Part. 3.
To begin with the full-spectrum catalog of mind states: The conclusion of the
cross-cultural comparison presented in Integral Psychology is that there are
at least five main components of human psychology that need to be included in
any comprehensive theory: developmental levels of consciousness,
developmental lines of consciousness, normal and altered states of
consciousness, the self or self-system, and what I call the four quadrants
(which include culture and worldviews, neurophysiology and cognitive science,
and social systems). To take them in order.
More repetition, an increasing density of additional unexplained terms.
For example, an additional, 'Component' is introduced to the initially stated
four categories derived from surveying relevant material: 'What i call the
four quadrants.'
With the introduction over the essay begins in earnest.
Levels or Waves
Not all components of the psyche show development, but many of them do, and
those developmental aspects or stages need to be taken into account. They are
not the whole story of the psyche, but they are an important part. We live in
an evolutionary universe, and those currents of evolution appear to operate
in the human mind as well. There is abundant evidence that some aspects of
cognition, morals, psychosexuality, needs, object relations, motor skills,
and language acquisition proceed in developmental stages, much as an acorn
unfolds into an oak through a series of process phases (Alexander and Langer,
1990; Loevinger, 1976; Wilber, 2000b).
The essay abandons all pretence of academic closure and moves into
exaggerated generalisation.
Evolution as a universal property is tautologically held up as universal.
These stages or levels of development are not the rigid, linear,
rungs-in-a-ladder phenomenon portrayed by their critics, but rather appear to
be fluid, flowing, overlapping waves (Beck and Cowan, 1996). I use all three
terms--structures, levels, and waves--to describe these developmental
milestones. "Structure" indicates that each stage has a holistic pattern that
blends all of its elements into a structured whole.
Comparison of Discrete and continuous modes of analogy replaces discussion of
subject matter.
Discrete mode abandoned because appearances suggest otherwise.
The mode of analogue used from now on is that of continuity.
This mode of analogue is not original but Wilber does not draw attention to
this.
"Level" means that these patterns tend to unfold in a relational sequence,
with each senior wave transcending but including its juniors (just as cells
transcend but include molecules, which transcend but include atoms, which
transcend but include quarks). And "wave" indicates that these levels
nonetheless are fluid and flowing affairs; the senior dimensions do not sit
on top of the junior dimensions like rungs in a ladder, but rather embrace
and enfold them (just as cells embrace molecules which embrace atoms). These
developmental stages appear to be concentric spheres of increasing embrace,
inclusion, and holistic capacity.
Continuous mode of analogy applied to physical science.
Discrete energy levels of electrons not given as a possible counter example.
Field interpretation of Quantum mechanics would support.
This mode will now be applied to the mental or psyche as it is now called:
In the human psyche, what exactly are the nature of these levels? Basically,
they are levels of consciousness, which appear to span an entire spectrum
from subconscious to self-conscious to superconscious (Murphy, 1992; Wade,
1996; Wilber, 1986 2000b).<A HREF="http://wilber.shambhala.com/html/books/psych_model/psych_model10.cfm/xid,2452282/yid,59839981/#fn2">[2]</A> This overall spectrum of consciousness is
well-known to the world's major wisdom traditions, where one version of it
appears as the Great Chain of Being, which is said to range from matter to
body to mind to soul to spirit (Smith, 1976). The Great Chain is perhaps a
misnomer. It is not a linear chain but a series of enfolded spheres: it is
said that spirit transcends but includes soul, which transcends but includes
mind, which transcends but includes body, which transcends but includes
matter. Accordingly, this is more accurately called "the Great Nest of
Being."
Wilber extrapolates from his earlier Physical analogues to the Great Nest of
Being.
He does not explore the analogues themselves as it could be suggested they
have been indiscriminately applied to all human experience and hence appear
to be everywhere when they are the product of a limited repertoire?
Part. 4. follows.
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