RIID's Manifesto: the Art of Integral Development
Material goods are the necessary condition to reach human welfare, but not sufficient for integral development. Immaterial goods such as education, freedom, democracy, cultural tolerance, peace, justice, etc…, are also extremely necessary, yet, they as well, are not sufficient for integral development.
The third condition necessary to define Integral development is the fullness of each human being’s presence in his/her own life. This presence works as a continuous shifting towards a deeper meaning with the understanding that life itself can exceed life.
This multidimensional matrix explains the urgency to improve the conditions of developing countries, but at the same time explains the failure of developed nations in achieving the desired wellbeing as proven by the vast increase of existential anguish.
The three tiers of this matrix: material, immaterial and existential, reflect the tripartite anthropological definition of man, and are the different, complex and ever changing shapes that constitute the art of integral development.
While the first tier embodies the domain of economics, technology, law etc…, the second tier characterizes the domain of education, psychology, art etc…., and both are driven by politics and ideologies.
The third tier, on the other hand, represents an individual goal, deeply affected and conditioned by the other two domains that it surpasses.
All three tiers, material , immaterial and existential, revolve around the notion of complexity. Complexity refers to the relationship of a multiplicity of factors interacting in the social web, from the local to the international level. It also refers to synergies available in particular timeframes that enable or slow down the process of development.
The existential tier, the most challenging and turning point agent, is grounded on the concept of openness and depth as reflections of transcendence and recognition of truth. Human beings find their identity outside of their own selves in a relationship with the others.
This movement, always beyond oneself, is what defines the path of human destiny toward the pristine shores of integral development.
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The Rielo Institute for Integral Development, Inc. supports students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
