Background Story
Entering a New World
The discovery and development of the frameworks and human experiences in this section have taken a markedly different course. You should be aware of it because it touches on validity.
Frameworks have usually been developed in response to external demands:
- Resolving issues for clients e.g. decision-making and achievement.
- Appreciating my own social situations e.g. conflicts splitting my psychoanalytic society were explained by a . (Originally named: identity-development in Ch.7 in Working with Values.)
By contrast, work on the present framework was initially generated by a taxonomic puzzle. I had discovered the Root Hierarchy in the late 1990s, naming the Levels with some trepidation. As part of validation, it was important to determine whether or not it had a Typology nested within its 6th Level: .
Pursuit of that inquiry gave me a surprising insight into a new world. I found that a special and unusual part of psychosocial reality exists inside . It is independent of one's immediate group obligations: whether organizational, disciplinary or societal. In this world, there is just you—and the rest of humanity; or you as a representative of humanity.
Creating Psychosocial Reality
The existence of psychosocial reality through our creative efforts had been a constant backdrop, intrinsic to THEE and all its frameworks. The issues in the foreground were always practicalities and social requirements. So psychosocial reality was largely taken for granted. The overwhelming cultural dominance of empirical perceptions meant that it took some time and courage to disentangle and affirm.
Suddenly, with this inquiry, creating came to the fore because purposes are simply created. They have no solid tangible existence of their own prior to that creation. Once created, they have no empirical existence, but rather belong within a transcendental realm of pure creation.
The higher purposes, which are values, are the ultimate powers that determine the quality of our life. If we want our world to be a better place, then the way to proceed is going to be found here.
That was an exciting thought.
21st Century Enlightenment
As part of developing the idea of a better world, I noticed that changes were occurring around me.
- Read the full story.
As the Millennial generation started to come of age, it became evident that its members were focusing on existential issues in a way that had not happened since the 1960s. Perceiving the extent to which technology had empowered them, they were asking the big question: "What should I do with my freedom?"
Thousands of Twitter quotes advocate a mind-centric viewpoint. Many blogs give advice about finding your passion, reaching your goals, or improving your life—but rarely from a purely practical perspective. Most have an unequivocal spiritual or moral tinge, touching on topics like values, self-discipline, inner-awareness, accepting reality, being grateful, helpfulness, and more.
Writers produce lists: 10 rules of happiness, 20 concepts that changed my life, 48 keys to wisdom, 7 ways to stick to goals &c. Valuable as these are, there is no order or rationale. It was evident that THEE should be able to supply the necessary order and provide additional assistance and illumination.
I decided that I wanted to develop these transcendental frameworks for the coming generation. They have a massive task ahead of them and need all the help they can get. However, in the present case, I have to acknowledge that my efforts are more conjectural than usual. Joint inquiry and collaboration are more necessary than ever. Whoever you are, step forward.
Stranger and Stranger ...
When I start on a new THEE inquiry, I never know where it will take me or what it will illuminate. I usually make intelligent (?) guesses—and they are invariably wildly wrong.
In this particular case, I was fascinated as I developed the . However, although the findings in the TET were surprising, they were not an unexpected surprise. What was unexpected was the discovery of and then the possibility to form a Tree from the Typology. And what a Tree: The Tree of Good and Evil! I am still reeling.
The next section on took me into a range of complicated and confusing issues, especially to do with interacting with society, and handling evil as an expression of egocentricity. As a reward, I was able to locate the origin of humanity's three types of Code for Living in THEE.
The final section on was by far the most difficult. It moves on to .
Originally posted: 28-April-2012. Last updated: 1-Nov-2014.