642
B. Giesenbauer and M. Tegeler
wash” and overly political correct by relevant decision making authorities operating
from a modern worldview (Müller-Christ and Giesenbauer 2019; Laloux 2014).
2.5 Integral Worldview: Sustainability 4.0 as Systemic
Management of Multi-level Development
Whereas the modern worldview focuses on creating wealth, the post-modern worldview focuses on sharing wealth. Thus, at least in theory, both worldviews could act
as partners for enhancing quality of life all over the globe. There are however limits
to this cooperation, as both the modern and the post-modern worldview usually take
themselves to be the only valid approach to life and therefore often end in opposition.
One of the major breakthroughs of the arising integral worldview is the ability
to recognize both the truths and pitfalls of all worldviews and being able use them
flexibly in order to create the conditions for sustainable development. This ability to
see the world from multiple perspectives simultaneously marks an important milestone in the advancement of human evolution (Brown 2012). Therefore, the integral
worldview is described as the first second-tier worldview and the first one with a
truly systemic understanding (Wilber 2001).
The integral worldview is closely linked to sustainable development since its focus
lies on promoting the health of all systems. Integral thinkers are usually very much
aware of their evolutionary purpose and try to create the necessary conditions for the
emergence of sustainable change (Laloux 2014; Brown 2012). Trying to support all
levels of human evolution to develop concurrently, one step at a time, requires the
ability embrace uncertainty and dilemma (Brown 2012). Furthermore, the integral
worldview cherishes natural emerging hierarchies based on competency–breaking
with both the anti-hierarchy attitude of the post-modern worldview and the deep trust
in rigid hierarchies of the traditional and modern worldviews. This means that in integral organizations practically anyone can start initiatives and implement changes—as
long as she commits to the case and consults with all relevant stakeholders (Laloux
2014) (Table 1).
3 Four Distinct Value Systems of HEI
Having looked at different stages of evolution and their affinity to sustainable development, it is time to look at higher education institutions (HEIs) in the light of
systemic development, following the reasoning of Müller-Christ (2017).
B. Giesenbauer and M. Tegeler
wash” and overly political correct by relevant decision making authorities operating
from a modern worldview (Müller-Christ and Giesenbauer 2019; Laloux 2014).
2.5 Integral Worldview: Sustainability 4.0 as Systemic
Management of Multi-level Development
Whereas the modern worldview focuses on creating wealth, the post-modern worldview focuses on sharing wealth. Thus, at least in theory, both worldviews could act
as partners for enhancing quality of life all over the globe. There are however limits
to this cooperation, as both the modern and the post-modern worldview usually take
themselves to be the only valid approach to life and therefore often end in opposition.
One of the major breakthroughs of the arising integral worldview is the ability
to recognize both the truths and pitfalls of all worldviews and being able use them
flexibly in order to create the conditions for sustainable development. This ability to
see the world from multiple perspectives simultaneously marks an important milestone in the advancement of human evolution (Brown 2012). Therefore, the integral
worldview is described as the first second-tier worldview and the first one with a
truly systemic understanding (Wilber 2001).
The integral worldview is closely linked to sustainable development since its focus
lies on promoting the health of all systems. Integral thinkers are usually very much
aware of their evolutionary purpose and try to create the necessary conditions for the
emergence of sustainable change (Laloux 2014; Brown 2012). Trying to support all
levels of human evolution to develop concurrently, one step at a time, requires the
ability embrace uncertainty and dilemma (Brown 2012). Furthermore, the integral
worldview cherishes natural emerging hierarchies based on competency–breaking
with both the anti-hierarchy attitude of the post-modern worldview and the deep trust
in rigid hierarchies of the traditional and modern worldviews. This means that in integral organizations practically anyone can start initiatives and implement changes—as
long as she commits to the case and consults with all relevant stakeholders (Laloux
2014) (Table 1).
3 Four Distinct Value Systems of HEI
Having looked at different stages of evolution and their affinity to sustainable development, it is time to look at higher education institutions (HEIs) in the light of
systemic development, following the reasoning of Müller-Christ (2017).