Differentiation
Differentiation
In the Evolving Self, Kegan uses the idea of differentiation to note the move a self makes from following the instructions of others as complete truths to a more subjective and integrated sense of self, which is capable of navigating dualities and conflicting ethics.
Development is not a matter of differentiation alone, but of differentiation and reintegration
—Robert Kegan, The Evolving Self
The movement embedded in this view links an inner place of meaning-making to the tactical social affinity and inter-relational moments. The process of development (of the self and ideas) is an oscillation of heading to an abstract space and returning to the atmosphere, where the physics of reality and social norms exist. I often cite Derrida’s idea of deconstruction, as my work is very linguistic, and it is great to see this in the context of authorship and development.
It reminds me of the analytic third, the original inspiration for Thirdness.
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