Integral Politics must and will never be monolithic, because anything with politics in it eventually will have to choose sides, and consider the politics of the situation of the world. But if the general idea of Integral understanding and tolerance is spread to any great degree then there may be a possibility of change through Integral Politics.

If this is not done because of the Neo- Con sensibilities or on the other hand radical left rigid politics then I think the potential of this lofty promise of Integral politics will have very little positive effect on the world, and indeed may carry this world closer to divisions and inevitable destructive conflicts all because the pride of a few people in who refuse to see reality as it is, was, and will be! Indeed real actions of western concessions of power to alleviate the human created imbalances of power and injustice before any of these all level theories can be applied. As well a new consciousness in the third world leaders of their responsibility in not merely following the west in it's power pursuits but dealing justly with their own populations.

Finale

To sum up these ideas enumerated above, I believe it is imperative that the Integral Paradigm [that now is a reality] spread itself to a greater number of people whom are able to understand not only the concept, but its usefulness for the benefit for humans and for solving some of our problems.

This should not be done in a cultic fashion or an obsessive fashion where the former - the cultic means- certainly will not produce a positive outlook of Integral by people. As the obsessive indulgence in the idea just needs to be balanced by wisdom, patience, and the understanding of what I mention above about the intention of the universe concerning Integral Philosophy.

Indeed underlying my thesis is the notion that not only should Integral be spread more amongst thinking people but must somehow gather and maintain a positive image in the minds of most, for if not the other forms of the Integral world view, such as Integral Politics, may have a hard time becoming a reality.

As for Integral Politics- it is just not an incentive on any level for the politicians to implement any of it as of now, and even if they did it would behoove the thinking world to apply Integral politics in a way that consider historical imbalances, otherwise it will likely fail.

It may be that the spread of the idea is counterproductive, and it may dilute its power, I can't say I know what the truth is in this regard, I will say that this notion I bring up here about spreading the paradigm of the Integral Philosophy should be opened up for discussion [perhaps it already has] and thought about.

This lofty idea of the comprehensive Integration of human ideas, thought, and experiences may be the culmination of the highest ideals of the human spirit, that is if we can keep it away from our lower selves, and near and dear to our highest self, and never prostitute it, attach it to ourselves, or marginalize it by co-opting it.

My attraction and interest in the Integral Paradigm is it as a nutrient to the human experience not as a new religion in itself because then it only becomes another creed and consequently a competing entity against the others. Though this may not be the intention of any Integral religion, but nature and the solidification of the various creeds will make this a reality, and Integral will be buried amongst the many. It is to me that the paradigm should invade the various creeds, and other entities in philosophy and science as well as the secular milieu and loosen their binds to themselves and open them up to the essential truths and beauty of the Integral Paradigm that presents to the human face- the unity, acceptance and respect of all; the powerful tools to knowledge and truth; the true face of love; and the mysterious road to transformation, then perhaps it will become the forward leading paradigm of our age that may truly be the spring board for the salvation of the human race. Then let us be vigilant and hope for the best.

REFRENCES

[1] What is a paradigm? A good dictionary definition is this: A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline.

Some examples of paradigms that are widespread and almost universally accepted are:

Democracy: most give at least lip service to the value of this political creed, though the actual people who are genuinely democratic is few, this notion nevertheless is an example of a modern paradigm.

Religion: this is a paradigm that reaches far into the past and some may think it is deeper that merely an historical phenomena, and reaches into the very soul of man nevertheless this is a major paradigm in human thought.

Brotherhood: or the word I like to use Human hood: This is a less notable paradigm and may be an element of the religious paradigm, but can stand on its own as a universal idea of togetherness.

So what is the Integral Paradigm?

It is the establishment of the Integral Philosophy as a methodological and theoretical world view in our philosophical, spiritual, scientific thought, actions and discourse reaching all levels of human endeavor.

A good definition of the Integral Philosophy is in the essay by Scott Parker “IS WILBERS INTEGRAL, INTEGRAL?. Which says:

“Frank Visser identifies at least twelve definitions of integral. [1] Among them, ten are of the form of an integration of disparate, and often contrasting, concepts in a higher synthesis. His final definition is that integral is the integration of all integrations: the ultimate meta-theory of all theories: a theory of everything.
Ken Wilber's definition is similar. He says, "The word integral means comprehensive, inclusive, nonmarginalizing, embracing. Integral approaches to any field attempt to be exactly that—to include as many perspectives, styles, and methodologies as possible within a coherent view of the topic. In a certain sense, integral approaches are "meta-paradigms," or ways to draw together an already existing number of separate paradigms into an interrelated network of approaches that are mutually enriching."





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