Week 6- Assigned Reading- AN INTEGRAL THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS

"Abstract: An extensive data search among various types of developmental and evolutionary sequences yielded a `four quadrant' model of consciousness and its development (the four quadrants being intentional, behavioural, cultural, and social). Each of these dimensions was found to unfold in a sequence of at least a dozen major stages or levels. Combining the four quadrants with the dozen or so major levels in each quadrant yields an integral theory of
consciousness that is quite comprehensive in its nature and scope. This model is used to indicate how a general synthesis and integration of twelve of the most influential schools of consciousness studies can be effected, and to highlight some of the most significant areas of future research. The conclusion is that an `all-quadrant, all-level' approach is the minimum degree of sophistication that we need into order to secure anything resembling a genuinely integral theory of consciousness." This comes from the Journal of Consciousness studies basically saying that there are four different factors in how we think as individuals. They have this really neat scale that shows us what regions of our brain do what different thing that make us who we are.

My favorite part of this would be the upper left region of the brain and this part deals with more behavior and concepts than anything else. The reason that I like this part of the brain so much is because it deals with things like impluse, one of the most important things that we as humans have to offer. There is nothing better than going off and making a judgement off of instinct. You can't go wrong because this is your gut feeling. When you start to allow yourself to second
judge yourself you than begin to make wrong decisions. Another part of this region is perception. This is huge when it comes to life. How do we look at others or see things but most importantly, how do we see ourselfves when we look into the mirror. Are our hands clean or are our hands covered with red ink?

The methodology of an integral study of consciousness would apparently need to include two broad things: the first is the simultaneous tracking of the various levels and lines in each of the quadrants, and then being able to show the correlations, each to all the others, and then trying to figure out what this means. This whole section on consciousness shows you that everything starts from the beginning and there are relationships to everything even though it may be on one end of the spectrum.