The Cutting Edge (of What, for Whom?)

Almost everywhere we look as we head into the latter stages of the first decade in the 21st century, we find experts on "the cutting edge" of everything from medical technology, human consciousness, sales and marketing, communications, the arts, bathroom remodeling, educational strategies, having it all, and that one missing bit of knowledge that we all need in order to have it all.

Developmental models, including, but not limited to Maslow's work with needs, Kohlberg's and Gilligan's respective research on moral reasoning, Loevinger's and Cook-Greuter's studies of self-identity, Fowler's stages of faith, Graves' work, continued by Beck and Cowan, on values, and Piaget's early work with cognition, begin with a somewhat oblivious creature who has no sense of self, grows into an ego-centric (me!) individual, and then into an ethno- or group-centric (us!) member, and perhaps into a world-centric (all of us!) citizen, followed by a Kosmos-centered (all that is!) Self, at which point everything that arises is the Self.

Each of these researchers studies a different developmental line or intelligence, and employs very specific language for that unique exploration, and their findings uncover anywhere from six to twelve or so levels through which an individual might grow. Don Beck and Chris Cowan assigned colors to designate the levels of values that Graves' research first discovered: Beige, Purple, Red, Blue, Orange, Green, Yellow and Turquoise, the meaning of each not relevant for this discussion (interested readers can refer to the links in the October 9 post on this blog to find out more).

What we find in our "cutting edge" world is that each of these levels or stages of growth has its own cutting edge--essentially, that final series of steps that will give us a taste of the next stage: Purple's cutting edge is a glimpse or taste of Red, Red's is a hint of Blue, and Green's an insight into Yellow. To further complicate matters, each developmental line or intelligence carries its own content, so despite being "hosted" by the same structure of consciousness, the cutting edge of an ego-centric values system is not identical to the cutting edge of an ego-centric self-identity.

All of us, this writer included, recognize a personal cutting edge when we gain insight into something that is new and capable of pushing us to the next stage of our growth, transcending and including the previous stages--even if a million other people on the planet have resided in or even grown past that stage already.

So, beware. When you're presented with a "cutting edge" solution, innovation, gift, tool--anything at all--be sure to explore for whom and of what it is truly an edge.