Rogers’ actualizing tendency and Darwinian theory: an integral perspective

Abstract

A paper published recently in PCEP raised doubts about the concept of the actualizing tendency – a concept fundamental to the person-centered approach – and claimed that it is incompatible with Darwin’s theory of natural selection, itself foundational to the theory of evolution. In this paper, it is argued that there is an underlying – and somewhat reactionary – philosophical assumption causing confusion and which needs to be addressed. This paper briefly describes an holistic, integral approach to knowledge and experience which permits a much more comfortable assimilation of different ways of knowing and, in the case of the actualizing tendency and natural selection, makes it possible to hold both concepts without conflict or dissonance. The approach is offered as one that successfully accommodates an holistic view of the person that is so fundamental to relationships grounded in the person-centered approach, and offers a new level of understanding for humankind.

Rogers’ Aktualisierungstendenz und Dawins Theorie: eine integrale Perspektive

Ein kürzlich im PCEP veröffentlichter Artikel erhob Zweifel am Konzept der Aktualisierungstendenz – einem Konzept, das für den Personzentrierten Ansatz grundlegend ist, – und behauptete, dass es mit Darwins Theorie der natürlichen Auslese nicht kompatibel sei, was wiederum Grundlage für die Evolutionstheorie ist. Dieser Artikel zeigt auf, dass dieser Sichtweise eine unausgesprochene - und irgendwie reaktionäre – philosophische Annahme zugrundeliegt, die Verwirrung schafft und die benannt werden muss.

Dieser Artikel beschreibt kurz einen holistischen, integralen Ansatz zu Wissen und Erfahrung, der eine viel einfachere Assimilation von verschiedenen Arten des Wissens erlaubt, und der es im Fall der Aktualisierungstendenz und der These zur natürlichen Auslese erfolgreich ermöglicht, beide Konzepte ohne Konflikt oder Dissonanz aufrechtzuerhalten. Dieser Ansatz bietet eine holistische Sicht auf die Person, die für Beziehungen, die auf dem Personzentrierten Ansatz beruhen, so grundlegend ist, und er bietet der Menschheit eine neue Ebene des Verstehens.

La tendencia actualizante de Rogers y la teoría Darwiniana: una perspectiva integral

Un escrito publicado recientemente en PCEP levanto dudas acerca del concepto de la tendencia actualizante – un concepto fundamental para el enfoque centrado en la persona – y afirma que es incompatible con la teoría Darwiniana de selección natural, a su vez fundacional de la teoría de la evolución. En este escrito se argumente que hay una presunción filosófica de base - y hasta algo reaccionaria – que cause confusión y necesita ser examinada.

Este escrito describe brevemente un enfoque holístico e integral del conocimiento y la experiencia que permite una mas cómoda asimilación de diferentes formas de conocimiento y, en el caso de la tendencia actualizante y la natural selección, posibilita sostener los dos conceptos sin conflicto ni disonancia. Se ofrece el enfoque como uno que acomoda exitosamente una mirada holística de la persona que es tan fundamental a las relaciones basadas en el enfoque centrada en la persona y que ofrece un nuevo nivel de comprensión para la humanidad.

La tendance actualisante de Rogers et la théorie darwinienne : une perspective intégrale

Un article récemment publié dans PCEP semait le doute sur le concept de tendance actualisante – un concept fondamental de l’Approche centrée sur la personne - et affirmait qu’il était incompatible avec la théorie darwinienne de la sélection naturelle, elle-même au fondement de la théorie de l’évolution. Cet article fait valoir qu’une hypothèse philosophique sous-jacente – et quelque peu réactionnaire – provoque la confusion et nécessite d’être questionnée.

Notre article décrit brièvement une approche holistique, intégrale de la connaissance et de l’expérience qui permet une assimilation plus confortable de différents modes de connaissance. Pour le cas de la tendance actualisante et de la sélection naturelle, elle donne la possibilité de saisir les deux concepts sans conflits ni dissonances. L’approche est présentée comme celle qui accueille avec succès une vision holistique de la personne qui est fondamentale pour les relations ancrées dans l’Approche centrée sur la personne, et offre un nouveau niveau de compréhension de l’humanité.

A Tendência Atualizante de Rogers e a Teoria de Darwin: uma perspetiva integral

Um artigo recentemente publicado no PCEP levantou dúvidas a respeito da tendência atualizante – um conceito fundamental na abordagem centrada na pessoa – e alegou que aquele seria incompatível com a teoria darwiniana da seleção natural, a mesma que se encontra nas bases da Teoria da Evolução. Neste artigo discutimos a existência de um pressuposto filosófico subjacente – e de algum modo reacionário – que gera uma confusão que tem de ser abordada. Este artigo descreve brevemente uma abordagem holística e integral do conhecimento e da experiência, que permite uma assimilação muito mais fácil de diferentes formas de saber. No caso da tendência atualizante e da seleção natural, esta abordagem torna possível aceitar ambos os conceitos, sem conflito ou dissonância. A mesma abordagem é apresentada como acomodando com sucesso uma visão holística da pessoa, tão fundamental para as relações sustentadas pela abordagem centrada na pessoa e oferece um novo nível de entendimento da humanidade.

Keywords:

• holism
• evolution
• emergent
• actualizing tendency
• integral approach
• inner and outer

Acknowledgments

I wish to acknowledge appreciatively colleagues who have kindly given me support in preparing this paper. I am grateful to David Murphy for first drawing my attention to Frankel et al.’s paper and then encouraging me to develop my response. Gillian Proctor kindly read an earlier version, making insightful observations that stimulated me to improve on my early efforts. Sara Callen put in much time carefully scrutinizing my manuscript, making many helpful suggestions. Finally, I acknowledge with gratitude and respect the encouragement of Lisbeth Sommerbeck, one of the authors of the paper I presume to criticize, who graciously read my earliest draft and encouraged me to continue writing something that was worthy of publication. I have followed much, but not all, of the advice I have received and am fully responsible alone for any residual faults in the end product.

Notes

1. To introduce a discussion of vitalism (a completely separate issue) is obfuscatory – the more so as I cannot recall ever seeing any reliance on that concept in extensive reading on the actualizing tendency – and I do not discuss vitalism further here.

2. The term objective means just this. It is often used to convey a sense of “more real,” betraying the seductive tendency of empiricist thinking to deny the value – or even validity – of other forms of knowledge: an underying issue for this part of the present paper.

3. A lucid account, drawing on other leading writers on the rapidly developing Integral approach, including a discussion of a simplified Wilber diagram, is given in McIntosh (2007).

4. A greatly shortened account of his theories is given by de Chardin (1971/56) in Man’s Place in Nature.