Integral Theory Conference 2013 - Integral Post-Metaphysical Spirituality2024-03-29T14:38:41Zhttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/forum/topics/integral-theory-conference-2013?x=1&id=5301756%3ATopic%3A47210&feed=yes&xn_auth=noAll of the talks were at leas…tag:integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com,2013-09-09:5301756:Comment:517332013-09-09T20:14:56.525ZBalderhttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/profile/BruceAlderman
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p> I was heretofore unaware that…tag:integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com,2013-09-09:5301756:Comment:514642013-09-09T20:08:50.655ZEdward theurj Bergehttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/profile/theurj
<p>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?</p>
<p>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?</p> A new letter from Meta-Integr…tag:integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com,2013-09-09:5301756:Comment:517322013-09-09T19:27:43.243ZBalderhttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/profile/BruceAlderman
<p>A new letter from Meta-Integral:</p>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; color: #505050; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Reflections on the 2013 Integral Theory Conference</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; color: #505050; font-size: 14px;"><br></br>Warm summer greetings from San Francisco, where 500 people from 30 countries recently…</div>
<p>A new letter from Meta-Integral:</p>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; color: #505050; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Reflections on the 2013 Integral Theory Conference</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; color: #505050; font-size: 14px;"><br/>Warm summer greetings from San Francisco, where 500 people from 30 countries recently gathered for the third international Integral Theory Conference.<br/><br/>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!<br/> <br/>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.<br/> <br/>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. <br/> <br/>Were we to risk encapsulating ITC 2013 in a few brief remarks, here is what we’d say:<br/><br/><em>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.</em><br/><br/><em>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!</em> <br/><br/><em>We believe the <a style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" href="https://foundation.metaintegral.org/ITC/About">academic mission</a> 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.</em><br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>For now, we'll leave you with a few reviews of ITC 2013 that have popped up on the Internet:</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; color: #505050; font-size: 14px;"><a style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://integralleadershipreview.com/10675-815-permeability-outside-in-and-inside-out-itc-2013/" target="_self">Lisa Norton</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; color: #505050; font-size: 14px;"><a style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://integralleadershipreview.com/10637-itc-perspectives-a-giant-leap-forward-or-a-bridge-too-far/" target="_self">Jonathan Reams</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; color: #505050; font-size: 14px;"><a style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePARudzPtr0" target="_self">Jeremy Johnson</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; color: #505050; font-size: 14px;">Yours,<br/><br/>The Conference Organization Team<br/>Mark Forman, PhD<br/>Sean Esbjorn-Hargens, PhD<br/>Jordan Luftig, MA<br/>MetaIntegral Foundation</div> I've compiled a list of paper…tag:integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com,2013-09-05:5301756:Comment:515342013-09-05T20:28:31.709ZBalderhttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/profile/BruceAlderman
<p>I've compiled a list of papers from the recent ITC (available <a href="https://foundation.metaintegral.org/itc-2013-academic-papers" target="_blank">here</a>) that I think are relevant to the main themes of this forum:</p>
<p><em>Towards A Meta Integral Philosophy – Mysticism in the Philosophies of Bhaskar, Panikkar and Wilber</em>, by John O’Neill</p>
<p><em>Integral Islam</em>, by Jalaledin Ebrahim</p>
<p><em>The Senses: Demystifying Awakening</em>, by Terri O'Fallon</p>
<p><em>Conscious…</em></p>
<p>I've compiled a list of papers from the recent ITC (available <a href="https://foundation.metaintegral.org/itc-2013-academic-papers" target="_blank">here</a>) that I think are relevant to the main themes of this forum:</p>
<p><em>Towards A Meta Integral Philosophy – Mysticism in the Philosophies of Bhaskar, Panikkar and Wilber</em>, by John O’Neill</p>
<p><em>Integral Islam</em>, by Jalaledin Ebrahim</p>
<p><em>The Senses: Demystifying Awakening</em>, by Terri O'Fallon</p>
<p><em>Conscious Cosmopolis: Bernard J.F. Lonergan’s Critical Realism as a Complementary Approach to Integral Theory</em>, by Neville Ann Kelly</p>
<p><em>Integral God: Wake Up, Grow Up, Show Up, Lighten Up: Sacred Activism and Falling in Love with the Divine</em>, by Marc Gafni, PhD, Center for World Spirituality and Sally Kempton</p>
<p><em>Integral Skepticism: A Tool for Critical Realism</em>, A Necessity for an Integral Community, by Elliott Ingersoll</p>
<p><em>From Embodiment to Post-Metaphysics: Preaching Integral Theory Beyond 'the Choir.'</em> by Tom Murray</p>
<p><em>Re-enchanting Research: Transdisciplinarity as Practical Mysticism</em>, by Leigh Price</p>
<p><em>Causal Leadership: A Natural Emergence from Later Stages of Awareness</em>, by Venita Ramirez, Geoff Fitch, and Terri O’Fallon</p>
<p><em>The Magellan Courses: Explorations in Self-Organizing, Co-Creative Transformative Learning</em>, by Bonnita Roy</p>
<p><em>The Meaning of Planetary Civilization: Integral Rational Spirituality and the Semiotic Universe</em>, by Tim Winton</p> Balder: "I was mostly rewarde…tag:integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com,2013-08-18:5301756:Comment:512562013-08-18T14:12:28.397ZEdward theurj Bergehttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/profile/theurj
<p>Balder: "I was mostly rewarded by the sense of solid, promising work being done in the trenches, so to speak, by folks who are at the edges of, or even altogether outside, the mainstream Integral spotlight."</p>
<p>Here here! As in bravo for saying it but also to look <em>here,</em> at our forum. A lot a really good work is being done but marginalized or completely ignored even by the kennilingually marginalized alternative integral <em>academics</em>. As if that milieu is a prerequisite for…</p>
<p>Balder: "I was mostly rewarded by the sense of solid, promising work being done in the trenches, so to speak, by folks who are at the edges of, or even altogether outside, the mainstream Integral spotlight."</p>
<p>Here here! As in bravo for saying it but also to look <em>here,</em> at our forum. A lot a really good work is being done but marginalized or completely ignored even by the kennilingually marginalized alternative integral <em>academics</em>. As if that milieu is a prerequisite for acceptable integral theory and practice. Since you Balder are now bridging that boundary it is our hope that you bring your more academically insular friends to our bounteous table. Facebook (Basecrook) is a start, but some serious citation in academia would be better. Please, and thank you.</p> How about Cook-Greuter's pres…tag:integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com,2013-08-18:5301756:Comment:511452013-08-18T13:23:39.450ZEdward theurj Bergehttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/profile/theurj
<p>How about Cook-Greuter's presentation I mentioned <a href="http://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/forum/topics/states-stages-the-wc-lattice-and-the-fold?commentId=5301756%3AComment%3A50640" target="_self">here</a>? Did you see it? Or hear about it? From here <a href="https://foundation.metaintegral.org/itc-2013-academic-papers" target="_blank">ITC '13 paper</a>:</p>
<p>"I suggest that a more complex view must include notions of fundamental 'uncertainty', existential paradox, and the nature…</p>
<p>How about Cook-Greuter's presentation I mentioned <a href="http://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/forum/topics/states-stages-the-wc-lattice-and-the-fold?commentId=5301756%3AComment%3A50640" target="_self">here</a>? Did you see it? Or hear about it? From here <a href="https://foundation.metaintegral.org/itc-2013-academic-papers" target="_blank">ITC '13 paper</a>:</p>
<p>"I suggest that a more complex view must include notions of fundamental 'uncertainty', existential paradox, and the nature of interdependent polar opposites as a basis for making its claims. In terms of its understanding of humans, integral evolutionary assertions sound more as coming from a formal operational, self-authoring, analytical, and future-focused mindset than a truly second-tier one despite 'postconventional' content and worldcentric values" (17-18).</p>
<p></p> I think Jonathan paints a fai…tag:integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com,2013-08-17:5301756:Comment:512492013-08-17T17:27:34.104ZBalderhttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/profile/BruceAlderman
<p>I think Jonathan paints a fair representation of some of the strengths and weaknesses of the conference -- though I would say my experience of the event, overall, was more positive than his. The descriptive phrase for the conference that I would use is neither "giant leap" nor "bridge too far," but a "step in the right direction." Here, by "right direction" I don't <em>necessarily</em> mean the inclusion of Bhaskar and Morin <em>per se</em>, but simply a step toward a more consciously…</p>
<p>I think Jonathan paints a fair representation of some of the strengths and weaknesses of the conference -- though I would say my experience of the event, overall, was more positive than his. The descriptive phrase for the conference that I would use is neither "giant leap" nor "bridge too far," but a "step in the right direction." Here, by "right direction" I don't <em>necessarily</em> mean the inclusion of Bhaskar and Morin <em>per se</em>, but simply a step toward a more consciously enacted integral pluralism and a recognition of the existence (and validity) of other integral meta-theoretic systems. As I commented above, I felt there was "a much stronger feeling of an emergent (or at least more prominently voiced) critical self-awareness of the Integral community in its relationship both to itself and to the larger world (other meta-theories, cultural and language groups, nations, political orientations, etc)." Accompanying this, for me, was the thought, "At last!" Much about the the new orientation wasn't new -- it was an orientation a number of us have been pushing for, from the margins, for awhile now.</p>
<p>Regarding Jonathan's assessments of the presentations by Bhaskar and Morin, sadly I have to say I mostly agree. Both presentations had interesting moments, which I appreciated, but both were actually quite difficult to follow -- Bhaskar's because of his speaking style (meandering or rhizomatic, take your pick; halting; full of jargon), and Morin's mostly because of thick accent and broken English. Neither discussion stimulated any significant insights for me, and neither made much of an attempt to draw orienting connections to Integral Theory (though Morin did reference IT in a few remarks). For a Wilberian Integralist entirely new to either approach, I'm not sure what s/he would have gotten out of them -- which is a shame, because I think there are definite rewards to be had in both approaches. Jonathan is right that Wilber appears to be better at clearly articulating and introducing his perspectives to a general audience (though many of us now wish Wilber would do more than Integral 101 in his public videos and presentations!). </p>
<p>I did not stay for the end of Bhaskar's presentation; it was going on long and I had a long commute back home and an early start the next day (to give my own presentation). I did stay for Morin's full presentation, though, and feel he got a standing ovation, not so much for the depths or sophistication of his remarks (he discussed general concepts quite familiar to anyone familiar with holistic / new paradigm thinking), but for the passion with which he delivered his closing remarks, calling for folks to actively and forcefully challenge the status quo.</p>
<p>I have to admit to bristling a little at some of Jonathan's representations of Sean; Sean was a teacher of mine at JFKU, and I am quite fond of him and respect him a lot, so I suppose I am a bit defensive of him. So, with that caveat: I found Jonathan's depiction of him to be a little patronizing. I also did not have any issue with the award categories, or feel the inclusion of papers on CR and CT were after-thoughts or poorly integrated "add ons." Perhaps because this still was an event being organized by Wilberian Integralists, the balance seemed appropriate to me.</p>
<p>The major components of the conference, of course, were the 90- and 60-minute presentations and the afternoon panels, which received a fairly brief (and non-comprehensive) treatment by Jonathan. I don't fault Jonathan for that, of course; there were far too many for any one person to attend and report on. But, like Jonathan, I found the ones I attended to be quite good (with several better than any I'd seen at previous Integral Theory conferences), and overall I had the sense that Integral thinkers are beginning to hit their stride (in a more consistent way). Really, I liked this part of the conference the best (well, this, and the lunch and break-time discussions). I am appreciative of the kosmopolitan "embrace" Sean, Mark, Jordan and crew aimed to enact, with his invitation of Bhaskar and Morin to the event, but I was mostly rewarded by the sense of solid, promising work being done in the trenches, so to speak, by folks who are at the edges of, or even altogether outside, the mainstream Integral spotlight.</p> Jonathan Reams has published…tag:integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com,2013-08-17:5301756:Comment:512482013-08-17T15:49:29.763ZBalderhttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/profile/BruceAlderman
<p>Jonathan Reams has published a review of ITC 2013:</p>
<p><a href="http://integralleadershipreview.com/10637-itc-perspectives-a-giant-leap-forward-or-a-bridge-too-far/" target="_blank">ITC Perspectives: A Giant Leap Forward or a Bridge Too Far?</a></p>
<p>Comments to follow.</p>
<p>Jonathan Reams has published a review of ITC 2013:</p>
<p><a href="http://integralleadershipreview.com/10637-itc-perspectives-a-giant-leap-forward-or-a-bridge-too-far/" target="_blank">ITC Perspectives: A Giant Leap Forward or a Bridge Too Far?</a></p>
<p>Comments to follow.</p> I think it may take some time…tag:integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com,2013-07-22:5301756:Comment:504522013-07-22T18:52:25.025ZBalderhttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/profile/BruceAlderman
<p>I think it may take some time for me to digest the event and take a fuller view of it, but this was my initial comment on it (on FB): </p>
<blockquote><p>I left this year's Integral Theory Conference feeling enlivened and inspired. It is a precious opportunity, indeed, to be able to spend "face-time" with so many brilliant, passionate people committed to inquiring deeply, learning ongoingly, thinking creatively, generatively linking the fractured and disambiguating the conflated or…</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I think it may take some time for me to digest the event and take a fuller view of it, but this was my initial comment on it (on FB): </p>
<blockquote><p>I left this year's Integral Theory Conference feeling enlivened and inspired. It is a precious opportunity, indeed, to be able to spend "face-time" with so many brilliant, passionate people committed to inquiring deeply, learning ongoingly, thinking creatively, generatively linking the fractured and disambiguating the conflated or confused*, disturbing the status quo (where it is dysfunctional or oppressive), facing into the unknown, and having a positive, pro-social impact on a world in crisis. I'm not sure yet what will grow out of this event, but I feel some potent seeds have been sown.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Half of this impression comes from the conversations that happened between presentations and over meals, but there was a definite shift in "tone" (in my experience) in this year's conference compared to the previous event. There was a much stronger feeling of an emergent (or at least more prominently voiced) critical self-awareness of the Integral community in its relationship both to itself and to the larger world (other meta-theories, cultural and language groups, nations, political orientations, etc). "Integral political activism" was a strong theme -- and an open question -- in a number of the presentations and conversations I encountered throughout the weekend.</p>
<p>I missed Sean's keynote talk, unfortunately ("unfortunately" because I heard it was one of the best all weekend), but the keynotes by Bhaskar and Morin were both interesting -- if sometimes a little difficult to follow because of language issues. Bhaskar's talk was basically an intro to key CR concepts, which he offered as a gift to the Integral community; Morin's talk was mostly an overview of complexity principles, with an emphasis on their linkage to Integral theory and their importance for the multiple crises (ecological, social, economic, political) that we face today.</p>
<p>There's more to say, but my time is a little limited (trying to play catch-up after missing several days of work), so I'll come back to this later. If any other members here attended the event, please join in to offer your impressions or critiques...</p>
<p> </p>
<p><br/>*Oh, and ambiguating the obvious!</p> So reviews, thoughts, feeling…tag:integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com,2013-07-22:5301756:Comment:505372013-07-22T17:49:49.414ZEdward theurj Bergehttp://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/profile/theurj
<p>So reviews, thoughts, feelings from those who attended the conference?</p>
<p>So reviews, thoughts, feelings from those who attended the conference?</p>