References
Following are general references on perspective integration. For references specific to each issue, visit the post for that video and scroll down.
I. ARTICLES & WEBSITES
Ryan Nakade’s Upgrade the Argument: From the Steel Man to the Titanium Man (article) — a short article on the difference between straw-manning, steel-manning, and an ever stronger way to upgrade the argument: titanium-manning.
Jeff Salzman’s Quick Intro to Integral Theory (website) — an introduction to integral theory, including diagrams, a video series, and additional references. Integral theory is foundational to Faces of X.
Nick Sousanis’ Seeing Red, Feeling Blue (comic) — a comic about political divisions and over-simplification
Zachary Stein's Love in a Time Between Worlds discusses the concept of "a time between worlds," a period of transition where old systems are breaking down, and new ones have yet to emerge
Marc Gafni's The Evolutionary Emergent of Unique Self explores the intersection of integral theory and the Unique Self concept. It delves into how these ideas can be applied in various fields, such as psychology, spirituality, and education, to foster personal and collective development.
Living Room Conversations (website) — resources for engaging in constructive dialogue across difference, including Conversation Guides for specific topics
Elu v’Elu (text) — a Talmudic text exploring the validity of different perspectives. The text emphasizes the importance of viewpoint diversity, intellectual humility, and openness to different interpretations.
II. AUDIO & VIDEO
Audio interviews with Faces of X creator Stephanie Lepp:
Denizen — designer Jenny Stefanotti interviews Stephanie about the concept of integration
Deep Dive — philosopher Eyal Shay interviews Stephanie about tools for integration
Doomer Optimism — agro-ecologists Jared Snyder and Ashley Colby interview Stephanie about a tool for integration: the integral matrix (then called “synthetic strategy”)
Video essays with Lepp:
Uncanceling ContraPoints — a video essay making the case that YouTube personality ContraPoints is a voice of synthesis
Leadership in Times of Crisis — a video essay that visually explains the integral matrix
Lex Fridman interviews Daniel Schmachtenberger (audio) — a conversation between social philosopher Daniel Schmachtenberger and computer scientist Lex Fridman. About an hour into their conversation (1:08:30-1:16:56), they turn towards the power of synthesis.
Paraphrasing Daniel, ‘can I steel-man each view? Can I actively try to inhabit other people’s perspectives?...Then, can I seek a higher-order understanding that could fulfill the values and synthesize the sense-making of all the perspectives simultaneously? Maybe I won't get it, but I want to be seeking it. I think that one cognitive disposition might be the most helpful thing.’
To his last sentence, I'd add "right now." After we build our muscle for synthesis, perhaps we can give ourselves a longer leash in our intellectual explorations…
Bohm & Krishnamurti on Fragmentation & Wholeness (audio and video) — a collection of conversations between theoretical physicist David Bohm and philosopher & spiritual teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti. Together, Bohm and Krishnamurti align on the idea that the root cause of the human predicament is our fragmented consciousness, and inability to see wholeness.
III. BOOKS
Nick Sousanis’ Unflattening — a graphic novel about how perception is an active process of incorporating and reevaluating different vantage points, drawn entirely in comics
Ken Wilber’s A Theory of Everything: An Integral Vision for Business, Politics, Science, and Spirituality — a foundational book about integral theory by a pioneer of the field. This book was transformative for Faces of X creator Stephanie Lepp, when she first read it in 2001.
David J. Temple's First Principles and First Values establishes frameworks for a new school of thought called CosmoErotic Humanism. The book is built around forty-two propositions that provide new source code for the future of planetary culture.
Zachary Stein's Education in a Time Between Worlds: Essays on the Future of Schools, Technology, and Society seeks to reframe this historical moment as an opportunity to create a global society of educational abundance
Marc Gafni's Your Unique Self: The Radical Path to Personal Enlightenment introduces the concept of the "Unique Self," which integrates individual uniqueness with a sense of universal connection
Iain McGilchrist’s The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World — a case that the division of the brain into two hemispheres is essential to human existence, making possible incompatible versions of the world, with different priorities and values. Crudely, the left hemisphere sees in parts, and the right hemisphere sees wholeness. In modern history, we’ve over-emphasized parts, but we can’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. Per the title of the book, wholeness consciousness should be the master, and parts consciousness should be the emissary.
Iain McGilchrist’s The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions and the Unmaking of the World — an exploration of the radically different worldviews presented by the two hemispheres of the brain, and the need to bring them into rightful relationship.
Gershon Scholem's Kabbalah — a book that articulates a synthesis perspective on evil. In Jewish theology, evil is not something to be obliterated, but simply an imbalance between justice and mercy. Specifically, evil is understood as too much justice without enough mercy.