Here are some suggested discussion questions for Barrett Brown’s “Theory and Practice of Integral Sustainable Development: Part 2.” As time goes on and we get a groove going as applied integral practitioners, we might moderate the forum more or less intensely with fewer or more questions. For now you can think of these questions as suggestions and we'll see how it goes from there. I’ve tried to lean the questions towards real-world application instead of theoretical analysis, but theory talk is welcome here as well.
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Barrett talks about the “High Road” and the “Low Road” of working with values—trying to transform people to a higher level or translating your message to the level where people are.
Can you think of a few examples of initiatives (even ad campaigns) that attempt to transform people, and other that do a good job of translating their messages to different value sets?
Bonus: If you’ve seen Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth…. Does the film do more translating or attempts at transformation?
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“On its deepest level, this approach to sustainability is a giant relaxation, a profound acceptance of who people are and the state of our world. It operates from this depth—not in a laissez-faire way that allows anything to happen—but with a fundamental acceptance and recognition of the incredible value that each perspective adds to the tapestry of life. From this position and with this knowledge, we might then passionately strive to improve our world in every way that we can envision.” (page 42)
How does this perspective—in Ken’s (approximate) words “the only people fit to do anything about the environmental crisis are those who know that nothing needs to be done”—fit with the also real perspective that the crisis is dire, urgent, and in need of immediate action?
Katie Heikkinen
Integral University Presents