Contemporary integrative philosophy encompasses a number of different attempts in the 21st century to forge a new philosophy or worldview that goes beyond the paradigm that governs modernity and the postmodern critique of modernity. They each have their own emphases, but all are concerned with providing a new vision of ourselves (self), the nature of reality (ontology) and our fundamental relationship with one another (ethics) that breaks radically with the dominant materialist, reductionist, instrumental and alienated nature of modern society.
They aim to provide greater meaning, a greater sense of connection with ourselves, with nature and with others, and a re-enchantment of the world that connects us to a deeper essence that pervades the world. And they are committed to both personal and social transformation, which are inseparable. On the personal level they emphasise the need for self-examination, psychological awareness, development and healing, and openness to a deeper core essence or Self. And on the social level, they are committed to the construction of a eudaimonistic (flourishing) or listening society, which involves overcoming oppressive social relations and creating the conditions for the psychological and emotional development and well-being of all.
Below are some of the questions that our workshops on integrative philosophy will explore:
- What is our essential nature?
- How can we become, in Socrates’ metaphor, ‘midwives to our souls’?
- Is there a convincing metanarrative or universe story or ‘big history’ that re-enchants the world?
- Is there a directionality, albeit non-linear, to history?
- Is there a general pattern of social (external) and worldview (internal) development that goes from indigenous to premodern/traditional to modern to postmodern – and beyond?
- If so, what are the healthy elements of each worldview that we might learn from and integrate within ourselves? And what are the unhealthy elements of each that we might want to shed?
- What can we each do to promote both personal and social transformation? How can we become Self-led activists?
- How can we build a eudaimonistic or listening society that gradually overcomes oppressive social relations and facilitates the psychological development and well-being of all?
- Can we hold together a realistic optimism that fully faces today’s multiple crises and existential threats and at the same time is firmly rooted in an underlying spiritual infrastructure or ground of being?
These are some of the questions that integrative philosophies like critical realism, the philosophy of metareality, complex thought, integral theory and metamodernism and other 21st century philosophies have examined and that we can explore together.
Check out the section on Upcoming Workshops for news about our Integrative Philosophy workshops. And please contact us to let us know what aspects you are most interested in exploring.