Writings
An Epoch Change in Our Paradigms, page 3
We have not had a major shift in our paradigms for more than four centuries. Are we in the beginning phase of such a shift? Would not a serious shift in our fundamental paradigms be accompanied by severe turbulence in society? What might that upcoming change in society’s way of seeing the world center on? What are the implications? We will look back on the decade of the eighties as the initial phase of an epoch change In our paradigms. The dominance of scientific materialism has already begun to wane. For those who hang tenaciously to a single, compartmentalized paradigm, the society shift will be turbulent. But for those who explore harmonizing the spiritual with the scientific, a healthy national interest with global concerns, and the rational with the intuitive, and distinguish the divergent from convergent issues, the next decade will be an exciting chapter in the ascent of mankind.
Holistic thinking and systemic understanding is complementing reductionismand the atomistic view in many quarters: the universities, public-policy think tanks, authors, and Hanover. The genie is out of the bottle.
Science and religion will remove the wall that exists between them. At a deeper level, we will begin to understand the connection between matter and spirit. The scientific method will be extended beyond its current limitation, that is, to validate only that which can be observed, counted, or measured. Both science and religion will point to a higher order to whom man and mankind is responsible.
Unwittingly, the scientific revolution has fostered polarization. A ‘‘we versus them’’ mentality, a government driven by the clash of special interests at the expense of the common good, and large business organizations in which departments put their self-interests ahead of the whole enterprise are so commonplace today thatwe hardly consider it a disruption of right order. We accept it as normal.
These aberrations in our society are an unintended consequence from three ceneturies of emphasizing the scientific without the appropriate balance or integration with spiritual consideration and knowledge of the humanities.
Again, epoch change is caused by changes in people’s paradigms. Such a change is under way. It has two dimensions. The first is unity, that is, unifying the scientific and spiritual (religious) with the spiritual at the center. Second, I believe the species is reaching a stage in its evolution where the common man will understand paradigms and possess the capacity to examine and change his own and others with some degree of sophistication. The ordinary person will master paradigms instead of becoming prisoners of them.
The era of interest in paradigms will result in new theories of new governance and leadership in corporations, universities, charitable institutions, and government. It will, I believe, be for the betterment of men and mankind, just as democracy abetted freedom and capitalism has raised standards of living.
Further, I don’t believe the remedies to our ailing systems will emerge from the top, from reformers, from master planers, from generalists or special-interest advocates. Our American system of little people, guided by the changing paradigms, will make a breakthrough here and there that eventually will comprise an epoch change.
Today, there is an imbalance of theoreticians in relation to practitioners of these advanced experiments. My calling as I interpret it is to continue to combine practice and theory. My conceptualization of issues depends on the learning (and frustration) from my practice.
Roy, as I said at the beginning, your letter not only raised my spirits but served as a context for me to think through issues that are quite pertinent in my life at this time. Thanks for taking the time to let me have your support and wisdom. William J. O’Brien