Ken Wilbur and “Integral” Theory

A line of thought of the Transformation/New Paradigm sort that has gain significant popularity of late gets referred to as Integral Theory.  It is based primarily in the thinking of Ken Wilbur.  Integral Theory claims to bring perspectives together in an all-embracing “theory of everything.”

Wilber’s roots lie in Eastern philosophical and Western mystical traditions. He is the most recognized modern “big picture” theorist within transpersonal psychology. His work is developmental and highly synthetic. He draws from a wide variety of Eastern and Western sources. His primary focus is the construction of developmental hierarchies for both personal growth and cultural evolution. His emphasis in each is spiritual development.

In the end, in spite of the integrative intent, Wilber’s work represents an essentially spiritual cosmology. It is thus very limited in its practical applicability to complex questions and vulnerable to Unity Fallacy interpretations. A simple place to see this limitation is in how the great majority of people attracted to his work come from closely related personality styles (not surprisingly, those closest to his own)

While there are similarities between certain aspects of Wilber’s work and CST—each is evolutionary and systemic, and at moments Wilber’s generative interpretation of “spirit” is sufficiently broad as to come close to a creative frame—in the end Wilbur’s work fails as culturally mature conception. More accurately it is philosophical idealism. In the end Wilber’s notions of where we need to go have more to do with “perennial philosophy” spiritual attainment within a narrowly Early-Axis worldview (whether Early-Axis developmentally in culture or Early/Upper in personality style) than they do with today’s more general personal and cultural challenge.