269 - Mark Fischler - Stepping Out of the Collective Trance of Society
“With the rise of the internet and the kind of the unleashing of information in ways that are not controlled, you are, I think, seeing some form of a kind of regression towards earlier values.” - Mark Fischler
With the amount of time we invest in news feeds, social scrolls, podcasts, and hot-takes, you’d think we’d have a better grasp on “the whole picture.” But that’s the thing about being human: we only operate with a partial perspective regardless of the situation or issue. This universal truth pushes many of us toward the false comfort of binary thinking. Democrat or Republican. Religious vs heathen. Omnivore vs herbivore. Podcast host and Professor of Criminal Justice at Plymouth State University Dr. Mark Fischler says we don’t have to pick sides. He believes that if we can get comfortable holding multiple truths at once, even if we don’t understand them, we can solve society’s most distressing problems.
Our paths crossed at the ICON Conference, a collective of thought-leaders and social change makers rooted in Integral Theory to create a better future for all. Mark’s ability to make sense of our current moment––the increasing polarity of political opinions, the questionable morals of our Supreme Court, the instability of US democracy––is a balm for any stressed-out soul.
“I got to law school and started reading case law (Roe v. Wade, among others). I'd read one side and be like, okay, I'm totally with them,” Mark recalls. “Then, I'd read the descent, and I'm like, wait, they make all kinds of sense. too!” Decades later, he’s more committed than ever to fostering a holistic approach towards life and the law. Except now, Mark has skills that could only come from having his ego checked repeatedly. And subscribing to Buddhist philosophy, and dedicating himself to meditation (ahem!).
Growth isn’t an easy, linear affair. Not even for someone who instinctively knows there’s more than one side to all stories. But, having a foundation point of reference helps ease the process. “Integral [Theory] allows us to see these different perspectives at play,” says Mark. “None is more dominant than the other. And all are interconnected.”
Our future depends on how we make space for other ways of being and doing. Mark agrees. “I was under the assumption that there had to be one right answer,” he says. There isn’t, and that’s the biggest ego-check of all.
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GUEST CONTACT & BIO
Mark Fischler is an award-winning professor of criminal justice at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. He is a former NH Public Defender. Mark also hosts a podcast on the Integral Life website called Integral Justice Warrior.
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