First Order Intelligence 'sees' the world through the eyes of unselfconscious integrity.

One 'sees' the integrity of self, integrity of others, and integrity of nature as part of apparent (observable) reality.
"It is what it is."

Second Order Intelligence 'sees' the world through the eyes of fragmentation and objectification.

Such 'seeing'  turns oneself, others, and the world of nature into objects to be manipulated. There is a mismatch in integrity between apparent (observable) reality and underlying (not concretely observable) reality - but the mismatch is either ignored, minimized,  rationalized,  or judged to be OK.

Third Order Intelligence 'sees' the world through the eyes of conscious integration.

One consciously 'sees' the relationship between apparent and underlying reality - and can discern whether there is integration or fragmentation. It is like being able to see something in its ideal state and how it is in its fragmented state at the same time. This enables one to bring harmony to external situations and more importantly to self-correct when one is out of integrity.

Analogy of the Trees

In First Order Intelligence, trees are appreciated in their natural integrity and beauty.
"A tree is a tree is a tree," from the same sensibility that "a rose is a rose is a rose."
A tree is a living being to be respected just as any other living being.

Distortion occurs when trees are seen through the eyes of Second Order Intelligence.
The integrity of the tree is sacrificed for the comfort and convenience of the 'tree owner.'
A tree is property or a resource to be managed by the property owner or resource manager.
This often results in the butchering of trees for profit or for 'low maintenance.'

With Third Order Intelligence, the beauty and integrity of the tree is fully appreciated.
The integrity of the trees are respected as living beings - not butchered for profit or distorted through ignorance.

Take the tree quiz and see if you can pick which naturally growing trees were trimmed with a SOI sensibility that ignored the tree's integrity and which ones were trimmed with a TOI sensibility that respected and kept the tree's integrity intact.

Tree Quiz

What Second Order Intelligence does to trees - it also does to oneself, to children, to other people, and to natural resources.

 

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