Integral Consciousness and the Future of Evolution: How the Integral Worldview is Transforming Politics, Culture, and Spirituality

by Steve McIntosh

The integral worldview represents the next crucial step in the development of our civilization. Through its enlarged understanding of the evolution of consciousness and culture, the emerging perspective known as integral consciousness provides realistic and pragmatic solutions to our growing global problems, both environmental and political. As McIntosh convincingly demonstrates, the integral worldview's transformational potential provides a way to literally become the change we want to see in the world.
This is really two books in the first half serves as an accessible and highly readable introduction to the power of integral consciousness, with the second half making a variety of original contributions to the integral perspective and breaking new ground in the application of integral philosophy to politics and spirituality. Moreover, McIntosh provides a much-needed contextualization and critique of the integral worldview's leading author, Ken Wilber, which helps make integral philosophy relevant to a larger audience.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Psychology

384 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it. A succint, clear and well informed summary of integral thought.

I love the historical philosophical timeline and I like the new ideas McIntosh presents. I also appreciate the respectful and well thought-out criticisms and updates on some other leading integral thinkers. I particularly like his conception of the lines of development as three overlapping holarchic circles, instead of completely differentiated and disconnected lines. The appendixes were also interesting, although I'm not sure I fully agree with his conception of a world government or the reduction of the quadrants to a trio.

The first half is a lucid introduction to integral consciousness. It is more readable than Ken Wilber to a novice, and I will recommend it to friends who are interested in getting into Integral.

The second half is, as my buddy called it, "Integral 400" instead of "Integral 101." It is dense, philosophical, and delves deeply into where integral thinking comes from and what it truly means for the world. This is refreshing for someone who is pursuing an integral life and looking for non-wilberian perspectives. The organization into these two parts is brilliant.

Great read!

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

It has some very interesting propositions, but my main concerns are twofold: the theme and tenets could have been dramatically simplified without loss of fidelity, making this book somewhat tenuous. second, while the author repeatedly evokes the importance of scientific tradition, there are innumerable assumptions made, and the spiral theory is used as a hammer to which every problem seems a nail. any time a unifying framework is enacted to explain complex behavior, it historically tends to fail. the ambiguity implicit in this dialectical spiral he mentions is so vague that it's hard to find any insight - a lot of these virtuous concepts are common sense wrapped in a new age mysticism. I like the direction, and there are some poignant perspectives here, but I think the integral crowd would better serve itself by refining the more concrete theories in a stronger, more evaluative scientific method. Perhaps a connection to systems theory might bridge the gap.

[Dolf van der Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cam across this book when searching for something about Integral Politics. Steve McIntosh's website had an excerpt of this book on it, which seemed worthwhile to explore further.
He bases himself mostly on the work of Ken Wilber, whose work I admire, but who has als turned increasingly self-indulgent, who hasn't produced much new in the past ten years, and whose followers behave very much in a cultist manner.
Steve McIntosh mostly follows Ken Wilber, but is not afraid to criticise him and even adds his own twist to the Integral philosophy. The chapter about Integral Politics is more limited in its concept than I hoped for, though. McIntosh also seems to be more a fan of the development side of Wilber than of his four quadrants, which is a pity. Together the Integral model is much more powerful.

[Neelesh Marik]

The first book which critiques and offers an evolutionary path to Integral theory, whilst establishing its central role in raising the bar of consciousness and culture. It has made me think very deeply about some assumptions which needed revisit, and quite serendipitously offered a framework to validate a mental model that was simmering in my awareness for some time. That framework is Teilhard de Chadrin's law of complexity-consciouness. The 2 appendices are very finely nuanced pieces of arduous scholarship and craftsmanship - I hope to see the Integral Global Governance in place within my life time!



This one, like most great books, needs at least 2 readings to 'value metabolize' it and begin to do justice to the quality of the gift that the author proffers.

[Willa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand Integral Philosophy. It is a thorough, refreshing synopsis of Integral Theory as well as taking Ken Wilber's work further, at several points respectfully disagreeing with him. One can agree or disagree but it is great to be pushed to a point of going beyond Ken Wilber. Personally I think Steve McIntosh provides very valuable new insights in Integral Theory and particularly the Four Quadrants.
I love the part of the historical development of philosophy - easy to read and putting all of Western thought into a new perspective. The book is extremely well-written so it manages to bring very dense content in manageable bite-size chunks.

[Tom Steininger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best overviews on Integral thinking out there, also one of the best overviews of the origins of integral thinking in European philosophy. Steve McIntosh is also one of the first Post-Wilber thinkers, who fully honors Wilber's landmark contribution to the field without shying away from having original thoughts. (Although I would not agree with all of them)

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I certainly resonate with the idea that most, if not all, problems have thier root and therefore a solution in consciousness. I could follow this guy a little better than Ken Wilbur who in MY opinion is the sort of 'poster boy' for integral philosophy.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic overview of the how different levels of humanity evolve over time. It really puts human behavior into context, and makes you understand why, at a base level, humans behave in the way that they do. Not the most eloquent explanation, by far, but this book is truly mind-shifting.

[Drew P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible material. Very heady, but down to earth at the same time. If you want some mind-culture expanding reading, this is a great one. It has altered the way I view the world.

[Ejanssen]

Interesting what Mc Intosh says of being interrelated. It´s good to become aware of our so relational being.

[Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for those interested in integral theory.

Bravo to Steve McIntosh for boldly addressing 2 commonly dismissed aspects of our experience: consciousness and will.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear overview of integral theory and development as relates to history and culture. Excellent introduction to integral theory.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been getting into Ken Wilber. This is a nice book from someone besides wilber. Nice to hear a different view of this subject matter

[Ernest Barker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care for this book. I generally like a good philosophy book, but this just wasn't my cup of tea. I suppose it was just too spiritual for me.

[Paul Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great lesser known introduction to Integral Theory