W1 module 4

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WORLD 1From the Big Bang to Conscious Humans

MODULE 4Toward an Holistic Paradigm



What dynamics characterize societal transformation?

What characteristics, benefits, and consequences do you think are most associated with each of the four worldviews

presented in this module?

Which worldview is most needed vis-à-vis the current global challenges faced by humanity?

Focus Questions


LEARNING UNIT 2Theos

LEARNING UNIT 3Logos

LEARNING UNIT 1Mythos

LEARNING UNIT 4Holos

Image: Earth III by ~Jsohpaul on deviantARTSource: http://jsohpaul.deviantart.com/art/Earth-III-54276402

Understanding Our Worldviews

Image: © 2008 Regina Rowland, PhD — Layers of ComplexityReprinted with permission of author.

Source: Rowland R. 2009. Mapping the Coconstruction of Meaning. Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany


Understanding our Paradigms

Worldviews and paradigms evolve in stages

Illustration by Brandy Agerbeck www.loosetooth.comImage Source: http://pialogue.info/definitions/spiral_dynamics_cartoon.png


http://www.loosetooth.com/


Change begins with YOU!YOU!

Image Source: http://www.clker.com/clipart-3826.html

The Dynamics of Transformation

Transformation of society occurs in phases:

• The Trigger Phase• The Accumulation Phase• The Decision-Window• The Chaos Point

Image Source: Laszlo, Ervin (2010). The Chaos Point.


Key Characteristics:• Innovations in

technologies • More efficient

exploitation of nature

The Trigger Phase

Image Source: Laszlo, Ervin (2010). The Chaos point.

u


The Accumulation Phase

Key Characteristics:• Higher levels of resource

depletion• Faster growth of populations• Increased societal complexity• Increased impact on the

carrying capacity of our planet• Increased stress on social and

geo-political climates

Image Source:

http://www.populationinstitute.org/external/files/reports/from-6b-to-7b.pdf


The Decision-Window

• When social and environmental relations change– Pressure is put on the established order– Values and worldviews are questioned– Societies become unstable

• A system can most easily be influenced to shift when in this phase– Critical mass» Including you?

Image Source: http://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2010/05/22/sociedad/navarra/25-anos-estudiando-euskera-en-zizur


The Chaos Point• The system becomes critically unstable• The status quo becomes unsustainable • The system tips one way or the other

- Devolution - Evolution

Image: The core by ~Humperding on deviantARTSource: http://humperding.deviantart.com/art/The-core-79620623


Devolution

• Society is resistant to change, or changes too slowly• Institutions are too rigid • Unmanageable stresses mount• Conflict and violence rise

Image Source: http://www.pr-squared.com/index.php/2006/12/edgein_marketing


Evolution

• Society evolves in time toward more adaptive and flexible modes

• An improved order becomes available• Society stabilizes around a non-conflictual and

sustainable norm

Image Source: http://space.about.com/od/pictures/ig/Earth-Pictures-Gallery/Full-Earth-.htm


Evolutionary Insight

• Fundamental change is triggered by technological innovations

– that destabilize established structures and institutions

– that create greater connection among people and between people and the living world

• A more adaptive mindset in the bulk of the population is required

• The decider rests on the evolution of thinking, valuing and perceiving

• We can evolve toward an holistic paradigm based on systemic thinking and being

Image: Singularity V2 by ~Humperding on deviantARTSource: http://humperding.deviantart.com/art/Singularity-V2-76545726


The Four Worldviews

• Mythos

• Theos

• Logos

• Holos

Image: Copernicus's heliocentric model of the Solar SystemSource: http://www.black-holes.org/relativity1.html

Image: Thermodynamic Horizon by *CorpusCallosum on deviantARTSource: http://corpuscallosum.deviantart.com/art/Thermodynamic-Horizon-76214599

Image: The wrath of the gods by ~theflickerees on deviantARTSource: http://theflickerees.deviantart.com/art/The-wrath-of-the-gods-123122541

Image: Pacha mama by ~RoqueLogozzoSource: http://roquelogozzo.deviantart.com/art/Pacha-mama-252130216


From Mythos to Theos• Mythos

– Deep knowledge of and appreciation for nature– Interrelationship with earth, creatures and cosmos – Animalistic, spiritualistic, mythic, cosmic, sacred, holistic– Time is fluid– Paleolithic food-gathering and hunting-fishing societies

• Transition– Agriculture-based Neolithic stage– Tribes to villages to cities to empires

• Theos– Male-dominated society – Socio-economic stratification – “Sky gods” displace nature– Rulers claim to be descendants of gods – Social systems of theocracy arise

Image: Cave Dwellers by ~BenDiAnna on deviantARTSource: http://bendianna.deviantart.com/art/Cave-Dwellers-187348320


From Theos to Logos• Theocratic society

– Rule by divine fiat– As above, so below– Exemplified by ancient Egypt,

Mesopotamia, India, China, Mesoamerica

• Transition– New technologies– New values and beliefs

• Logos– Observation and reason– Understandable world– Rational discourse, reductionism– Quantitative measure– Western civilization (and later the world)Image Source: http://www.free-photos.biz/images/architecture/libraries/psalter_world_map.jpg


The Era of Logos

• Ancient– Man is the measure of all things– Realization of human potential

is the objective– Greek city-states and the Roman Empire

• Early Christian– Western fall, Eastern rise– Divinity as source and judge– Holy Trinity– Man as God’s finest creation

Image: Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da VInciSource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vitruvian.jpg


The Era of Logos

• Medieval Europe

– Medieval fiefdoms and princedoms

– Use of mechanical devices

• Seventeenth Century

– Galileo and the world as a giant mechanism

– Newton's universality of the laws of motion

– The universe as a clockwork, set in motion by a prime mover, operating according to strict laws of nature

– God as “prime mover”

Image: Cartesian VisionSource: http://www.princeton.edu/~his291/Cartesian_Vision.html


The Era of Logos

• Church and Science– Conflict at first, then separate domains– Church as domain of “moral philosophy”– Science as domain of “natural philosophy”

• Nineteenth Century– Darwin’s theory of evolution– Objective worldview– Rationalism of René Descartes– Freedom to exploit the world

• Ideas that spread to the rest of world

Image: Ptolemy’s AstronomySource: http://mightyminerva.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/ptolemys-planets/


TakeTake AwayAway• To overcome our current problemsTo overcome our current problems

– Cannot use the same old way of Cannot use the same old way of thinkingthinking

– Must renew our culture and Must renew our culture and consciousnessconsciousness

Image: Mother Earth by ~maumanga on deviantARTSource: http://maumanga.deviantart.com/art/Mother-Earth-38131877


Toward Holos

• The next transformation of civilizationThe next transformation of civilization– To be co-created by us, now!To be co-created by us, now!– Systemic thinking, sensing and beingSystemic thinking, sensing and being– Integration of rational and intuitiveIntegration of rational and intuitive– Embodying the patterns of natureEmbodying the patterns of nature– The next evolutionary step for humans, communities, The next evolutionary step for humans, communities,

and the living environment – taken togetherand the living environment – taken together

Image: Pillars of light by ~Humperding on deviantARTSource: http://humperding.deviantart.com/art/Pillars-of-light-170397380


W1 module 4

Technology

Transcript of W1 module 4