Integral Institute

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Integral Theory
Integral theorists: Clare Graves, Don Beck Ken Wilber
Integral themes: AQAL Integral ecology Integral politics Integral psychology
Influences on integral theory: James Mark Baldwin Jean Gebser Jürgen Habermas Erich Jantsch Rupert Sheldrake
Integral artists: Alex Grey Stuart Davis Integral organizations: Integral Institute

The Integral Institute is a think-tank founded in 1998 by American philosopher, psychologist, and mystic Ken Wilber. The purpose of the Institute is to gather and attempt to integrate the various viewpoints found in a number of major fields of knowledge. For example, the Integral Institute currently has a number of branches including Integral psychology, Integral business, Integral politics, Integral medicine, Integral education, Integral law and criminal justice, Integral art, and Integral spirituality. This attempt to integrate the knowledge base of a particular field is based on the notion that differing opinions are often true but partial versions of actual reality. Various schools of thought in a particular subject then, rather than being winner-take-all competitors, are seen as unique but partial contributors to a more realistic or Integral whole. These schools of thought can be likened to the parable about the blind men standing around the elephant each describing what they feel - one feels the elephant's feet, one feels the ears, the trunk, etc. Integral theory, in a nutshell, says that these viewpoints can be integrated to create a more complete and accurate version of reality. Notable members include Stuart Davis, Alex Grey, Deepak Chopra, Michael Murphy, Roger Walsh, Don Beck, Larry Dossey, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ed Kowalczyk (from the band Live), and others.

Integral Institute outreach is occurring through a variety of projects. These include the Integral Institute Workshop Series, Integral Naked, Integral Life Practice, Integral University, and the Integral Spiritual Center.

[edit] Integral University

Integral University is a learning community based on Ken Wilber's integral theory.

Integral University provides a number of accredited degrees and programs through partnerships with Fielding Graduate University (including a Master’s program in Organization Management and Development), and John F. Kennedy University, which has an Integral Studies Department explicitly based on Wilber's AQAL system, and will offer with Integral University a Master’s degree in Integral Theory.