An Integral position is accepting that everyone has a valid perspective to offer. However in terms of a philosophy of life Integral proposes that everyone has a partial knowledge of the truth of reality. In other words, no 'one' person or group can claim the 'whole' and exclusive truth and expect or insist that it apply to everyone else.
This poem by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) called 'THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT' creatively illustrates the point.
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"
The Second, feeling of the tusk
Cried, "Ho! what have we here,
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ‘tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"
The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee:
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he;
"’Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
added: "E’en the blindest man can tell what this
resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope.
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
The central principle of 'Integral Innovation' is that the development of a person, place or object that leads to effective and sustainable change is often a process of transcending yet including previous perspectives, states and stages. An evolution that integrates most if not all previous experience. However unlike pluralism or relativism, Integral looks for a perspective that is not just different but better for all, based on an integration of what is collectively agreed as being good, true and beautiful from all other perspectives.
In the context of idea sharing, for this to happen it is vital to acknowledge that everyone has a right to their creative perspective. I like the sentiment behind this thought from Chris Albrecht - President of HBO programming
"The idea that we're all connected in the collective unconscious is an extremely important part of what makes entertainment successful. You can't translate that literally, but you can be aware of the ideas behind it: that the psyche has a structure, that the unconscious is a very powerful force, that we're all on a journey, striving for individuation and wholeness. If you understand that, you have a better grip on what's relevant, resonant, and rich about human experience."
Tom
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