I have been noticing some books recently that have reminded me of Integral Theory. When I’ve checked the bibliography and index I’ve found few, or no references to the usual Integral or Development Theory writers. I think it might be intersteding to start a thread with a list of those books on the edge of Integral to raise our awareness of Integral and developmental thinking going on. I will start it off with a few suggestions:
Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos, by M.Mitchell Waldrop. I listened to the audiobook, not the best way to take in challenging material. It tells the story of Complexity theory alongside the story of the Sante Fe Institute. I kept thinking they should have an Integralist on their faculty.
This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution, by David Sloan Wilson. From the Amazon review, "according to David Sloan Wilson, the Darwinian revolution won’t be truly complete until it is applied more broadly—to everything associated with the words “human,” “culture,” and “policy.” That’s how I read it.
I asked ChatGPT for suggestions because I really needed an assist on this! Here is the response. My required reading list just exploded.
Here are some additional books that explore ideas similar to Integral Theory without directly referencing it:
The Systems View of Life: A Unifying Vision by Fritjof Capra and Pier Luigi Luisi
This book blends biology, physics, and systems theory to explore life from an interconnected, holistic perspective, which aligns with the systems-thinking approach central to Integral Theory.
The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems by Fritjof Capra
A foundational text for understanding the nature of systems and the interconnectedness of life, which resonates with the holistic and integrative frameworks of Integral Theory.
The Hidden Connections: A Science for Sustainable Living by Fritjof Capra
Capra continues exploring the interconnectedness of biological, cognitive, and social systems, emphasizing sustainability and integration.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Harari’s exploration of human history touches on themes of human development, culture, and cognition in a way that complements developmental and historical perspectives in Integral Theory.
The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World by Iain McGilchrist
This book discusses the differing roles of the left and right brain hemispheres and how their dynamic tension has shaped Western culture, echoing Integral’s emphasis on polarities and balance.
Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software by Steven Johnson
A book on the concept of “emergence” in complex systems, which aligns with Integral Theory’s focus on how higher-order phenomena arise from lower-order systems.
Wholeness and the Implicate Order by David Bohm
Bohm’s philosophical work on the nature of reality and wholeness in the universe aligns with Integral Theory’s holistic worldview.
The Origin of Wealth: Evolution, Complexity, and the Radical Remaking of Economics by Eric D. Beinhocker
This book uses complexity theory and evolutionary economics to explain the dynamics of economic systems, echoing themes of integration and systems thinking.
Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge by Edward O. Wilson
Wilson argues for the unification of knowledge across disciplines, which parallels Integral Theory’s goal of integrating knowledge from diverse fields.
The Social Conquest of Earth by Edward O. Wilson
This work covers the evolution of human social behavior, which can be linked to Integral Theory’s emphasis on the interaction between individual and collective development.
These books touch on systems thinking, complexity, and integration across disciplines, offering perspectives that resonate with Integral Theory’s holistic and multi-level approach.