Integral Theory

Established by Ken Wilber, The Integral Theory is an all-inclusive framework that draws on the key insights of the world’s greatest knowledge traditions. The awareness gained from drawing on all truths and perspectives allows the Integral thinker to bring new depth, clarity and compassion to every level of human endeavor — from unlocking individual potential to finding new approaches to global-scale problems.

Visit the Integral Institute
Visit Ken Wilber's Website

Ken Wilber is the world's leading “integral” philosopher. The author of such titles as A Brief History of Everything (1996) and A Theory of Everything (2000), his philosophy integrates body, mind, soul, and Spirit with self, culture, and nature. Integral philosophy is rapidly becoming a powerful presence in fields as diverse as politics and spirituality, psychology and business, medicine, and art.
Revered as the “Einstein of consciousness,” Wilber has written sixteen books exploring different facets of human development and cultural evolution. His first book, The Spectrum of Consciousness (1977), written when he was only 23, became a seminal text in the emerging field of transpersonal psychology. His most recent book, Boomeritis (2002), is a novelized critique of our postmodern culture and a call to move to a higher, more integral relationship to life. He is currently finishing the third volume of his Kosmos Trilogy, the most up-to-date summation of his continually evolving philosophy.
In 2000, Wilber founded the Integral Institute to support and promote integral thinking. The Institute acts as a clearinghouse for research and applications using the integral approach, and recently launched an engaging online resource, “Integral Naked,” to introduce cutting-edge integral thinkers to the public. His latest project is the development of Integral University, an online learning community that will offer accredited courses in a variety of fields such as Integral Ecology and Integral Law.
With a growing popularity among the younger generations, Wilber's philosophy has sparked online discussion forum communities and e-zines, as well as live gatherings called integral salons. United under the banner of “IntegralNEXT,” their mission is “to help create connections between individuals and groups who are seeking to enact an integral vision in their day-to-day lives—people yearning for true integration, genuine transformation, and whole-hearted communion.”
Courtesy of WIE


All Quadrants All Levels (tm)

In the Integral theory of Ken Wilber, AQAL stands for "All levels, all quadrants", and equally connotes "all lines, all states, all types". An account or theory is said the be AQAL, and thus integral (or inclusive or comprehensive), if it accounts for or makes reference to all four quadrants and four major levels in Wilber's ontological scheme, described below.
Recently, Wilber has called AQAL an "Integral Operating System" (IOS) because, using a computer analogy, once IOS is installed, you can run any "applications software" on it (i.e., applications to organizational issues; leadership development; political, health, and environmental problems; personal psychological and spiritual transformation, etc.)


Other links on Ken Wilber, the Integral theory and AQAL:

Khandro.com
Integral World
Metasystem Transition Theory
Shambala.com
Integral Wiki: AQAL
AQAL graphic concept
Integral Wiki: Encyclopedia nad Project Space