The underpinning of all our consulting work, the learning experiences we create and the training we do is the Worldview Intelligence Six Dimensions Framework. It is based on the Apostel Framework, created by the Worldviews Group led by Leo Apostel (pictured on the right) in the 1990s. This group was concerned with what they saw as increasing fragmentation and a growing inability to have conversations across difference. This certainly feels even more true three decades later.

Apostel died in the mid-90s and his dream of bringing this philosophical framework into practical use lay dormant until Jerry came across it while doing his PhD research and we began to put it into application, almost a decade ago now.

This beautiful, easily understood framework is also novel and revolutionary. It has been described as a game changer and a powerful way of understanding worldviews and worldview differences. Most people acknowledge they have never thought about their own experience or worldview in this way and they find it an elegant structure to understand their own and others worldviews.

The Six Dimensions are equally applicable and valuable in discerning your own worldview, that of other individuals or that of your profession, organization, team or department, community or social groups, simply by focusing the explorations through slightly different questions or inquiry. Each Dimension can be understood individually or interdependently with any or all of the other Dimensions.

The Six Dimensions are the bridge between our worldview and how we act in the world. Simply explained:

Reality: day-to-day experiences, including belief systems.

History: key influences – people, experiences and more – local and global – that have shaped or influenced how we, individually and collectively, have come to see and experience our world, generally and on specific issues.

Future: how we see, relate to and prepare for the future.

Values: the core commitments that influence and guide us.

Practices: how we live our lives and bring each aspect of our worldview to life; how we treat people.

Knowledge: our understanding of what we know, how we know what we know, how we know our answers to all Six Dimensions are true and what sources of knowledge we trust.

Take a minute to reflect on each of these Six Dimensions in your experience and see what you discover about what is important to you, what your worldview is and how your worldview might be influencing your relationships and communication, your ability to build trust and relationship. Then imagine someone you know where your worldviews might differ and consider what their experience might be by reflecting through each of the Dimensions. Share your discoveries. We’d love to hear.