View Posts by Author
At last we turn the page on an ugly chapter in American history. Now perhaps we can begin to talk about politics in positive terms again. While Joe Biden faces difficult challenges, and while his presidency will inevitably have shortcomings, I am hoping for the best. The post-progressive perspective I advocate is all about finding […]
My new article was recently published in Integral Leadership Review: “Why Centrism Fails and How to Overcome Hyperpolarization.” From the article: “Among the many uses of integral philosophy, its most promising application is in the realm of politics. This is especially true of the hyperpolarized condition of politics in the U.S., where the growing intensity […]
Announcing Post-Progressive Inquiries, a new podcast series coproduced by the Daily Evolver and The Institute for Cultural Evolution. In each episode, ICE President Steve McIntosh and ICE Director Jeff Salzman explore new territories emerging in politics and culture. For Episode 1 of the series, we are happy to have as our inaugural guest Tomas Bjorkman, […]
On Tuesday, November 24, Robert Doar, head of the American Enterprise Institute think tank, welcomed Whole Foods CEO and ICE Director John Mackey for a conversation on our new book: Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business (Penguin 2020), coauthored by Mackey, McIntosh, and Phipps. As described in AEI’s summary of the talk: “Mr. Doar and […]
Recently, I fulfilled a long-held dream and launched a podcast, Thinking Ahead. The weekly show explores the movements, trends, people, and ideas that are shaping our evolving world–a description that’s broad enough to encompass my many eclectic interests. As an unapologetic generalist, I love having the opportunity to interview a diverse range of thinkers, from […]
The Institute for Cultural Evolution is growing and expanding. We’re bringing on new Board Members, new funding, and now we’re recruiting an Executive Director to help run our operations. The job description for this new Executive Director position can be found at this link. If the possibility of working with ICE sounds intriguing, we encourage […]
It looks like Joe Biden has won the election. Yet America remains bitterly divided. Biden has pledged to be a unifier, but restoring the minimum social solidarity necessary for a functional democracy will be a daunting challenge. It now seems as though there’s little common ground left. So rather than searching for common ground, Biden […]
The Institute for Cultural Evolution does not officially endorse candidates for public office. But as the president of this organization I feel obligated to express my personal political opinion on the upcoming election. While I acknowledge that there are many people of good sense and good faith who continue to support Donald Trump, I cannot […]
Race, to all people who use the term correctly, is a matter of a few easily observed physiological characteristics: the color of your skin, the texture of your hair, and the shape of a few extremities . . . But there is no scientific correlation between those physical features and behavior. The only correlation comes […]
I’m excited to announce my upcoming online course titled: Cultural Intelligence: Transcending Race, Embracing Cosmos, presented through the Aligned Center. Here’s a description: Our country’s current racial and cultural crises have invoked a dire need to reexamine our understanding of race and reflect on our own blind spots. I invite you to join me virtually […]
Institute for Cultural Evolution
743 Pine Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302 USA
The Institute for Cultural Evolution is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
Facebook Nonprofit Page
Twitter
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
This is the first episode of our new series: Post-Progressive Inquires
[sibwp_form id=2]
Our Privacy Promise to you
Since our inception in 2013, ICE has invited our stakeholders to join our email list to receive updates and announcements on our progress as a think tank. Email addresses are securely held by Mail Chimp email service, which ensures the ability to quickly and permanently unsubscribe from our email list at any time. Character Development Exercise results and Worldview Questionnaire results are stored on our secure server.
We respect your confidentiality
ICE ensures that your email address, as well as the data you enter on our website, is held in strict confidence. We will only use your information for its intended nonprofit purpose. We do not sell or trade your information to other organizations or individuals.
We protect your information
ICE takes every reasonable measure to insure that your information is not compromised in any way. Our privacy promise extends online to our Internet website. Online information is transmitted via a secure server using encryption technology. If you choose to send us email, we may retain the contents of your email message, our reply and your email address as part of our ongoing customer service efforts. We reserve the right to contact you after you have contacted us and may send future email to you about ICE. You may unsubscribe to discontinue electronic communication from us at any time.
We keep accurate records
Upon request in writing we will remove your personal information from our databases, except where legislation or regulation requires our retention of it (for example, charitable giving history tied to income tax receipts.)
If you have any questions about our website or our Privacy Promise, please contact the ICE office by email at info@culturalevolution.org.
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.