Integral Studies
Description
Eilidh Ross:
"An integrated approach to studies pursues a holistic view: an integration of mind, body, and spirit; an integration of material and spiritual values; and an integration of Eastern and Western philosophies and worldviews.
Integral studies attempts to synthesize the fragmentary aspects of contemporary thought and culture into a meaningful whole. It is an approach to studying the world that requires the researcher to consider several different perspectives, paradigms and theories, and to engage in dialogue across usual boundaries between disciplines, cultures and philosophies."
(https://lifeitself.org/blog/2022/05/27/mapping-metamodern-integral)
Characteristics
Eilidh Ross:
"According to the Institute for Integral Studies (IFIS), an integral approach requires the researcher to:
- “simultaneously hold several perspectives (paradigms, theories, lenses, voices, metaphors, categories …)”;
- “engage in dialogues across usual boundaries (of paradigms, disciplines, cultures, languages, institutional roles, thinking and communication styles etc), and to actually deepen and broaden one’s understanding through these dialogues”; and
- “develop an awareness of the possibilities and limits of conceptual-verbal understanding, and creatively include complementary forms of generating insight and connection.”
A particular focus within integral studies is the exploring of the interplay of mind, body, and spirit. The California Institute of Integral Studies states: “integral education connects the spiritual and practical dimensions of intellectual life. The integration of the wisdom traditions presents an evolution of consciousness that has never been more relevant and crucial than it is today.”
(https://lifeitself.org/blog/2022/05/27/mapping-metamodern-integral)