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ICE’s own Senior Fellow Michael Zimmerman recently published an article in The Breakthrough Journal, entitled: Love and Vinyl Chloride—A Deep Ecologist Reconciles With His Father and the Modern World. The Breakthrough Journal is the signature publication of the California-based environmental think tank, The Breakthrough Institute. We admire the work of Breakthrough and are pleased to […]
Rich Tafel, founder of the Log Cabin Republicans and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Cultural Evolution, took the stage today in a Politico forum panel at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. The Politico panel, titled Ruin or Renewal? The Future of the Republican Party, focused on some of the key issues ICE […]
Those familiar with the work of the Institute for Cultural Evolution know that we are working to help evolve both the left and the right side of politics. In furtherance of these efforts, today the mainstream media outlet The Daily Beast published my op-ed on ‘a more evolved right.’ Even though I remain on the […]
This series of graphics illustrates ICE’s latest approach to mapping the ‘landscape of values’ that underlie American politics. The first graphic below shows how the significant influence of culture can be conceived with reference to the ‘Bedrock Values’ of the electorate.The circles graphic below shows America’s three major values-based worldviews, which we’re calling: ‘Traditionals, Moderns, […]
This is to announce a summer seminar by ICE directors Steve McIntosh and Jeff Salzman focusing on the integral philosophy that animates ICE’s perspective. For three and half days—August 18-21, 2016—we will gather at the Integral Center in Boulder, Colorado for a deep dive into the integral (a.k.a. “evolutionary,” or “post-postmodern”) worldview. Here is a […]
In this 50 minute recorded conversation, ICE Board Member Jeff Salzman and I talk about my new paper, published on this website, titled Overcoming Polarization by Evolving Both Right and Left: How Polarity Theory Provides a Path to Political Progress. The ideas we explore in the podcast include: • Why we should we care about […]
My new paper on the problem of hyper-partisan polarization was originally written in January 2016. But since then the Republican party has entered the throes of a historically significant meltdown which may actually solve the problem of polarization by severely crippling the right and handing political power to the left in the next election cycle. […]
The brewing fight over the nomination of the next Supreme Court justice is bringing the problem of hyper-partisan polarization into sharp focus. But even though this situation clearly reveals how polarization is crippling our democracy, this problem’s ability to stimulate greater political engagement is limited because there is no viable solution yet in sight. So […]
Here at the beginning of 2016, as I continue to pursue The Institute for Cultural Evolution’s project to envision “the Future Right” and “the Future Left,” it is important to be clear about ICE’s political strategy. This strategy is designed to improve the functionality of American government by evolving our political culture. In this project […]
Grant recognizes innovative approach to decreasing hyperpartisanship. December 3, 2015: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Boulder, Colorado—Overcoming America’s hyper-partisan political paralysis is a big challenge, and may be the most troublesome problem facing America today. In response to this challenge, The Institute for Cultural Evolution (“ICE”), an independent think tank founded in 2013, is advancing a bold […]
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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
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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.