rbateman:I have heard the term "center of gravity" bandied about on the forums recently and, knowing the most terms here are originated by Ken, am wondering if there is an official "Integral" definition for this term?
Sorry for the bandying.![Smile [:)]](../../../../../../../Public/cs/emoticons/multiplex_subdomain/emotion-1.gif)
But I think I can kill all these birds with one stone, and then you too (and all that shall read this thread) can have an exciting career going throughout the forum bandying about the same terms as well.![Big Smile [:D]](../../../../../../../Public/cs/emoticons/multiplex_subdomain/emotion-2.gif)
(note: definition of these terms is certainly open to further input-or better explanation-from others)
Horizontal and Vertical
Basically "horizontal" means movement at or within any given level.
"Vertical" means movement from one level to the next higher level.
(Gratuitous expatiation)
These terms are also roughly synonymous with the also often used terms translation and transformation.* When I move horizontally at or within any given level I translate my life, the world, my experiences at or from that level. When I move vertically from one level to the next there is an upward transformation, where I begin to see and understand my life, the world, my experiences from a new, higher and generally more encompassing (and actually more integrated**) level.
(A few years ago the emphasis was on an Integral Transformative Practice-with perhaps an emphasis on vertical. Of recent, as you know, it has changed to simply an Integral Life Practice which may emphasize a more translational, horizontal practice, or perhaps potentially encompass both.*** )
General development always encompasses both, or is an intersection of both horizontal and vertical movement. This being so, a more accurate representation of what is actually happening is a spiral. A spiral representation of development can illustrate both the ongoing horizontal and gradual vertical movement of development –as well as potentially illustrate more encompassing levels if the spirals increase in breadth and scope with the upward, vertical movement (as with Beck and Cowen’s Spiral Dynamics).
Center of Gravity
The term "center of gravity" is roughly synonymous with the term "altitude," representing an individual's (or a collective’s) general altitude along the spiral.
(Additional gratuitous expatiation)
It actually has, in a sense, two meanings and those two meanings are also roughly horizontal/translative and vertical/transformative.
The first definition –which is roughly horizontal/translative- is that as we move up the developmental spiral there will be fluctuations and moments of regression or spiraling backward to lower centers for a time (often under moments of stress and/or confusion). But our general center of gravity will exert a pull to reintegrating these moments and experiences back upwards to one's general higher level. (Ex. If I am at orange, situations of great stress may eventually cause me to temporarily regress to a more red level where I might have a self-absorbed temper tantrum and with all of the associated red worldviews. After a time, however, after I “cool out” and/or the situation calms, I will once again return to a much more rational level, view, understanding and handling of things. Orange will be acting as my "center of gravity.") It can also work the other way where moments or situations of potential transformation come about, or we are faced with potentially transformative experiences or knowledge, but our "center of gravity" will or may exert a pull on that potential downward into the more stable and reliable level along with its more familiar means of translation, worldview etc.
The second meaning would be that my general "center of gravity" acts to "pull up" and/or even “pull together” the altitude of all of the various developmental lines or streams, of which there are at least two dozen and maybe more. Development is not at all a ladder like affair, for a person can have a relatively high altitude in one line and extremely low in another, and any number somewhere in between. A commonly used example of an individual with a high altitude in the cognitive line and low altitude in the moral is the Nazi Doctor.
The basic idea in all is that while it really is not true that an individual “is orange” or “is green” in their overall makeup, development or station (see below), none the less recognizable patterns can be seen and or detected and can be said to be that person’s general “center of gravity.”
Center of Gravity also applies to the collective and has a very important meaning in this regard. Basically, it means an entire culture's general highest stable altitude "center of gravity" which acts in certain way and creates various collective forces (both interior and exterior) that pull both individuals within the collective and the collective itself to whatever is the applicable altitude along the spectrum/spiral. (Ex. The political democratic process exerts a certain pull for all adult citizens to develop to at least orange, for that altitude is necessary to consciously, adequately and appropriately participate in the democratic political process.)
*translation and transformation may also sometimes be used –and were in Wilber’s earlier works, mostly pertaining to religion and spirituality- to mean exoteric (exterior translation) and esoteric (interior –now especially state-transformation). See A Sociable God. In that book, for example, Wilber posits that contemplative, mystical and escoteric spiritual practices are transformational (and they are) while the majority of religious practice and religious involvement is exoteric and translational.
**each succeeding level, from infrared/beige all the way up is, if healthy, essentially more integrated than the last.
***Generally speaking, children are born and undergo numerous major vertical transfomations-while still horizontally translating each successive level in between- up to a certain age; perhaps anywhere from 12-21. But when adulthood is reached vertical transformation generally comes to a hault for many various, as well as unknown, reasons. That said, most ordinary and especially day-to-day adulthood is horizontal. Horizontal movement is sometimes represented in phases, seasons of life, etc. as well as in types, such as the Enneagram, or even astrological signs, or basic male and female typologies. Yet horizontal types or seasons, etc. do not generally account for vertical levels. Arriving at and/or generally staying at a certain level also lends itself to the various levels being "stations."
"With whom or with what are you in communion at this moment?"
. . ."I?" he replied, almost mechanically. "Why not with anyone or anything."
"You must be a marvel . . . if you are able to continue in that state for long."
-Constantin Stanislavsky