My Newsletter of April 28, 2019
Dear Friends of Integral Consciousness,
It’s been a while since my last email because I’ve been deep in my “writer’s cave.” But now that the manuscript for my next book is complete, I’m resurfacing.
My Forthcoming Book
Developmental Politics: How America Can Grow Into a Better Version of Itself is scheduled to be published by Paragon House in early 2020.
Developmental Politics presents an inspiring yet realistic way to overcome the hyperpolarization that plagues American democracy. The problem of America’s bitterly divided politics is being caused primarily by the rapid cultural evolution that has occurred over the last fifty years. Overcoming this problem accordingly requires further cultural evolution, which involves expanding the scope of what Americans can value.
The book is divided into two parts: Part I describes how American society has been disrupted, for both good and bad, by the emergence of the progressive postmodern worldview. It then offers a method of “values integration” that can help quell our cultural conflict. Then Part II presents a new developmental political philosophy that can help restore America’s collective higher purpose. This new philosophy emphasizes the deep political need for a sense of transcendence. It also describes how the practice of virtues can lead to our political and cultural renewal. The book concludes by reframing social progress in terms that can appeal to all three major American worldviews.
For a preview of Developmental Politics’ table of contents, follow this link.
https://www.stevemcintosh.com/books/developmental-politics/
New Video Podcast on Polarity Theory
In this 53 minute video podcast I speak with Miles Kessler of the Integral Dojo about the exciting promise of polarity theory. This theoretical perspective provides a new a way to think about conflict and value creation. Polarity theory reveals how certain types of polar opposition are actually generators of value that, when effectively managed, can build agreement and produce meaningful progress in many difficult situations. Click here to watch.
New Video Podcast on Interior and Exterior Adventures
In his classic book, Adventures of Ideas, Alfred North Whitehead describes the eros of the beautiful, the true, and the good. And to this list of intrinsic values he adds the idea of adventure, without which, he observes, “civilization is in full decay.” In this episode of Jeff Salzman’s Daily Evolver podcast, I explore Whitehead’s theme of adventure as it relates to the realm of spiritual experience. I focus specifically on the spiritual experience of wilderness, and the spiritual experience associated with entheogens. Click here to watch.
“Buddha at the Gas Pump” Interview on Progressive Spirituality
In case you missed it, a few months back I did a video interview with Rick Archer of the popular “Buddha at the Gas Pump” podcast program. Rick and I discussed the current state of progressive spirituality and how it can evolve to better serve the spiritual needs of the world. Click here to watch.
Thank you all for your ongoing interest in my work.
Sincerely,
Steve McIntosh
