From: Valuemetaphysics@aol.com
Date: Wed Aug 11 2004 - 14:32:55 BST
Hi Mark
And your point is...?
Hi Horse,
I conducted a survey of those involved in the Integral Institute, and a
picture began to emerge. All the members review and contribute to each others work.
X reviews Y, and Y reviews, W. W reviews X and Y, and X reviews W. The
reviewers themselves may turn out to be people who sell retreat packages and run
meditation classes.
The overall impression is one of pseudo academic integrity; there is no
criticism at all. For example, existential philosophy is hardly ever mentioned, at
least not in the Sartrian way. Sartre provided a philosophical alternative to
Freud, and is therefore not to be mentioned because Freud developed
psychoanalytical theory. This is interesting for me personally, because Sartre explored
Nothingness.
One interesting use of this method is the very large number of internet hits
it generates. Although the hits generated are large, they all emerge from the
same geographic centre, and as stated, there is no criticism in any of them.
This centre uses the Integral Institute for 'outreach.' There appears to be an
application of memetics here; the internet is flooded with a large number of
memes which in effect promote or indicate spiritual development. Sartorial
memes are absent, as are those indicating Quality.
Delving a little more deeply, it becomes clear something is being sold. Very
often, that something is loosely connected with the Integral Institute, but as
there is an emphasis upon Integration, all those who contribute can claim to
present a 'partial truth' as Ken Wilber puts it, and so exactly what is sold
doesn't really matter. It's still a partial truth, and the institute provides a
platform it. One member has his own brand of herbal tea! Others sell business
philosophies, others still sell books. The ultimate product is an on-line
degree from the institute itself. This degree is presented via an Indiana
University - an interesting departure from the Californian centre. (Berkeley is one
of the best Universities in the US, and is based in California!)
Whatever the product, all other members are on hand to say a few words as and
when it is appropriate and thus a patina of socially approved intellectual
value is applied - but not necessarily perceived depending upon your
Intellectual status.
One hit recognises the future development of this strategy - a new religion
of sorts. Historical precedents are examined and parallels drawn directly to
Ken Wilber, who's genius, it is clearly stated, cannot be replaced. Thus, one
may become aware of the social domination of intellectual patterns here; without
the iconic status of Ken Wilber, the value of the enterprise is lost.
In contrast, one may wish to reflect upon the MOQ? Here, the idea has the
most value. The MOQ stands or falls on it's intellectual Quality.
I think this was bound to happen. Ken Wilber and the internet go together
very well - if you wish to examine everything, and then discover what everything
has in common, and then synthesis from commonality, the internet is an
enormously helpful tool. Aristotle would have loved it, but Aristotle, for all his
faults, was far more sincere than Ken Wilber in facing those troublesome and
inconvenient pieces of data which fly in the face of your pet theory.
Add to this a deliberate proliferation of iconic status and it is clear that
a cult is in the offing. It may be argued that this particular cult is being
engineered to be benevolent and sincere in its goals, but this is a dangerous
assumption to make in a Dynamic reality, especially considering the force and
domination of social patterns within the US. Watch this space.
My own feeling is that the Institute will fizzle out and close. Before this
happens, the big guns of the enterprise will go all out for maximum promotion.
Exactly what tactics they will choose to employ is open to debate. Fear
usually does the trick.
The MOQ becomes another meme to add to the rest of them. This is ironic,
because the MOQ has the most important message and says it succinctly. You can't
buy that.
All the best,
Mark
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archives:
Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Wed Aug 11 2004 - 15:11:51 BST