Comparing the Models of Kegan and Wilber on Consciousness
How do we understand the evolution of human consciousness? Many thinkers have attempted to create "maps" to chart this incredible inner territory. Reflecting on my own studies, I've found it fascinating to compare the approaches of two influential figures in this field: developmental psychologist Robert Kegan and integral philosopher Ken Wilber.
Kegan's Model: Consciousness as Developmental Stages
Kegan's model of consciousness always felt intuitive to me because it's closely related to Jean Piaget's stages of child development. It proposes that our level of consciousness is tied to our developmental status and age.
The way I understood it, Kegan's model focuses a lot on the person-object relationship. The stages of development chart a course from a dualistic perspective—where we see ourselves as separate from our environment—to a more non-dualistic one, where we ultimately see ourselves as more connected and a part of our environment. It's a clear, linear progression of how we relate to the world around us.
Wilber's Model: Consciousness as an Expansive Spectrum
While Kegan's model is easy to grasp, I've always resonated more with Ken Wilber's five stages of consciousness. His model feels more expansive because it's not limited to a specific age or developmental status.
Wilber's spectrum is less about our relationship to external objects and more about the individual's awareness moving from the physical (ego) to the unseen (absolute self). I appreciate that his model makes room for domains that are often left out of traditional psychology:
The Subtle Realm: The world of the dream state, light, feelings, and energetic currents.
The Causal Realm: The level of archetypes, manifestations, and the forms upon which awareness depends.
Pure Awareness: The ultimate state, where there is no object of awareness, only the "Seer" itself, which cannot be seen.
A Personal Preference
For me, the key difference is that Kegan's model charts a path of psychological development from dualism to non-dualism, while Wilber's model maps a more spiritual journey from the ego to the absolute. I appreciate the expansiveness of Wilber's approach, which includes the subtle and spiritual realms as essential parts of our being.
