Cultural Maturity

A feed from Cultural Maturity—A Blog for the Future that brings mature, big-picture perspective to the important questions of our time. It is a contribution of the Institute for Creative Development, a Seattle-based, non-profit, non-partisan, think tank and center for advanced leadership training. It is designed to support the sophistication of understanding and decision-making needed if we are to have a vital and creative human future.


14 May 2023. Intelligence’s Creative Multiplicity—A Recognition Key to the Future of Understanding – Creative Systems Theory takes us beyond the mechanistic assumptions of Modern Age thought and allows us to think in ways that better reflect that we are alive—and human. It also argues that finding ways to make this kind of leap … Read More

12 April 2023. The Greatest Danger With New Advances in Artificial Intelligence —And Understanding Where the Necessary Antidote Starts – The recent dramatic appearance of large language A.I models has further awakened conversations about the dangers as well as the benefits that accompany the contributions of artificial intelligence. The potential benefits are considerable, and I don’t wish to minimize them. … Read More

8 March 2023. Religion is Failing Us and Atheism is Rather Silly —So What Do We Do With That? – When today we ponder the future of religion, we find ourselves in a quandary that would seem to have no solution. Over the last fifty years, the number of people who identify with traditional forms of religion has steadily decreased. … Read More

13 February 2023. A Radical Rethinking of Conscious Awareness – Respected thinkers have lately been putting forward more dynamic explanations for the workings of conscious awareness. In each case, there is the claim that the picture presented is fundamentally new. In my book Creative Systems Theory: An Overarching Theory of … Read More

9 January 2023. Why Future Human Well-Being Will Require a Leap In Understanding—And How It Can Be Achieved – In previous posts, I’ve argued that we today confront a Crisis of Purpose. I’ve described how we need a new kind of guiding narrative and new ways of thinking if our future is to be bright. I’ve also proposed that … Read More

14 December 2022. Transitional Absurdity? Yes/No? It Could Be This century’s Most Important Question. – As I reflect on our times and our future human well-being, I keep coming back to one concept from Creative Systems Theory, what the theory calls Transitional Absurdity. It is pertinent certainly to our psychological health, and also possibly to … Read More

23 November 2022. The Critical Importance of Positive Images for the Future — and How the Concept of Cultural Maturity Provides a Provocative and Practical Candidate – [I have committed to writing a short article each month the applies Creative Systems Theory and the concept of Cultural Maturity to some essential question.] Cynicism today is rampant. Few people hold positive expectations when it comes to the future. … Read More

14 October 2022. A Systems Thinking Response to the Science Versus Religion Debate – The Creative Systems Theory concept of Cultural Maturity describes how our times are demanding—and as potential making possible—an essential new chapter in the human story. One characteristic of culturally mature understanding is that it helps us think more systemically about … Read More

14 September 2022. Today’s Epidemic of Hopelessness—And the Inescapable Fact of Societal Regression – I find the degree of cynicism that today permeates our world striking and troubling. As I psychiatrist who often works with young people, I find it particularly concerning. It is rare that a young person I work with expresses real … Read More

10 August 2022. Missing Pieces in the Gender Identity Conversation – Changes reshaping our relationship to gender are some of today’s most fascinating. Creative Systems theory points toward two kinds of changes that are key to today’s evolving gender realities. Each involves the “bridging” of a key kind polarity, the ability … Read More