Summation of their 15 page article: It's a great read

  The following is an outline of the 15 page article entitled: “An Overview of Integral Ecology” by Esbjorn-Hargens and Zimmerman.  It is on this Forum’s front page under: A Comprehensive Approach to Today’s Complex Planetary Issues.  After I read their article, I immediately bought their book, “Integral Ecology”.  The first reason I did that is because it closely relates to the State of the World Forum on Climate Change and the related debates I’ve been following on this IL Forum.  The second is that it presents, as far as I can tell, a fully integral summation and/or argument on a very complex subject, something I’ve been wanting to know how to do for quite some time.   I’ll let you know further details regarding this after I read the book (please don't groan).

My outline of their article:

1. There are more than 200 different perspectives on the natural world.
2. The integral approach allows them to be connected in a pragmatic way that honors their unique insights on their own terms.
3. Integral ecology can be applied: within a discipline, as well as multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary.
4. They point out, and I agree, that technical information alone cannot persuade people to act.  They indicate that motivation arises when we experience a problem through the subjective and intersubjective perspectives.
5. They define the 4 quadrants (perspectives) as: I. Terrain of Experiences, II. Terrain of Cultures, III.  Terrain of Behaviors, and IV. Terrain of Systems.
6. Using those perspectives, they give a good two page analysis on Toxic Emissions.
7. Next, Uexkull’s subjective universe of animals is explored using this system, which brings the “Animal Perspective” into play.  Very enlightening and helpful.
8. Forty ecological schools are divided up among the 4 Quadrants based upon their unique perspective.
9. The 8 methodological zones of integral methodological pluralism are discussed related to its three principles of inclusion, enfoldment, and enactment.
10. Their conclusion is that ecological realities can be understood as a dynamic interaction between the who, how and what.  This allows integral ecology to recognize and inter-relate 200 distinctive perspectives on nature.