There was a question in my mind, since I came to live abroad several months earlier. Question aroused one day, like this.
I was walking into a restaurant to buy me some dinner and there was a boy who stepped on to the door at the same time as me. We both waiting each other giving way to step in, and nobody moved. I was in no hurry, and he was letting me in as I am. Somebody has to go in, so I smiled at him and stepped in. The moment I went in this person started to curse me saying "Say f------ thank you when you were given something" And I was taken aback. My mind was saying "What? why this guy stepped in if he was in such a hurry? Just to blame me for not thanking?"
"Oh, they expect a thank you in return. Isn't it bad to expect something in return?"
Recently I learned the four-quadrant model of philosophy which allows one to look at all the philosophical arguments in a bird's eye view. Then it hit me, the answer to my question. It was another dimension to why, in above scenario.
Four Quadrent Model of Philosophy
Essentially everything about philosophy can be understood in this four-quadrant model. More importantly once we categories and understand which quadrant one philosophical point of view lands, we can see conflicts and relationship of it with other.
Four quadrants are as above:
Q1 : individual interior
Q2 : individual exterior
Q3 : collective interior
Q4 : collective exterior
And the contents are given, in each cell. If you would like to know more about the principle link is here.
It is best understood with above example. I was looking at the problem with my previous internal collective standpoint of view. I was hurt because, in my society where there was no culture for opening doors and saying thank you, in return. And that was the norm. More also nobody would expect a thank you in return even if you are helped by them. So, I saw him as selfish and stupid to think like that in the first instance.
Yet, when I look at the four-quadrant model, I can understand that, that problem would have never arise if I was used to the culture abroad. Because I was a foreigner only for few days, I had no understanding of the culture and, it was not routine for me to say thank you, there was not time for me to change my internal collective quadrant. It was a norm in this country to let others in even if you are in a hurry and you will be guaranteed that will get a 'thank you' in return.
Similarly, there are philosophers who think mainly about problems in single quadrant. Their ideologies can clash with some of the others, if they are trying to solve the same problem in a different quadrant. Yet, knowing this concept will help us to understand some harmony in otherwise opposite arguments.
Thank you for reading: Four quadrant model philosophy -Birdseye view - Ken Wilber's model
You may also like to read: How to create best outcomes for life?
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