INTEGRAL WORLD MAILING LIST http://www.integralworld.net Newsletter Nr. 705 Amsterdam, March 30th, 2018 HUMANS AS HISTORY - A Comparative Review of Tyler Volk's Quarks to Culture - ANDY SMITH Frank Visser (2018) recently reviewed Tyler Volk's book Quarks to Culture (Q2C), which presents a grand view of existence beginning with subatomic phenomena and extending to modern human societies. Volk's story proceeds through a series of holarchical or nested levels, an evolutionary model that is in some respects very similar to Wilber's integral theory. Frank pointed out some of these similarities, as well as differences, between the two views. I want to continue this discussion, by bringing my own holarchical model into the comparison. Being a scientist like Volk, I have a view of holarchical development that is closer to his than to Wilber's—most obviously, neither of us feels the need for multiple axes or quadrants—though there are still some important differences in our understanding. Read more: http://www.integralworld.net/smith56.html THE TEMPTATIONS OF PRINCE AGIB - Why the Famous Arabian Nights Story Reveals the Secret of Being Human - DAVID LANE In reading the fantastic tale of Prince Agib's adventures in the justly famous Arabian Nights, I was struck with how deeply insightful it was about the human condition. Although the story is so incredible that even one's imagination is stretched by its incredulity, yet the message it conveys is so universal and so human that one cannot help but be awed by its moral implications. Blaise Pascal brilliantly captures Prince Agib's and our own dilemma when he writes, “All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.” We humans are seekers and are never content with our own lot in life and are forever intrigued by that which just lies beyond our reach. This is, of course, natural and part of our evolutionary heritage, since such yearning is precisely why we have survived so well and adapted to unaccustomed landscapes. Yet, our Darwinian advantage is also our curse. Read more: http://www.integralworld.net/lane137.html