“I think Depolarizing the American Mind by McIntosh and Phipps is among the most insightful essays I’ve ever read about the causes of our Nation’s hyper-partisan polarization problem. It offers a new diagnosis of how we got here, and a new prescription for what to do now. McIntosh and Phipps show us how we can evolve into more constructive forms of disagreement a decade from now.”
“I found the ICE Austin Conclave on the future of the right to be a highly worthwhile investment of time and effort. Affirming the truism that two minds are better than one, the Conclave was revelatory in identifying themes for a new center-right fusionism in a carefully tended collegial setting, that I believe will help catalyze the innovation and reform we aspire to encounter in our political system.
— Margaret Hoover, political commentator, gay rights activist, and author of American Individualism: How A New Generation of Conservatives Can Save the Republican Party
“I am generally skeptical of conferences and conclaves; there is a lot of talk and little more. But the Esalen Conclave was different: the combination of the setting, the format and the people made it much more worthwhile than any I can remember. … The format enabled us to have free discussion but with a focus on where we can find common footing to move both the conversation and action forward. And the people offered a wider range of experiences and views than we commonly find, so less simply talking amongst ourselves. You are to be complimented for pulling this off, in what I really hope will be not just one Conclave but an ongoing process to help some ideas crystallize into action to reduce our political dysfunction.”
— Norman Ornstein, eminent political scientists and Resident Scholar at American Enterprise Institute
“It was a most enjoyable and productive experience. The participants constituted a much more diverse group than I normally encounter. The clash of perspectives was stimulating without being in any way unpleasant. The conversation in the small conference room in Murphy Hall with chairs pulled in a circle was frank and enlightening, less a kumbaya moment than a serious engagement on matters of transcendent importance to our public life. I’ve been gratified to see new friendships made and connections established. The blogging about the conclave and ideas about moving forward have been constructive. I hope you are able to maintain the momentum created by the first conclave and find ways of building on it. The investment would be a good one.”
— Thomas Mann, eminent political scientists and Senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution
“ICE’s Austin Conclave was a wonderful opportunity to listen, learn and share ideas on how best to expand liberty in America and the world.”
— Grover Norquist, Founder and President of Americans for Tax Reform
“I thought the conclave was sensationally good—really quite so as formats for those kind of things are difficult to do. It was more productive than I would have expected.”
— Steven F. Hayward, conservative scholar and Ronald Regan Professor of Public Policy at the Pepperdine University
“We applaud the groundbreaking work of the Institute for Cultural Evolution, which is taking an innovative, integral approach to solving key challenges of our time. Solving issues like climate change and political gridlock can only be achieved by a significant shift in cultural thinking, and that’s what ICE is all about. Their focus on linking cultural evolution and tangible, measurable goals is a new opening for the sustainable and just future we all seek.”
“For my money, Steve McIntosh and Carter Phipps are two of the most lucid, thoughtful, practical thinkers alive on the subject of cultural evolution, and integral thinking. I’ve been studying and writing in this arena for 25 years, and these two guys, and their books, have changed the way I look at the world. The Institute for Cultural Evolution is going to be a major force in addressing and finding new solutions to the key social issues that continue to divide us.”
“The Esalen conclave on political polarization was superb. Unlike some other similar meetings I’ve been to recently, the organizers made sure to have some actual conservatives in the room. They also understood that good relationships are the key to good thinking – at least when it comes to understanding people with different values – and they made sure to foster those relationships by allowing time for informal socializing, and by providing one of the most beautiful and relaxing settings in America for a meeting. I believe that the Esalen model is an excellent way forward to create a group of influential people who can find and then support novel ways to address the slow, grinding, national emergency of political polarization and dysfunction.”
— Jonathan Haidt, acclaimed author, social psychologist, and Professor of Ethical Leadership NYU-Stern School of Business
“Applying Integral Theory and an understanding of the evolution of worldviews, Steve McIntosh and Carter Phipps have founded the Institute for Cultural Evolution to counter ideological rigidities with a more comprehensive and flexible framework that integrates polarities and points to new solutions to our most intractable problems. This is an exciting development to watch and support.”
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Steve McIntosh & Jeff Salzman visit with two young leaders, Gary Sheng & Zoë Jenkins, who are activating higher consciousness in Generation Z through their organization Civics Unplugged.#CivicsUnplugged #GarySheng #ZoëJenkins #JeffSalzman #SteveMcIntosh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q0gFqJ6vFY
I’m excited to announce my new 9-week online course on post-progressive politics. It’s being produced in partnership with The Aligned Center: https://thealignedcenter.com/institute/becoming-part-of-the-solution/
At last we turn the page on an ugly chapter in our history. While Biden faces difficult challenges, and while his presidency will inevitably have shortcomings, I’m rooting for his success. Biden is poised to take the first steps toward the higher cultural ground our nation needs.
https://www.dailyevolver.com/2021/01/leading-leaders-to-higher-ground/ If you are interested in executive leader development or leadership in general, here's a great episode just for that! Enjoy!
My article just published in Integral Leadership Review: "Why Centrism Fails and How to Overcome Hyperpolarization"
http://integralleadershipreview.com/17747-12-21-why-centrism-fails-and-how-to-overcome-hyperpolarization/?fbclid=IwAR03NT_o57_1aK71EhK7OPy0q0rMv_-C4GtpbCmZeC9eMxHqPZujO58PzaY
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What Does “Transcendence” Mean?
“Transcendence” or “the transcendent” generally refers to the people and things that are ultimately more important than yourself or your perceived self-interest. For example, that which is transcendent for you could include: Your family, humanity, your deepest convictions, the environment, God, Oneness, your country, animals, freedom, adventure, art, science, a better world, or anything you consider authentically “higher.” Your personal ideals of transcendence are grounded in the people and things that you’re dedicated to, and might even lay down your life for, if it became necessary. Your ideals of transcendence therefore help define your life’s higher purposes.
The word transcendence is used in this exercise as an umbrella term that is friendly to both spiritual and secular notions of transcendent higher purposes. In other words, you don’t have to be religious to recognize the significance of transcendent ideals. Our attraction to a greater good that lies beyond ourselves—our ceaseless striving to serve something higher and create something better—is a fundamental part of what makes us human.
The connection between your ideals of transcendence, your virtues, and your basic moral obligations—to self, to others, and to the transcendent—is illustrated by the graphic below. The specific virtues shown in this graphic are the 7 fundamental virtues, but the specific 7 virtues you choose in this exercise may differ from these classical 7.
For more on virtues and their relationship with transcendence, see the book Developmental Politics, by this exercise’s author, Steve McIntosh.