Humanities 445 |
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THE LIAR | THE CONFORMIST | THE SCIENTIST | THE MYSTIC | THE SERVANT |
Age = 0-8Very young children, though some adults never grow out of this stage. Peck estimates 20% of the population is in this stage. Sometimes unable to distinguish fantasy from reality, as with young children, and often unable to reason logically as the the effects of one's actions. | Age = 6-18Older children and teenagers. Capacity for rational, linear thought develops, cause-effect awareness. Many, maybe majority of population, never leave this stage. | Age = 13-early 30'sTeenagers and young adults. Capacity for abstract thought develops. Independence from authority develops, ability to reason for oneself. | Age = 30's -->Middle age and beyond. Few reach this stage. In addition, these age guidelines are general -- a few people may reach the later stages much earlier, though this is rare. While one may progress speedily through the stages, one cannot skip stages. | Age = 30's -->Middle age and beyond, as with Mystic. |
Will is subject only to self. Knowledge and truth are manipulated to serve one's will and whims, rather than vice versa. | Will is subject to external institution or local community. Knowledge and truth are what the external authority teaches. | Will is subject to rational laws, internalized principles, and scientific logic. Objective search for truth and loyalty to truth. | Will is subject to the "universe" and interests of world community. Knowledge and truth includes, in addition to logic and rationality, respect for hunches and intuition that arises from a realization of connectedness of "seen," material world, with "unseen," thought world, or energy (E=mc2). | Will: As in "Mystic", but has a "vocation" and is carried to level of self sacrifice and suffering for needs of community. Makes concrete one's perceptions through sacrificial action for the needs of others. |
The "Other"All are "the other" and all are objectified: i.e.: considered "inhuman" or an "it." Little to no empathy for anyone or anything outside self. | The "Other"Those outside of one's local community or group are objectified and "other" or an "it." Little to no empathy for them. Those within one's community are a "thou" and are protected and cared for. | The "Other"More inclusive than conformist. See value in all people. More intellectual than Mystic about including others. May still see others as "different" and perhaps lesser, though valuable in their own way. | The "Other""I" and "Thou" -- Everyone is a "thou." Empathy for all, no matter their place or position. Compassion for enemy. | The "Other""I" and "Thou" -- Everyone is a "thou." Empathy for all, no matter their place or position. Compassion for enemy. |
Ethical GuidelinesNo consistent ethical guideline (but self) Peck's "Chaotic/Antisocial" level chaotic, because no mechanism governs their actions other then their own will (which can flip flop from day to day) some have absent ethics, often utterly unprincipled two types: some un-intentional, others consciously willful Willing to sacrifice needs of others for their own needs/gain
own needs, wants and desires govern their decisions above all else other considerations unimportant I-centered often in trouble or difficulty some are quite disciplined and can rise to positions of power/prestige in service of their ambition | Ethical GuidelinesEthics determined by institution/authority outside oneself authority's command, and authority's rules determine actions and what is seen as "right" or "wrong" Peck's "Formal/ Institutional" level dependent on an institution or other peer group for governance, whether prison, military, church, corporation, local community, or other needs rules/institution for guidance, or will fall into stage one, a chaotic life without it adopt given values of the system principles are not as internalized as at stage three authority located outside self disappointment when authority is lessened often are in positions of authority in organizations to propogate values of that organization are often the "leaders" of society that encourage and exhort others to follow given social rules | Ethical GuidelinesPrinciples and Values an act is ethical or not depending on whether or not it supports, follows and upholds certain principles and values principles are self-formulated (not given) through thoughtful reflection of one's own experience and observations principles and values determine actions and "right" or "wrong" these principles are usually worked out within the individual himself Peck's "Skeptic/Individual" stage hard stage to be in integrated, internalized principles within themselves identity no longer depends on the way others view him do not depend on institution for their governance, have internal authority obey rules for life only because he sees the need for rules principled, self governing often scientists, and definitely scientific minded great respect for logic and science | Ethical GuidelinesPrimary motivation is love for others love and caring for others determine "right" or "wrong" unconditional acceptance and caring for the well-being of others and the world motivates one to act see a cohesion beneath the surface of things see interconnectedness beneath the surface see connections between men and women, humans and other creatures, those walking the earth and those who aren't here speak of things in terms of unity and community sense of meaning/purpose to life and the world
do not seek/want external success and rewards for actions realize there's not a happy ever after and that's OK have realized defeat and failure, and accept it as OK letting go of material dreams | Ethical GuidelinesVision of Community envisions and attempts to actualize world order or a human community unifying world visions, point to universal community often martyred because loyalty to all being is interpreted as disloyalty to particular institutions often appreciated after death freedom from external authority when ethic is incorporated inside self will becomes "one" with what is right Oneness, relationship transformed to the point that one wants and desires the ethical thing for all realizes interconnected oneness on an intellectual, emotive, and experiential level, and manifests that in actions |
Character & | Character & | Character & | Character & | Character & |
Values & Modus OperandiOperates alone, apart from community Attempts to imposes ONE (and one's) will over rest of community/world Uses Power, Authority, and Force to do so Uses Deceit Evil is often self-destructive because: blinded by desires can't see bigger picture overextends its power Evil results in: corruption of others deprivation of some good deprivation of ability to love others Evil may win in the short term, but good triumphs in long term as evil is its own worst enemy Evil can't see very far, can't see the bigger picture, so inevitably fails | Values & Modus OperandiConforms to community without questioning community values Community is the authority: follows a leader Comfortable with hierarchical view of world Uniformity and order desired Identity and value found in conformity to community rules | Values & Modus OperandiIndependently discovered values Uses reasoning and logic to make ethical decisions Strong sense of social responsibility Concern for the world | Values & Modus OperandiAcceptance and love of others Appreciation of beauty and wonder of the world Compassion Not yet involved in a "vocation" for "community" | Values & Modus OperandiCommunity and Vocation: Faithfulness and loyalty to a "worthy purpose" CommunityCommunity that is bound together for a specific purpose Community characterized by affection and love - not manipulation & "using" Community is interdependent, without hierarchy of leaders and followers Each person in community has necessary and distinct task to accomplish - a vocation VocationVocation is a calling that arises OUTSIDE the individual Vocation is a distinct and unique task only the individual can do Vocation is NOT assigned by the community However, vocation meets the needs of the community Vocation is something freely accepted/chosen by the individual Individual decides ("wills") to accept the vocation Vocation is often a heavy burden Vocation is a matter of "faithfulness" and "loyalty" to calling Vocation gives the ability to love one another To accomplish goals, "Good" entails: Suffering, not as a method or end in and of itself, but as a consequence of giving up what one wants in faithfulness to calling Weakness, a freely chosen weakness, characterized by innocence, lack of physical power, giving up of power, refusal to use force Innocence, often letting oneself be vulnerable Faithfulness and loyalty to mission, vocation, and community |
Religious Practiceusually are not concerned with religion, spirituality, ethics will participate in religious activities if it furthers their own goals | Religious Practiceconformists usually constitute the majority of "church-going Sunday Christians," Jews, Muslims, etc. prefer tradition in their beliefs, often are fundamentalists, whatever religion they may be vision of God, or an ethical locus, is external loyalty to the institution of church and their particular denomination or religion often causes them to condemn religious practices/belief that are different from their own | Religious Practicegenerally do not attend or participate in organized religions not ordinarily religious, or religious in ordinary sense often doubters of traditional religion, agnostics, atheists often confuse stage two religion with stage four spirituality, skeptical of both | Religious Practiceawareness of dual translations of worlds' philosophies and religions "mystical," though the word "mystical" often has pejorative connotations to general populace know that life continues to be mysterious, no matter how much one understands, and comfortable with that acute appreciation and understanding of life as a paradox mystery behind contradictions is appealing see beauty and complexity of life recognize beauty in places/people not normally considered beautiful aware and appreciate mystery of life realize you can never know or understand life completely realize insufficiency of logic/mind to understand all (more intuitive) in awe of life read religion as poetry, metaphor, rather than literal prose hard to define, not easily articulated not well understood by most people some of these concepts are captured in Joseph Campbell's "Power of Myth" (Acrobat Reader .pdf format) | Religious PracticeAs in Mystic. Often has a goal or mission (not always true for Mystic). Carried to level of self-sacrifice for the needs of others and of the community. Greater sense of purpose and meaning. |
Relationships, Marriage, and Familyrelates romantically/sexually for own self fulfillment often unmarried, unwilling to commit (sacrifice, give)to another will act regardless of feelings of significant other often will have affairs romantically seductive for own ego and pleasure uses others romantically and sexually insecure internally, though may not show it often characterized by power struggle dishonest about feelings and extra-marital activities cross boundaries out of neediness or selfishness | Relationships, Marriage, and Familytraditional and stable marriage in America, woman is traditional 50s housewife man is breadwinner, provider gender roles very traditional and clearly defined usually good, loving, and stable parents join "right" organizations: church, garden club, country club | Relationships, Marriage, and Familycomfortable with reversal of traditional roles: husband may stay at home with kids wife may often work; is more independent and self-supportive husband does more work around the house and with the kids husband may have chosen less powerful career for more time with family and self-actualization honesty and openness important; communication important marital therapy seen as valuable and helpful resource external or traditional certification (that "piece of paper") less important than content of relationship will sometimes negotiate alternative marital arrangements (living together, open marriage, etc.) if both agree and find it fulfilling fairness important; working together for fair and happy arrangement for all boundaries and protective space are honored | Relationships, Marriage, and Familymotivated by love of the other able to feel into heart of spouse emotionally detached from, but caring of, emotional swings (anger, depression) of other motivated by giving and not getting give spouse what they need, not what they say they want greater trust, dropping of boundaries to give to other greater vulnerability and more emotionally dangerous than stage three full trust, devotion, loyalty, and suffering for the other true intimacy transcending words and therapeutic analysis | Relationships, Marriage, and Familysometimes demand of "mission" or vocation may preclude a personal romantic relationship or family if not, the relationship will resemble stage four and energize the mission |
Politics and Nationsno stable ruling government often marked by civil war and chaos no stable military; rogue militias dominate he who has most guns and cash dominates resources not developed for the good of the whole but for power resources (including food), infrastructure often destroyed for power genocide, starvation, and homelessness innocents suffer, maimed, or killed many African countries today: Sudan, etc. | Politics and Nationsgovernment stable government exerts great control; citizens may have little input individual less important than power and stability of state enforces many strict social rules/laws little room for negotiation or debate secrecy important - citizens often unaware of government's intentions or actions government often employs fear to exert authority and conformity (terrorism, etc.) strong military important; reliance on military power exclusion (even scapegoating) of groups or ways of life different from accepted norm building walls - literal and metaphorical facism (Nazi Germany) some religious regimes (some Muslim countries) military regimes Communist Russia | Politics and Nationsgovernment ruled by principles individual citizens have much input and value civil rights are important room for debate and exploration of all sides of issues/laws rights are even distributed across population fair trials and legal system uses diplomacy rather than military force much room for diversity (gay marriage, etc.) in people, values, and social practices as long as it doesn't bring harm to others tearing down walls - literal and metaphorical the United States on its better days the ideas of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence | Politics and Nationscommunal and mystic rites part of society initiation rituals to promote personal growth and development some Native American tribal cultures | Politics and NationsSee stage 4 |
Transition to next stage self realization extremely painful potential for suicide, often just ride it out sometimes convert to stage two, often instantaneously, dramatically | Transition to next stage: difficult because one feels disloyalty to institution/group at letting it go, but realizes its insufficiency; Transition is often sparked by a realization of institution/group's inadequacy or only partial adequacy to suffice as guide for and interpretor of life. | Transition: difficult because Stage 3 more acceptable, understandable than Stage 4, in the modern age, but search for truth leads to glimpses of Stage Four. Often this takes a "leap of faith" (cf. Kierkegaard) to move forward that arrives from a realization of the inadaquecy of a solely materialist world view to explain existence. | Transition: To reach Stage Four, the individual may have had or be having a desert experience or "dark night" in which former values are abandoned. To transition to Stage Five, this process continues. | Few people exist in stages 4 & 5 continuously. Often people can be in stage 4 or 5 in one area of life but not others, or may exhibit stage 4/5 characteristics at one point in life but not others, even if later. |
Can go back and forth between the stages, can go speedily through a stage, but cannot skip stages.
Transition from one stage to another is usually difficult, often a crisis.
All of us share, have vestiges, of all stages within us in some way.
Can be at one stage in one area of our life, at another stage in another area.
Can exhibit "ethical" or "unethical" behavior (on a scale) on each at each of these stages.
Can move back and forth between stages, or be at one stage at one time, for one issue, and another stage at another time for another issue.
Each previous stage is threatened by the stage immediately following it.
Few reach and even fewer live continuously in Stages Four and Five.
The Stages move from objectified, certain measurement of right and wrong (black and white) to subjective, uncertain discernment (gray) of right and wrong.
Circle of concern/one's "world" enlarges with each passing stage; i.e.: in the first stage one's only concern is self; in the last stage one's concern is the whole universe.
The stages move from having one's locus of decision making outside oneself (lowest) to completely inside self (highest); that is, as ethical integrity increases, one's locus of ethical authority becomes more and more internalized and altruistic.
Thus, they move from entrapment, obedience to an external authority, to complete freedom.
Ethical behavior at each level above the lower levels is usually acceptable ethical behavior at the lower levels.
However, many times the lower stages do not understand ethical behavior at stages above them; for example, Stage Two need for exclusion and local authority is threatened by Stage Four acceptance of all people, despite differences.
Many people are confused that "Servant" is the highest level, the following quotes may help clarify:
Helen Keller said, "True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."
Albert Schweitzer said, "One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve."
At the highest stages, one sacrifices his needs, well-being, self for the needs, well-being, or benefit of others (examples: Ghandi, Jesus, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa); at the lowest stages, one sacrifices others' needs, well-being, or benefit for one's own gain (examples: a child molester, a thief, a cheat)
The concerns and benefactors of those at the higher stages are primarily those weaker than he is, those in is charge, those below him; the victims of a "liar" are primarily those weaker than he is, those in his charge, those below him.
Stages 3, 4 & 5 are more interested in meeting the needs of, ensuring the benefit and welfare and the best interests of, those below him (his students, his employees, his children), even if it means sacrificing making an impression on or pleasing those above him; at the lower stages, the motivation is to make an impression on or please superiors (his boss, his company, society), even if it means sacrificing meeting the needs of, ensuring the benefit and welfare and the best interests of those below him.