There are three kinds of people in this world. There are many folks who feel they don’t know enough about Integral Theory, some folks who still think it’s the best thing ever, & an unknown number of integral cynics who think it is limited, flawed, misleading, and already outdated.

Integral Theory for Idiots is for all three types. Layman Pascal will put you all in a blender together -- framing the discussion as part of the general field of developmental metatheories, liminal culture & adaptation to the new bio-informational planetary situation. This carnivalesque educational and participatory journey will be part (lively) introduction, part (dancing) critique, and part (enthusiastic) appreciation.

What does the philosophy and culture of Ken Wilber still offer us? What are its blind spots? How did it rhetorically manipulate us? What bigger movement is it part of? How can we take the good, leave the bad & radically rethink the rest?

With colorful slides, diagrams, sly jokes, simple examples, disorienting counter-examples, direct inner practices, creepy sound effects & new philosophical framing concepts, Layman Pascal will update, challenge & illuminate this vast and still fascinating "Philosophy of the Future."

We will also schedule lively digital campfire sessions every sunday after the Saturday lecture—informal discussions outside of class where students can explore the material more freely, get to know each other, share projects and ideas, and build a sense of community.

The lectures will start Sunday, July 6th, at 6 pm CET, followed by the Campfire sessions Saturdays, starting July 12th

The Saturday-sessions will last 90 min, the Sunday-Campfire session 60 min. Video-recordings will be available.

Class I: "Supermodels Who Promise Higher Consciousness!"

July 6

The first class will address questions like: What are the basic parts of Integral Theory & has it already become a Zombie? What the hell are “metatheories” anyway? Who did Ken Wilber steal his ideas from and how did he sell us on his own version? Are integralites different from integralists? Why are so many cult leaders involved? Etc. And the answers may not be what you expect. In this session we will have to become the correct kinds of idiots to figure this out. Layman will introduce his own framing of Big Picture philosophies and we will collectively pay special attention to Wilber’s concepts of “holons” and “quadrants” and “vision-logic,” as well as their ambiguous edges and internal contradictions.

Class II: "Do Developmentists Cause Genocides?"

July 13

Is it biased or based to think about human history having “levels” ? Many models of evolutionary consciousness have stages and stacks of emerging complexity -- but should they? Wilber’s approach to human growth is still one of the most influential. Why? Do we actually need vertical levels or do they inevitably lead to dangerous and arrogant hierarchies? The answer, of course, is YES. In class 2, we will explore developmentalism, simplexity, multiple intelligences, chakras, tiers, demons, and the often confusing difference between walking the walk & talking the talk. Plus maybe some stuff about Trump.

Class III – The Shadows of Many Worlds

July 20

What the hell is wrong with you? What’s wrong with all of us??? And should you become a mystic? Why does Wilber think we need personal and collective shadow work? Has he done any himself? Are there aliens inside us? Is astrology stupid or not? Does Integral Theory oppress or support neurodivergence? In class 3, we dive into the murky sea of pathologies, typologies & alternate states of consciousness. The theory has blind spots. And it may have blind spots about what its blind spots are. But so do the rest of us! Let’s see if we can light up the zones that usually fall outside of our waking state personality.

Class IV – "What Comes After Integrative Futurism?"

July 27

Where do we go next? Are there supra-integral theories? What happens when Ken Wilber dies? Is integral different than metamoderism? What’s going on in “the scene”? Does parametric architecture have anything to do with this? In the final class, we look at the current leading edge, the Integral Diaspora and various revolutionary splinter factions that are forming vibe-based alliances with adjacent communities. Are there new ideas emerging? Where did Wilber leave off -- and why? How do we work with postmodern pluralists, woke reactionaries and anti-woke reactionaries? Are the great saints and sages still ahead of us or do we need to leave them in the dust?

Layman is an author, public speaker & retreat leader specializing in metamodern spirituality, nondualist theology, integral religion, and metashamanics. He is the host of the popular podcast THE INTEGRAL STAGE (and the more elite SOULMAKERS series).

He helped initiate the Parallax Academy and also works with Endemic, ICON, the Metamodern Spirituality Lab, the Foundation for Integral Religion & Spirituality, Emerge/Perspectiva, RESPOND, Limicon, the Transdisciplinary Leadership Review, Beyond Interfaith, and other leading-edge projects. His book “Gurdjieff for Time Between Worlds” was recently published as the first book from Sky Meadow Press

Summer-Course: Integral Theory for Idiots

What Ken Wilber Did Not Tell Us - with Layman Pascal

Class I: "Supermodels Who Promise Higher Consciousness!"

Class II: "Do Developmentists Cause Genocides?"

Class III – The Shadows of Many Worlds

Class IV – "What Comes After Integrative Futurism?"