Integral gnosis and the material other

Authors

• Eero Karhu University of Turku

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30664/ar.67575

Keywords:

Wilber, Ken, Spirituality, Psychology and religion, Philosophy and religion, Philosophy, American, Systems (Philosophy), Systems theory, Materialism, Human development, New Age movement, Knowledge, Theory of, Science and religion

Abstract

In this article, I look at Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory as mimesis. This invites me to look at Integral Theory in three ways. First, I look at Integral Theory as process of making materialistic alterity, thus maintaining and fortifying the spirituality of the self. Second, I look at it from the perspective of the dialectics of epistemologies of estrangement and intimacy, raising questions concerning the legitimacy of the juxtaposing interpretative and explanatory approaches to culture. Third, I look at it from a social perspective, as a powerful instance of modern mimesis that creates a typically modern history. I will show how Integral Theory is grounded in the modern intuition of agency being distinct from and superior to the outer material world. To the extent that cultural agency has to materialize in some form, so does Integral Theory. My aim is to recall the close relations of scientific discourse with spirituality, even with magic and even more importantly, I want to show how supposedly secular intuitions of identity and agency bear strong potential for spiritual and religious discourse.