The Memetic Code and Genetic Survival:
How cognitive development can save our species and our planet
Most people realize that we are at the threshold of a crucial bifurcation: An emerging spiritual renaissance or the final descent into a very nasty future. The words, “What we need is a spiritual awakening!” have echoed through the public discourse for quite some time, but they are no less true today than they were decades ago.
It might seem strange to speak of cognitive development in the same breath as spiritual growth and realization, but the two often go hand in hand. This expansion of perception and cognition progresses in identifiable stages. Understanding these stages is key to not only a better understanding of others, but to a better understanding of ourselves and our own personal journey.
The stage of consciousness theory developed by Clare Graves was a milestone in human development theory. For the first time the human growth patterns identified by Kagan, Maslow, Piaget, Kohlberg, Loevinger, Freud, Jung and others could live within a larger context that both included and transcended their work.
Graves’ contribution has become even more important in America, as woridviews, value systems, and cognitive memes are caught in a struggle for survival. In the 20th century, our nation reached a fork in the road and, so far, has collectively taken the lower path – a path that threatens the survival of our species and the ecosphere of our planet. A great leap that could ensure our survival and greatly enhance our quality of life is still attainable, but we must understand what and why, and most importantly, how.
5 Session Course
Attend Online!
- Session 1: Wednesday, 3/25, 6-8 pm
- Session 2: Saturday, 3/28, 4 – 6 pm
- Session 3: Wednesday, 4/1, 6 – 8 pm
- Session 4: Saturday, 4/4, 4 – 6 pm
- Session 5: Conclusions and Cookies Saturday, 4/11, 4 – 6 pm
(Session Course topics are outlined below.)
5 Session Course Schedule & Topics
(Session Course topics are outlined below.)
Session 1: Wednesday, 3/25, 6-8 pm
- The conundrum of context and the whimsy of mental flexibility
- The messy organic nature of worldviews
- Is there any “best” or ‘superior” worldview?
- Operational change styles and the repetitive spiral – what goes around comes around
- Overview of systems 1 (beige) through 8 (turquoise, coral)
- The light and shadow aspects of each worldview
- Primary attractors
- Waves of similarity and repetition
Session 2: Saturday, 3/28, 4 – 6 pm
- Donut Crossing
- Challenges and barriers to interpretation
- Malignant Egophrenia and its discontents – the survival imperative of power and why egocentric behavior is self-defeating
- Elite deviance and the power and predominance of shadow 5 (orange)
- Idealism, physicalism, and dualism – the schizophrenia of our culture
- The historic 20th century battle in America between 6 (green), 4 (blue) and 5 (orange). Is green emergent?
- Cultural norms and aggregation
- The futuristic and systemically integral elements of system 7 (yellow)
- System 8 (turquoise, coral), living with a foot in both worlds
Session 3: Wednesday, 4/1, 6 – 8 pm
- Challenges and barriers to change
- The thing that motivates everyone
- Self-directed vs. environmentally- directed change
- The emotions of change
- Smart Crowds: The paradox of inclusion and the need for cognitive diversity
- The imperative of breakthrough results
- Methods of and tools for change while minimizing conflict and maximizing results
Session 4: Saturday, 4/4, 4 – 6 pm
- Tools and methods for change (continued)
- Neuroplasticity and the holographic brain
- The challenge of collectively created consensual reality
- A Great Awakening: The role of future technology, spirituality, and a new wave of enlightenment
Session 5: Conclusions and Cookies Saturday, 4/11, 4 – 6 pm
- Covering the uncovered material and answering the unanswered questions
- We already have everything we need, so what’s stopping us?
- By what metric should we measure success? Quality of life factors vs. economic measures
- Dependence, Independence, Interdependence, and Transcendence: A model for the future
- Cookies!
Course sessions will be webcast, with live interaction, and recorded. Optional in-person attendance for Session 5 (location TBD). If you miss a session, you’ll be able to view the video recording.
An expert in practical tools for profound change, Dr. Paul Kordis is an author and consultant to businesses and public sector organizations around the world. He has written six books on organizational, personal, and cultural change and is working on three more. He has developed testing instruments and teaching methods, including an online course in entrepreneurialism for underserved populations. His book, Strategy of the Dolphin, is a business and international bestseller, and has been printed in ten languages. Paul’s background is in psychology, economics, and organizational behavior. His Ph.D. Was awarded for his work in human capital and international economic development.
Books by Paul Kordis:
