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Dr. Nash Popovic
The Synthesis
Trajectory
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Trajectory
Written by Dr. Nash Popovic
In dialectical terms, social development can be described first as the move away from the general direction of the Intent and then back towards it. The thesis (an unconscious alignment) would correspond to the physical stage; the antithesis (separation – the process of individuation and increasing independence) includes the move from the physical stage and, via the conventional stage, reaches its peak at the individual stage; the synthesis (a conscious re-alignment with the direction of the Intent) is represented by the transcendent stage.
This is a very simple diagram of the process:
The curve should be imagined as a spiral around the central axis (the length of its segments do not correspond to physical time, but to an approximate amount of change that took place). Moreover, the spiral is not a simple line. A smaller spiral going around it, as drawn between the physical and the conventional stages (and other spirals around that one) would be a better representation. But, why spirals at all? Is there any justification for that?
In the introduction to History & Mathematics, Trends and Cycles, Leonid Grinin and Andrey Korotayev write:
Already ancient historians… described rather well the cyclical component of historical dynamics, whereas new interesting analyses of such dynamics also appeared in the Medieval and Early Modern periods… This is not surprising as the cyclical dynamics was dominant in the agrarian social systems. With modernization, the trend dynamics became much more pronounced… The trend and cycle components of historical dynamics turn out to be of equal importance.
Qualitative Social Development
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Social Qualitative Development
Written by Dr. Nash Popovic
We propose that societies develop through stages akin to those of individual development. After all, any society consists of individuals (although, of course, it cannot be reduced to them), so some parallels can be expected.
The concept of stages has lost traction though, not so much because of empirical data (that are open to various interpretations), but mainly because of two concerns: determinism and inequality. So, we should address them first.
Determinism – until the early 20th century, social determinism was popular among both idealists (e.g. Hegel) and materialists (e.g. Marx). Later on, however, the idea that there is a particular trajectory of social development was largely abandoned (with the notable exception of Teilhard de Chardin). One reason for this was a teleological overtone of those theories that was a mismatch for the dominant zeitgeist. The other more important reason was that social determinism didn’t go very well with human freedom. If global social processes were determined, this could mean that historical events and even individuals themselves are also determined – not leaving much room for choice and free will (the basis of political and legal systems in most of the world). This concern is not warranted though. Recognising that there is a particular trajectory of social development (at least up to a point, which will be clarified below) does not imply inevitability of any social event and can be compatible with individual choices. It only means that a society and humankind as a whole may sooner or later, in one way or another, reach a certain stage of development (that is, if that society or humankind does not perish beforehand). To repeat the above analogy, the fact that every person (who lives long enough) goes
Quantitative Social Development
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Social Quantitative Development
Written by Dr. Nash Popovic
Quantitative social development refers to an increase or improvement of similar competences and capacities that typify this kind of personal development, although different examples naturally apply:
- Dynamism (mobility, cultural exchanges)
- Complexity (of social organisation)
- Differentiation (e.g. specialisation) and social integration
- Pattern recognition (of social processes)
- Creativity (e.g. technological and other innovations, art production);
- Refinement (of social practices)
- Focus regulation (e.g. an ability to narrow the focus on one social issue, but also to expand it to include other societies, the environment, etc.)
- Diversity and versatility (e.g. multicultural coexistence and cooperation)
- Internal control (e.g. autonomy, self-governance)
- Efficiency (in utilising natural and other resources)
- Stability and flexibility (an ability of a society to adapt to changes)
- Perspective (e.g. taking into account long term consequences)
- The scope of moral sense (e.g. equality before the law).
These capacities are manifested through social practices that affect all three dimensions of development:
Interaction With Others
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Interaction With Others
Written by Dr. Nash Popovic
The importance of social connections is well known and well documented. Here, we will examine this topic specifically in relation to personal development and the life’s purpose.
- At the physical stage, others contribute to physiological homeostasis (through providing food, shelter and protection) as well as psychological (through hugs, cuddles, and other forms of physical connection). This is essential, particularly in infancy. Others also play a role in early development through encouraging and supporting bodily self-regulation (e.g. toilet training, learning to walk), as well as through exposure to a variety of stimuli, which incentivises learning and experience.
- At the conventional stage, others contribute to development through enabling language acquisition, and through the induction to various cultural mores (including art, religion, narratives, customs and so on). They contribute to harmonisation too, through the process of socialisation and role assignments. This enforces a sense of belonging and affirms newly formed constructs of the world and oneself.
- At the individual stage, others also play a role, albeit a more subtle one. Young people start developing individuality through bouncing their own ideas and choices against others – some resistance is needed to move on (we can walk only if the ground we walk on provides sufficient resistance – psychology is not very different). At the same time, others are used as a mirror, to confirm one’s existence and study the quite unstable and fragile newly-formed ego. So paradoxically, individuality often ends up in conformity to a group – albeit a group of one’s own choice.
After Death
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
After Death
Written by Dr. Nash Popovic
We argued previously that humans (and other life forms) have material and non-material aspects that interact. But what happens when the former is not capable of that interaction anymore? This is what we will address here.
The Method
All four methods described in the first part (phenomenological, inductive-deductive, transpersonal and reasoning) can contribute to this topic:
- Relevant materials from various traditions (e.g. The Tibetan Book of the Dead) can be a valuable source. However, they are inevitably embedded in their particular cultural frameworks, so the phenomenological method is used to draw out that what can be of a more general significance. This can be assisted by discerning commonalities from different backgrounds. We should be aware though that some commonalities may be a result of cross-cultural fertilisation, rather than being arrived at independently.
- Research on Near Death Experiences (NDE) can also make an invaluable contribution, but it too has some limitations: it can account only for the first stages of life after death and relies on untrained subjects (although some aspects of their reports can be verified).
- Transpersonal experiences can provide some valuable insights in this area, but they can be easily misinterpreted (i.e. they may relate to something else rather than life after death).
- Reasoning is limited in its generating role, but it can help putting things together and exclude elements that are inconsistent, incongruent with the available facts, and superfluous.
Each of these methods is clearly insufficient on its own, so what follows is an attempt to combine them to various degrees.