Integral Theory Conference 2013

[Edward theurj Berge]

We can use this thread for discussion of anything related to the upcoming conference. Alas I will not attend due to living far, far away and have other priorities for my limited finances. The abstracts and bios for presentations can be found at this link. Our forum host Balder (aka Bruce Alderman) will be presenting:

Sophia Speaks: An Integral Grammar of Philosophy

The four pronouns at the center of the Integral model have yielded impressive explanatory and integrative power. However, while they are useful for classifying disciplines according to their primary epistemological orientations, they are not sufficient to account for or disclose the ontological views which inform our perspectives. After situating Integral Theory in a longer lineage of “pronoun philosophies,” I introduce an expanded set of grammatical lenses to complement Integral’s four person-perspectives. These lenses, based on six common parts of speech, can serve both metaphysical and meta-metaphysical ends, helping to identify the ontological views that inform our person perspectives, and providing an integrative architecture for correlating and interfacing various metaphysical systems and integrative meta-theories.

Another one of interest to me is this one by Gary Hampson and Mark Edwards:

Awaken: An Analysis of the Transformative Lyrics and Music of the Progressive Rock Group, Yes (Re-regarding and regaining the flower and fruit of Yes as neo-baroque future dreamers creating the spiral aim)

This presentation offers a “fusion of insight” arising from the often-spiritual, often-densely “baroque” lyrics and music of the progressive rock group Yes. Various lenses are employed to help empower the hitherto neglected connections between this “wondrous” art form and integrative studies. These include the authors’ first-person perspectives regarding their experiences with Yes music. The analysis addresses various spiritual traditions, The Beloved, and Audrey Kitagawa, spiritual mentor of the (most-times) lead singer/lyricist, Jon Anderson. Themes include: ecstasy, empowerment, Enlightenment, the evolution of consciousness, injunctions, Love, the Moment, nonduality, Sun as archetype, and world challenges. “Songs cast a light on us” (Awaken, Yes).

[Balder]

I've compiled a list of papers from the recent ITC (available here) that I think are relevant to the main themes of this forum:

Towards A Meta Integral Philosophy – Mysticism in the Philosophies of Bhaskar, Panikkar and Wilber, by John O’Neill

Integral Islam, by Jalaledin Ebrahim

The Senses: Demystifying Awakening, by Terri O'Fallon

Conscious Cosmopolis: Bernard J.F. Lonergan’s Critical Realism as a Complementary Approach to Integral Theory, by Neville Ann Kelly

Integral God: Wake Up, Grow Up, Show Up, Lighten Up: Sacred Activism and Falling in Love with the Divine, by Marc Gafni, PhD, Center for World Spirituality and Sally Kempton

Integral Skepticism: A Tool for Critical Realism, A Necessity for an Integral Community, by Elliott Ingersoll

From Embodiment to Post-Metaphysics: Preaching Integral Theory Beyond 'the Choir.' by Tom Murray

Re-enchanting Research: Transdisciplinarity as Practical Mysticism, by Leigh Price

Causal Leadership: A Natural Emergence from Later Stages of Awareness, by Venita Ramirez, Geoff Fitch, and Terri O’Fallon

The Magellan Courses: Explorations in Self-Organizing, Co-Creative Transformative Learning, by Bonnita Roy

The Meaning of Planetary Civilization: Integral Rational Spirituality and the Semiotic Universe, by Tim Winton

[Balder]

A new letter from Meta-Integral:

 

Reflections on the 2013 Integral Theory Conference

Warm summer greetings from San Francisco, where 500 people from 30 countries recently gathered for the third international Integral Theory Conference.

Here at MetaIntegral Foundation headquarters we feel very pleased with the results, and we extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us in person to make the event as wonderful as it was!
 
We extend our appreciation to sponsors and presenters, and to those of you who joined us online for the live webcast, one of our new wrinkles at ITC 2013.
 
Overall the feedback from conference goers has been very positive (80% of survey respondents rated the conference as 'good' or 'excellent') and we’ve received some great suggestions on how to improve the event. While we’re still decompressing from this year’s conference, we’re already excited and thinking about ITC 2015. 
 
Were we to risk encapsulating ITC 2013 in a few brief remarks, here is what we’d say:

This year’s conference concerned itself mainly with an important ‘metatheoretical’ move to advance the field of Integral Theory in two interrelated ways: 1) by further communicating how Ken Wilber’s AQAL metatheory and “Beyond Flatland” metanarrative comprise one central vision of integral, but is far from the only vision we need to consider – a move we began in 2008 and pursued in earnest at ITC 2010; and 2) by welcoming new voices, opinions and perspectives into the field, creating the conditions for a more diverse and robust tradition of integral thought and action.

In a sense, ITC 2013 was the culmination of a three-conference arc designed to differentiate from and build upon Wilber's seminal contributions. A new arc will begin with ITC 2015. We may be in touch to announce the new theme and focus sooner than you think!

We believe the academic mission of the Integral Theory Conference serves a unique and indispensable function in the integral ecosystem, so we will remain faithful to our mission in 2015. But today we also find ourselves more inclined to redefine what ‘academic’ looks and feels like. We anticipate that, in 2015, the conference theme will enable us to innovate our event in ways that lend academia a flavor that is more integral.

In the coming days and weeks, we'll be recapping ITC 2013 - a lot happened and we want to bring you all the good news and opportunities to flex your integral muscles.

For now, we'll leave you with a few reviews of ITC 2013 that have popped up on the Internet:

• Lisa Norton
• Jonathan Reams
• Jeremy Johnson

Yours,

The Conference Organization Team
Mark Forman, PhD
Sean Esbjorn-Hargens, PhD
Jordan Luftig, MA
MetaIntegral Foundation

[Edward theurj Berge]

I was heretofore unaware that the conference was also a live webcast or I would've watched at least some of it. Can I presume that all the talks were also video recorded? I know they've audio recorded them in the past. Either way, perhaps we can all chip in and have a set available for the forum?

[Balder]

All of the talks were at least audio recorded, and some of the prominent ones (not mine) were video recorded.  I haven't put money down on it yet, but I am planning later this year to purchase these recordings.  (I want to be able to watch Sean's presentation, for instance).  I'm not sure if we'd be able to post any of that content here, but I will inquire about that.