Robert Long

The Triarchic Model of Reality, A Dialectic Way of Understanding

ByProf. Robert Long

Free Online Workshops

We have already started our preparation reading for the workshops on enactive thinking and risk but, it’s not too late to join. Registrations close Today.

You can register for the free online workshops run on 8, 15, 22, 29 September 9am Canberra time with Prof. Rob Long, register here: admin@spor.com.au

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Triarchic modelling is essential to dialectical thinking. Dialectical thinking is being able to suspend being anchored to either pole in binary opposition but rather, being able to move between two oppositions and move in the middle. And, the ky is understanding the meaning of that word ‘movement’.

Dialectical thinking is the way of three: position one, position two and in-between.

In SPoR, we indicate the in-between by using a hyphen and by triarchic semiotics. Suspending the binary is critical for an existentialist dialectical ethic, espoused in SPoR. The dialectic is also important for understanding: following-leading, i-thou and faith-rational.

What this means is that we think more of exchange and knowing in a conversational way.

We express triarchic modelling in all of our thinking about One Brain and Three Minds (1B3M) and about considering Workspace, Headspace and Groupspace (WS, HS, GS). Understanding 1B3M and WS, HS, GS are foundational for understanding SPoR. We represent these two concepts as follows:

When we understand personhood dialectically, we accept that most binary oppositions are false and similarly, that extremist positions often represented in slogans eg. blame fixes nothing, context drives behaviour as false.

When we understand persons enactively, we develop a very different ethic than is common to risk and safety. In SPoR, we move away from hierarchical power-centric and authoritarian models of control to understanding the phenomenon of human being as experienced (https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/phenomenology/). This way of thinking is influenced by researchers such as: Fuchs, Lakoff and Johnson, Merleau-Ponty, Ricoeur, Ellul, Thompson, Varela etc.

We also find the work of Rupert Sheldrake helpful. Here you can hear Sheldrake speaking about triarchic modelling and the importance of three.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_n4Oc45NRc

Enactive thinking takes seriously the body-mind-environment connection and views all the systems of the body (nervous, endocrine, respiratory, integumentary (skin), muscular, digestive, cardiovascular, reproductive, cellular, urinary, feeling/emotional and skeletal systems) as inter-connected, inter-affected and inter-corporeal. In a similar way we see the body/mind is influenced by all that happens around us and this direct behaviour, allostasis (the energy to sustain life) and forces that control decisions.

When we understand personhood this way, it changes one’s attitude to risk and how to tackle risk. This approach is more realistic, positive, constructive and meaningful than the common approaches to traditional safety that are brain-centric and focused on thinking as ‘brain-work’.

You can register for the free online workshops run on 8, 15, 22, 29 September 9am Canberra time with Prof. Rob Long, register here: admin@spor.com.au

 

Prof. Robert Long

Prof. Robert Long

Expert in Social Psychology, Principal & Trainer at Human Dymensions
Prof. Robert Long

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Prof. Robert Long
PhD., MEd., MOH., BEd., BTh., Dip T., Dip Min., Cert IV TAA, MRMIA Rob is the founder of Human Dymensions and has extensive experience, qualifications and expertise across a range of sectors including government, education, corporate, industry and community sectors over 30 years. Rob has worked at all levels of the education and training sector including serving on various post graduate executive, post graduate supervision, post graduate course design and implementation programs.

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