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Integral World: Exploring Theories of Everything
An independent forum for a critical discussion of the integral philosophy of Ken Wilber

CRITICISM

of the writings of Ken Wilber

See Also: A Spectrum of Wilber Critics


1981

F. Capra, The tao of Physics revisited, ReVision, Spring.


1986

G. Globus, Physics and mysticism: current controversies, ReVision.

Rothberg, D. Philosophical foundations of transpersonal psychology: an introduction to some of the basic issues, Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 18(1).

Schneider, K. The deified self: a centaur response to Wilber and the transpersonal movement, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 27(2).


1988

D.M. Levin, Transpersonal phenomenology: the corporal schema, The Humanistic Psychologist.

Washburn, M. The Ego and the Dynamic Ground: A transpersonal theory of human development, New York, SUNY.


1989

A. Ellis, Dangers of transpersonal psychology, Journal of Counseling and Development.

R. Frager, Transpersonal psychology: Promises and prospects, in: R.S. Valle & S. Halling (eds.), Existential-phenomenological perspectives in psychology, New York, Plenum Press.

Schneider, K. Infallibility is so damned appealing, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 29(4).


1990

Washburn, M. Two patterns of transcendence, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 30(3).

Winkelman, M. The evolution of consciousness: an essay review of Up from Eden, Anthropology of Consciousness, 1(3-4).


1992

Heron, J. Wilber's transcendental reductionism, in: Feeling and personhood: Psychology in a new key, Sage.


1993

Odajnyk, W.V., Wilber on Jung: a critique, in: Gathering the light: a psychology of meditation, Shambhala.

Winkelman, M. The evolution of consciousness?: Transpersonal studies in the light of cultural relativism, Anthropology of consciousness, 4(3).


1994

Rothberg, D. Spiritual inquiry, ReVision, 17(?).


1995

G. diZerega & R. Smoley, Up the down staircase, Gnosis Magazine , Fall.

T.H. Hunt, Some developmental issues in transpersonal experience, Journal of Mind and Behavior , 16(2).

McIntyre, J. Review of Sex, Ecology, Spirituality, in: Tricycle: The Buddhist Review , Winter.

Washburn, M. The Ego and the Dynamic Ground: A transpersonal theory of human development, New York, SUNY (2nd. edition).

Wittine, B. Review of Sex, Ecology, Spirituality, Journal of Transpersonal Psychology , 27(4).


1996

G. diZerega, A critique of Ken Wilber's account of deep ecology and nature religions, The Trumpeter.

Grof, S. Ken Wilber's spectrum psychology: Observations from clinical consciousness research, ReVision 19(1).

Grof, S. Spectrum psychology revisited, ReVision, 19(2).

Heron, J. Spiritual inquiry: a critique of Wilber, Collaborative Inquiry, 18.

Heron, J. A critique of Wilber's Sex, Ecology, Spirituality (unpublished).

Kelly, S., Revisioning the mandala of consciousness: A critical appraisal of Wilber's holarchical paradigm, ReVision, 18(4).

Kelly, S., Breaks in the chain, ReVision, 19(2).

Kremer, J. The shadow of evolutionary thinking, ReVision, 19(1).

Kremer, J., Lingering shadows, ReVision, 19(2).

Lane, D.C., Ken Wilber's Achilles' Heel: The art of spiritual hyperbole

McDermott, R. The need for philosophical and spiritual dialogue: Reflections of Ken Wilber's Sex, Ecology, Spirituality, ReVision , 19(2).

McDermott, R. Toward transpersonal philosophizing, ReVision, 19(2).

McDonald-Smith, M., Is anyone developing spiritually?, ReVision, 19(2).

Muckler, M. A little misunderstanding goes a long way, www.weber.ucsd.edu/~dlane/

Puhakka, K. Restoring connectedness in the Kosmos: a healing tale of deeper order [Review of Sex, Ecology, Spirituality], The Humanistic Psychologist, Fall.

Rothberg, D. How straight is the spiritual path?, ReVision, 19(1).

Rothberg, D. Ken Wilber and contemporary transpersonal inquiry, ReVision, 18(4).

Rothberg, D. Toward an integral spirituality, ReVision, 19(2).

Rowan, J. Heron vs. Wilber: a comment (unpublished).

Washburn, M., The pre/trans fallacy reconsidered, ReVision, 19(1).

Washburn, M. Linearity, theoretical economy and the pre/trans fallacy, ReVision, 19(2).

Wright, P. Gender issues in Ken Wilber's transpersonal theory, ReVision, 18(4).

Wright, P. Difficulties with integrating the feminine, ReVision, 19(2).

Zimmerman, M. A transpersonal diagnosis of the ecological crisis, ReVision, 18(4).

Zimmerman, M. On transpersonal ecology, ReVision, 19(2).


1997

R. Fisher, A guide to Wilberland: Some common misunderstandings of Ken Wilber and his work on transpersonal theory, Journal of Humanistic Psychology.

Heron, J. A way out for Wilberians


1998

Helminlak, D.A., Religion and human sciences: An Approach via Spirituality, New York, SUNY Press. Especially Chapter 4: "The Perennial Philosophy of Ken Wilber", online summary.

Heron, J., Sacred Science: Person-centred inquiry into the subtle and the spiritual, PCCS Books, Ross-on-Wye, 1998.

Ferrer, J. N. Beyond Absolutism and Relativism in Transpersonal Evolutionary Theory. World Futures. Journal of General Evolution, 52, 239-280.

Ferrer, J. N. Speak Now of Forever Hold Your Peace: A Review Essay of Ken Wilber's The Marriage of Sense and Soul: Integrating Science and Religion. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology , 30(1), 53-67.


1999

Heron, J., Way out further, , www.integralworld.net

York, M., 'Emergentism and Some Post-Big Bang Perspectives', Journal of Contemporary Religion, vol. 14, nr. 2, 291-297.

Sherry Edwards, An Introductory Comparison of Djwal Khul’s and Ken Wilbur’s Models of Consciousness, Journal of Esoteric Psychology • Volume XIII • No. 1 • 1999


2000

David Deamer, Ph.D., Commentary on Ken Wilber's Twenty Tenets and Two Experiments on Subjective Experience, Evolutionary Theory, An Esalen Invitational Conference, November 5-10, 2000

De Quincey, C., The Promise of Integralism, A Critical Appreciation of Ken Wilber's Integral Psychology, www.deepspirit.com


2001

De Quincey, C., A Theory of Everything? A Critical Appreciation of Ken Wilber’s Collected Works , IONS Review #55

Schlamm, L., 'Ken Wilber's Spectrum Model: Identifying Alternative Soteriological Perspectives', Religion, 31, pp. 19-39.

De Quincey, C., Critics Do. Critics Don't. A Response to Ken Wilber, www.deepspirit.com

Stan Rowe, Transcending this Poor Earth - a la Ken Wilber, The Trumpeter, Vol 17, No 1.

Thomas J. McFarlane, A Critical Look at Ken Wilber’s Four Quadrant Model, In: Sangha: The Newsletter of the Franklin Merrell-Wolff Fellowship, January 2001


2002

"The Missing Links" of Spiral Dynamics and Ken Wilber, Bill Moyer, worldofkenwilber.com

Chris Cowan, Boomeritis or Bust, www.spiraldynamics.org

George Adams, "A Theistic Perspective on Ken Wilber's Transpersonal Psychology", The Journal of Contemporary Religion (vol. 17, no. 2), May 2002


2003

Chris Cowan, "Is there such a thing as the Mean Green Meme?", FAQ page on spiraldynamics.org.

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition: A Critique of Ken Wilber's Theory of Everything, June 2003, manuscript.

John Heron: A tangle of lines and levels: a critique of Wilber's integral psychology, 2003, updated 2005, www.integralvisioning.org


2004

Anon., Ken Wilber and Sri Aurobindo, www.kheper.net

M.Alan Kazlev , Ken Wilber's "Two Truths" Monism, www.kheper.net

M.Alan Kazlev , A critique of Ken Wilber's integral method, www.kheper.net

M.Alan Kazlev , Ken Wilber's misunderstanding of science - Evolutionary Theory, www.kheper.net

Michel Bauwens, The cult of Ken Wilber, www.kheper.net


2005

G. Falk, "Norman Einstein (Ken Wilber)", Chapter XXI in Stripping the Gurus, www.strippingthegurus.com

G. Falk, "Wilber and Bohm: An Analysis of the Problems with Ken Wilber's 'Refutations' of David Bohms Ideas", Appendix I to Stripping the Gurus, www.strippingthegurus.com

G. Falk, "The Blind Eye of Spirit: Ken Wilber and the Misrepresentation of Reality," Appendix II to Stripping the Gurus, www.strippingthegurus.com

Jim Andrews, Ken Wilber on Meditation: A Baffling Babbling of Unending Nonsense, Appendix V to Stripping the Gurus, www.strippingthegurus.com Updated July 28, 2006

Jim Andrews, Twenty Boomeritis Blunders: Shoddy Scholarship, Salacious Sex, and Sham Spirituality, Appendix VI to Stripping the Gurus, www.strippingthegurus.com

M.Alan Kazlev, Ken Wilber's Philosophy, and some critical appraisals, www.kheper.net

Michel Bauwens, A Critique of Wilber and Beck's SD-Integral, www.kheper.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Introduction, www.integralworld.net

Matt Dallman, On Ken Wilber: Hopelessly New Age, Hopeless For the Humanities, www.matthewdallman.com


2006

Michel Bauwens, The cult of Ken Wilber Revisited, www.kheper.net

Chris Cowan, Observations on Ken Wilber's June 8th Rant, www.spiraldynamics.org

Chris Cowan, Of Pandits and Bandits: A Meanderin' Ride in Ken Wilber's Wild West, www.spiraldynamics.org

G. Falk, "Integral Censorship and Cargo Cult Philosophy", Appendix III to Stripping the Gurus, www.strippingthegurus.com

G. Falk, Bald Narcissism: the Dis-Integration of Ken Wilber, Appendix IV to Stripping the Gurus, www.strippingthegurus.com

G. Falk, "Norman Einstein": The Dis-Integration of Ken Wilber, www.normaneinsteinbook.com

Bob Hendricks, Disingenious Duplicity, Colmar3000.blogspot.com

M.Alan Kazlev, Wilber's rant, and responses, www.kheper.net

M.Alan Kazlev, The decline and fall of Ken Wilber, www.kheper.net

M. Alan Kazlev, Towards a Larger Definition of the Integral: An Aurobindonian vision and a critique of the Wilberian paradigm, Part 1-IV, www.integralworld.net

M. Alan Kazlev, Integral Esotericism: A new Integral paradigm in theory and practice, Part 1-VIII, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 1: Holarchy, Section A: Holons, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 1: Holarchy, Section B: The Twenty Tenets, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 1: Holarchy, Section C: The Four Quadrants, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 2: Individual Consciousness, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 3: Vision-logic, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 4: Mysticism, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 5: Social Evolution, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 6: Western History, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 7: Poststructuralism and Postmodernism, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 8: Methodology and Philosophy, www.integralworld.net

David Lane, Wilber and the Misunderstanding of Evolution, www.integralworld.net

David Lane, Wilber on Evolution Revisited: Response to Tom Floyd, www.integralworld.net

Frank Visser, The Wild West Wilber Report: Looking Back on the Wyatt Earp Episode, www.integralworld.net

Frank Visser, "Lord, Give Us Integral, but Without the Hype: A Review of "Integral Spirituality", www.integralworld.net


2007

Geoffrey Falk, The Age of Wilberius, Facts and Reality vs. Ken Wilber's "Integral Age", www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 9: A Different Path, www.integralworld.net

Jeff Meyerhoff, Bald Ambition, Chapter 10: Psychological Analysis of Wilber's Beliefs, www.integralworld.net

Gregory Desilet, Misunderstanding Derrida and Postmodernism, www.integralworld.net

Zakariyya Ishaq, Cowboy Ken Wilber: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, www.integralworld.net

Scott Parker, Winning the Integral Game?, www.integralworld.net

Shawn Heath, Winning the Integral Game? A Response to Scott Parker, www.integralworld.net

Shawn Heath/Anonymous, The Wilber Effect?, www.integralworld.net

Jim Chamberlain, Whither Ken Wilber?, Musings on Evolutionism, Reductionism and Religious Honesty, www.integralworld.net

M. Alan Kazlev, Redefining Integral, www.integralworld.net

Frank Visser, If You Meet Wilber on the Road, Kill Him: On the Importance of Independent Integral Research, www.integralworld.net

Frank Visser, The Wilbertian Evolution Report: A Collection of Debate Snippets, www.integralworld.net

Frank Visser, What Good is Half a Wing? The Wilberian Evolution Debate Continues, www.integralworld.net


2008

Frank Visser, Telling the Story as if it were True: A Review of "The Integral Vision", www.integralworld.net

Rolf Sattler, Wilber's AQAL Map and Beyond, ebook available from www.beyondwilber.ca

Frank Visser, The Trouble with Ken Wilber: A Plea for A Change of Discourse, www.integralworld.net

Brian Hines, "A critique of Ken Wilber and “Integral Spirituality”, Church of the Churchless, March 14, 2008


2009

Frank Visser, Ken Wilber's Mysterianism: How Not to Make a Case for Spiritual Evolution, www.integralworld.net

Frank Visser, Integral Design: Ken Wilber's Views on Evolution, www.integralworld.net

Joseph Gelfer, "Integral Spirituality or Muscular Spirituality?" in: "Numen, Old Men: Contemporary Masculine Spiritualities and the Problem of Patriarchy" (Equinox Publishers, 2009, pp. 99-125).


2010

Frank Visser, The 'Spirit of Evolution' Reconsidered: Relating Ken Wilber's View of Spiritual Evolution to the Current Evolution Debates, Paper presented at the second Integral Theory Conference, JFK University, San Francisco, July 31st. (Honorary Mention Constructive Criticism Category).

Frank Visser, Eros and Bacteria: Why Some Organisms Grow in Complexity and Some Don't, www.integralworld.net

Frank Visser, 'From Dirt to Divinity', Ken Wilber's Pre-Darwinian Understanding of Evolution, www.integralworld.net

Joseph Gelfer, Lohas and The Indigo Dollar: Growing The Spiritual Economy, New Proposals: Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry, Vol 4, No 1 (2010)


2011

David Lane, Frisky Dirt: Why Ken Wilber's New Creationism is Pseudo-Science, www.integralworld.net

Whit Hibbard , A Critical Appreciation of Ken Wilber’s Critique of Eco-Holism, The Trumpeter, 27(2).


2012


2013


2014


2015


2016


2017




See also the Reading Room of Integralworld.net for over 1000 essays related to the work of Ken Wilber.








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