Vol 5 No 2: Systems thinking sprituality and wisdom: Perspectives on Ken Wilberhttps://www.doria.fi:443/handle/10024/1352042024-03-29T15:12:39Z2024-03-29T15:12:39ZIntegral Perspective on HappinessUotinen, Joonashttps://www.doria.fi:443/handle/10024/1365002017-09-23T05:18:39Z2017-06-19T07:49:54ZIntegral Perspective on Happiness
Uotinen, Joonas
A happiness science has emerged amidst, and spans, the social sciences. This research, despite the long philosophical tradition on happiness, is in its infancy and a robust theory of happiness is called for. I will review parts of the literature and some of the main happiness theories using Ken Wilber’s Integral approach. I will concentrate largely on Aristotle’s eudaimonia, as that has re-emerged into the centre of happiness discussions as a possible contender for the prevailing subjective happiness theories. The Integral approach seems to provide valuable insights into many happiness theories, juxtapose them in a comprehensible way, pinpoint deficiencies, and propose enhancements. Amongst other things, I will propose a new happiness theory combining John Kekes’ happiness theory with ecological ethics and I will conclude that enlightenment proves to be a good candidate for the ultimate good, or summum bonum, I will enlarge on Aristotle’s theory and propose that Wilber’s theory provides an ‘Integral road map towards eudaimonia enhanced – the enlightenment’. I will argue that eudaimonia and enlightenment, though superficially dissimilar, accord in surprising ways, to a great extent. I will discuss whether the discussion of happiness and morality is critically biased, and I will discuss the societal implications that Wilber’s conception of the human might have through its implications for happiness theories.
Joonas Uotinen, University of Turku
The author is a PhD student in Economics in the University of Turku. He has a BSc in theoretical physics with a dissertation on ‘The End of the Universe'’, and is a Master in Specialized Economic Analysis from Barcelona Graduate School of Economics with a specialization in economic development. His recent interests are the aim of it all, namely, well-being and happiness, both societally and individually, and the validity of economic theory. The author has given talks and presentations on related issues. Initial postgraduate publications are forthcoming.
2017-06-19T07:49:54ZIntegral gnosis and the material otherKarhu, Eero Anterohttps://www.doria.fi:443/handle/10024/1364992017-09-23T05:18:38Z2017-06-19T07:43:51ZIntegral gnosis and the material other
Karhu, Eero Antero
In this article, I look at Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory as mimesis. This invites me to look at Integral Theory in three ways. First, I look at Integral Theory as process of making materialistic alterity, thus maintaining and fortifying the spirituality of the self. Second, I look at it from the perspective of the dialectics of epistemologies of estrangement and intimacy, raising questions concerning the legitimacy of the juxtaposing interpretative and explanatory approaches to culture. Third, I look at it from a social perspective, as a powerful instance of modern mimesis that creates a typically modern history. I will show how Integral Theory is grounded in the modern intuition of agency being distinct from and superior to the outer material world. To the extent that cultural agency has to materialize in some form, so does Integral Theory. My aim is to recall the close relations of scientific discourse with spirituality, even with magic and even more importantly, I want to show how supposedly secular intuitions of identity and agency bear strong potential for spiritual and religious discourse.
Eero Antero Karhu, University of Turku
Eero Karhu is a student at the University of Turku. His major is comparative religion and he has also studied philosophy, history and medical humanities. He is interested in religiosity from a performative, material and technological point of view.
2017-06-19T07:43:51ZA brief history of Spiral DynamicsButters, Albion Mhttps://www.doria.fi:443/handle/10024/1364972017-09-23T05:18:37Z2017-06-19T07:28:17ZA brief history of Spiral Dynamics
Butters, Albion M
For nearly two decades, the theory of Spiral Dynamics has been used to dynamically model human evolution and information systems. In that time, however, many different versions and applications of the model have emerged. This article will diachronically trace the history of Spiral Dynamics, from the foundational theory of Clare Graves to its initial introduction by Don Beck and Chris Cowan and subsequent adaptation by Ken Wilber. A brief exploration of the various camps and their competing interpretations of Spiral Dynamics will permit some critical analysis of the model itself.
Albion M. Butters, University of Turku
Albion M. Butters PhD lectures in the Department of Comparative Religion at the University of Turku. While he is specialized in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, his interests also include intersections between alternative forms of religion and cultural studies. He is currently writing a book on 'spiritual fiction': The Spiritual Evolution of Comics: The Birth of ‘Spi-Fi’.
2017-06-19T07:28:17ZParticipation, metaphysics, and enlightenment: reflections on Ken Wilber’s recent workFerrer, Jorgehttps://www.doria.fi:443/handle/10024/1364962017-09-23T05:18:35Z2017-06-19T07:24:29ZParticipation, metaphysics, and enlightenment: reflections on Ken Wilber’s recent work
Ferrer, Jorge
This article critically examines Ken Wilber’s (2006) recent work from a participatory perspective of human spirituality. After a brief introduction to the participatory approach, I limit my discussion to the following four key issues: a. the participatory critique of Wilber’s work, b. the cultural versus universal nature of Wilber’s Kosmic habits, c. the question of (post-)metaphysics in spiritual discourse, and d. the nature of enlightenment. The article concludes with some concrete directions in which to move the dialogue forward.
Jorge Ferrer, Department of East-West Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California
Jorge N. Ferrer, PhD, is core faculty of the department of East-West Psychology, as well as associate core faculty of the Integral and Transpersonal Psychologies (online) PhD program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), San Francisco. Formerly the chair of the East-West Psychology department from 2008–12, he is the award-winning author of Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality (SUNY Press, 2002) and Participation and the Mystery: Transpersonal Essays in Psychology, Education, and Religion (SUNY Press, forthcoming), as well as the coeditor (with Jacob H. Sherman) of The Participatory Turn: Spirituality, Mysticism, Religious Studies (SUNY Press, 2008). In 2009, he became an advisor to the organization Religions for Peace at the United Nations on a research project aimed at solving global interreligious conflict. He was born in Barcelona, Spain.
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