Have you ever wondered how big-picture philosophical frameworks could revolutionize social innovation and drive meaningful change in the world?
Are you curious about the integral movement’s journey over the last 20 years, and the social shifts that are now catalyzing the emergence of an entirely new era of integral leadership?
In this first episode of the IAM Insider Show, Josh Leonard and Robb Smith discuss the founding and evolution of the Institute of Applied Metatheory (IAM), an international applied philosophy network dedicated to the education and application of “big picture” philosophical systems and metatheories. The conversation also reflects on the integral movement’s various phases and challenges over the years, the social shifts necessitating IAM’s emergence, and the four foundational hypotheses underpinning IAM’s work.
In a world grappling with unprecedented crises, from climate change to social unrest, Robb and Josh investigate the critical necessity of an organization that unites and empowers scholar-practitioners to collaboratively develop and apply transformative, integrative metatheories — the cutting-edge frameworks we need to untangle complex and interconnected issues and forge paths towards a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future for all.
“Problems cannot be solved from the same stage that created them”, as the adage goes — which is exactly why IAM is cohering an entirely new stage of problem-solving that can help us transform our global crises into opportunities for personal and social transformation, guided by integrative metatheory and applied philosophy. Watch to discover how applying integrative metatheory to the most pressing 21st-century challenges could be the key to unlocking transformative solutions for a world that so clearly needs them.
Josh and Robb go on to outline their plans to expand the IAM network through pilot initiatives and Applied Metatheory Initiative (AMI) Incubation Grants, empowering leaders to apply integrative metatheory across various issue areas. They also discuss the development of an applied Complex Integral Realism framework, the importance of educating the integral community about other integrative metatheories, and IAM’s aim to provide resources and support to maximize the impact of metatheory-driven solutions. The episode concludes with an announcement about the upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) for AMI Incubation Grants.
It has never been a more exciting time to be an integralist. We invite you to join us on this new adventure — your chance to be part of a movement that has the potential to revolutionize social innovation as we know it, and to explore the powerful potentials of big-picture philosophical frameworks as a way to catalyze meaningful change in the world.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:13 The Three-Stage History of the Integral Movement
12:24 Societal Changes Driving IAM
31:40 The Need For Integrative Sensemaking Software
48:50 The Four Hypotheses
1:10:00 Context: AI Meets Metatheory
1:29:21 IAM’s Plans for 2024
1:49:00 Developing a Complex Integral Realism Protocol
1:58:51 What’s Next: AMI Incubation Grants
About Robb Smith
Robb Smith is a leading thinker on the Transformation Age and the global Integral movement. He is the creator of the augmented leadership platform Context, co-founder and CEO of Integral Life and founder of the Institute of Applied Metatheory.
About Josh Leonard
Josh Leonard is a seasoned social impact organizational leader with more than two decades of real-world experience developing strategy, culture, programs, and leaders through an integral lens. He brings 10+ years of executive leadership with the YMCA and the Institute for Cultural Evolution to bear on the emerging challenges organizations face today in grappling with the complexity of the 21st century. Josh is a developmental leader who is adept at facilitating growth in individuals, teams, and organizations to achieve their goals for impact.