The observation is that worldviews arose societally in a certain order. That is, modern worldviews arose after, and in response to the limitations of, traditional worldviews. Postmodern worldviews arose after and in response to the problems of the modern worldview, and integrative worldviews after and in response to postmodern ones. There is indeed a developmental logic and dynamic here. This process has been observed by historians and philosophers in the West, while also having been found in cross cultural data on changing beliefs and values over time.
This understanding also aligns with developmental psychology and the “evolutions” observed in the process of mental development. Research has shown that, looking at a population as a whole, mental complexity tends to increase with age: “When an evolution occurs from one level of complexity to another, adults take greater responsibility for their thinking and feeling, can retain more levels of information, and can think further into the future, to name only some of the well-researched consequences of mental development” (Kegan and Lahey, 2016, p.60). Yet there is considerable variety within any age, and people move through these evolutions at different speeds. Also, “many of us, if not most of us, get stuck in our evolution and do not reach the most complex peaks” (Ibid, p.60).
This is a hopeful understanding, as our worldviews may display our possibility for social learning and a potential for a gradual expansion of perspectives! However, there are some things to keep in mind:
Take your result of the Worldview Test lightly! This test only tells you which ‘big story’ you seem to gravitate towards based on the answers you provided. It’s NOT an indication of your state of mental evolution in any way.
Habermas spoke about ‘the dialectics of progress’: Though the evolutionarily later worldviews often display new qualities and possibilities, they also tend to generate new (and often bigger) problems and pathologies.
This is not a moral order! One worldview is not inherently better than any other one. The goodness of our character depends more on what we do with these worldviews and how we give expression to them, than with the worldviews per se.
Instead of seeing this as a moral order or an oppressive ranking system, we believe a developmental or evolutionary view can in fact be highly empowering and life-enhancing, as it invites us to keep learning, growing, and evolving, to continue to widen our horizons and deepen our understanding, to fulfil our greater potentials.
Additionally, this kind of view may evoke a more compassionate understanding of human nature and behavior. ‘Undesirable’ or problematic behaviors or opinions – like racist views or unsustainable attitudes – may be ascribed to a lack of the right conditions for development, rather than to the “moral failings” of someone’s character. Instead of judging people or writing them off, this view emphasizes that, under the right conditions, each and every one of us has the potential to move beyond narrow and self-centered perspectives, and grow into a wiser and wider self.
This invites more compassion, kindness, and inclusivity – and thus hope for the future.