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Integral Theory

Integral theory and practice has emerged over the last few decades in an attempt to provide comprehensive frameworks that map the breadth and complexity of todays global knowledge. Integral Theory suggests that we need a more inclusive view of human experience that integrates both our outer objective and inner subjective worlds, both individual and collective experience - and values multiple ways of knowing such as empiricism, phenomenology, hermeneutics, functionalism and others. Ken Wilber has promoted a 4-Quandrant approach to integral theory that may be a useful tool as we attempt to define 'holistic education' and 'integral education'.

The 4-Quadrant Integral Model provides a comprehensive map of human experience and capacities which is being applied to many fields of human endeavour including global ecology, business and organizational practice, medicine, international politics. If we put this in the context of student learning we obtain an integral map that might represent different domains of a curriculum:

Integral approaches to curriculum could provide:


Frameworks for learning, research and problem solving processes Lenses to ensure structures and processes are more balanced and inclusive Tools for transformational change A common language for transdisciplinary inquiry

Students and teachers who are integrally informed may have a better understanding of personal and collective potentials and a greater chance of success in creating personal and world futures.

Integral Curriculum Mappings


Schubert describes many metaphors that underpin various curriculum initiatives. These can be roughly mapped onto the 4-Quadrant model - a few examples follow:

Curriculum as Content or Subject Matter This traditional image of curriculum stretches back to Pythagoras and Plato. This curriculum is one which receives contents from traditional academic disciplines and transmits them to the learner.

Curriculum as a Program of Planned Activities In this image of curriculum, student learning is regarded as a planned program which is directed and executed by schools. It includes written documents teacher guides, lesson plans, scope and sequence chart, and curriculum implementation packages.

Curriculum as Experience This image of curriculum, following John Dewey, emphasizes experience rather than sets of activities. Learners select a learning experience according to its significance in their life.

Holistic Curriculum? What image do we hold for an 'holistic' curriculum? Should it cover all domains of human experience?

What are the Four Quadrants?


Posted March 13th, 2008 by Corey W. deVos in

Integral Facts

Back by popular demand....

According to Integral Theory, there are at least 4 primary dimensions or perspectives through which we can experience the world: subjective, intersubjective, objective, and interobjective. These 4 perspectives, represented graphically, are the upper-left, lower-left, upper-right, and lower-right quadrants.

In the subjectiveor upper-leftquadrant, we find the world of our individual, interior experiences: our thoughts, emotions, memories, states of mind, perceptions, and immediate sensationsin other words, our I space. In the intersubjectiveor lower-leftquadrant, we find the world of our colletive, interior experiences: our shared values, meanings, language, relationships, and cultural backgroundin other words, our "we" space. In the objectiveor upper-rightquadrant, we find the world of individual, exterior things: our material body (including brain) and anything that you can see or touch (or observe scientifically) in time and spacein other words, our it space. In the interobjectiveor lower-rightquadrant, we find the world of collective, exterior things: systems, networks, technology, government, and the natural environmentin other words, our its space.

Whats the point of looking at the world through a 4-quadrant lens? Simple answer: Anything less is narrow, partial and fragmented! Integral Theory maintains that all 4 quadrants are real and all are important. So, for example, to the question of what is more real, the brain (with its neural pathways and structures) or the mind (with its thoughts and perceptions), Integral Theory answers: BOTH. Moreover, we add that the mind and brain are situated in cultural and systemic contexts, which influence both inner experience and brain activity in irreducible ways. Whats more important in human behavior? The psychology of the mind (upper left), or the cultural conditioning of the individual (lower left)? Integral Theory answers, again: BOTH. What is more critical in social development? The habits, customs, and norms of a culture (lower left), or the products it produces (like gun and steel lower right). Integral Theory answers: BOTH. All four quadrants are real, all are important, and all are essential for understanding your world. While some might like to reduce reality to the mind (upper-left quadrant), and others to the brain (upper-right quadrant), and still others to the influence of cultural context (lower-left quadrant), and yet others to the effect of systems (its the economy, stupid! i.e., lower-right quadrant), Integral Theory holds that ALL 4 QUADRANTS are indispensable. The more we can consciously include the 4 quadrants in our perspective, the more whole, balanced, healthy, comprehensive, and effective our actions will be. And it all boils down to just four dimensions. It's as easy as I, we, it, and its! Thats why each issue of Holons presents your world through an integral lens. Its a quick and easy way of taking a comprehensive and fun (!) tour of the 4 quadrants of your world. Want to learn more? CLICK HERE to download our free PDF, Introduction to Integral Theory and Practice, by Ken Wilber. Also be sure to check out What is Altitude?, which summarizes the Integral approach to developmental studies....

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