Integral theory and spiritual reductionism
Dennis Wittrock
The sound of fingernails scratching on a blackboard. Something like that moved in together inside me something when I first time the subtitle of the German translation of "Integral Spirituality" was born. Originally called the subtitle "A surprising new role for religion in the modern and postmodern world" Instead: "Spiritual and Postmodern World." Ok, Wilber formulates himself sometimes a little pathos, and publishers must sell books to their target groups - but I went a step too far. Then the next strike with the German version of "The Integral Vision". Here is the subtitle of "A Brief History of Spirituality." Again the same pattern: Spirituality is representative of that what is at stake in the integral theory by Ken Wilber.
In his book "Eros, Kosmos, Logos (for a change, a successful transfer of title) Wilber characterizes the first time the term" lowland . That means a world view in the inner life, meaning, depth - and thus spiritual - and have no place in the universe is reduced to the random chaos of matter, or "playful dirt". The "plain-world" is a quasi two-dimensional and they cross ball is perceived as a circle is just no depth.
In relation to the Integral Theory is playing at the moment the exact mirror image of AB. With an integral eye while we overcome the plain-view, but this maneuver us into what I call the "Highland dilemma : the reduction of the integral worldview on religion and spirituality . Since we are now sitting on the summit of wisdom and finally have a clear view in terms of states and structures, and revel in the three faces of God - but the world is interested in the still not. At the top of the integral knowledge, it's damn lonely and we experience first hand that "greater depth [or here: height] lower margin" means.
It's true: there is hardly a more sophisticated analysis and presentation of the terrain of our highest self, as the maps, which we compiled Ken Wilber. It is truly the plan that can allow us the breakout from the prison of samsara. But there is a certain irony that the very strength of Wibers work in the fields of spirituality turned out in the application of his theory in the rest of the world as its greatest weakness.
Who as I tried to advertise in the academic world for the integral approach, how big do the reservations in relation to Wilber's deep involvement with the topic of "spirituality" are. Jerk jerking you end up in the esoteric corner next Incense, Feng Shui, "OM" buzzing spinners, tarot cards and, of course, Scientology. As it now stands with a polished his philosophical avant-garde model of an "integral methodological pluralism" and reap the pitying glances. The highlands dilemma is just the flip side of the general public lowland discourse, the urgent need for the distinction between pre-and missing trans.
have In my philosophy MA thesis I studied the forms multi-, inter-and trans-disciplinary collaborations. Which reminds me of blatant deficiency and an explicit demand for higher-level models such as Wilber's IMP noticed. It could be in these groups of researchers much more clarity about creating, contributing what discipline which specific perspective and how they all fit together. So I am because in my view a friend's advice was followed and referenced a "theory of FAST everything" instead of "theory of everything". I have quoted very selectively and the subject of "spirituality" largely excluded. In Tibetan Buddhism called the most "Upaya" - the application of skillful means.
Who Wilber order categories quadrants, levels, lines and types knows, who knows that spiritual states are only a fraction of that in the us integral theory can give valuable guidance. Wilber rightly says that - no matter which of the five categories of order one now employs just - each as the most important one appears. John Dupuy describes that alone means the application of the four quadrants of a quantum leap for the field of addiction recovery. The same applies in relation to integrated approaches in medicine, ecology, politics, etc. taken
Or levels of its own - is my fervent prayer to heaven: "Oh Lord, we stand by and verhilf the knowledge levels of cognitive and Values Development to give due regard to public! "It can not be true that, after decades solid academic research since Piaget that knowledge is still largely untapped untapped. If we add the other elements, then unfolds a very powerful new paradigm - a theory and a practice that affect the way we live and work together revolutionized.
Unfortunately this does not happen - or only very slowly. The spiritual allergy in the lower left quadrant, in the collective discourse that is too strong. The centuries-long failure of the church steps and the Hitler-guru-trauma have blessed us with plenty of antibodies against all forms of transcendence. These circumstances, we should wear "Integralists" bill, by not to come straight to the house fall in the integral representation of our concern. Perhaps enough in most cases, a "theory of almost everything." We need and not necessarily "save the world" equal "with spiritual intelligence" ...
