Emergent Value Systems (EVS) is a framework for understanding the development and characteristics of basic worldview types. It views worldviews as complex adaptive value systems that form a “toolbox” of meta-narrative-level socio-cultural ideas that are deployed when a situation correlates to an Existential Crisis related to one of the systems. EVS uses [7] The Matrix systems shape of the Semantic Ontology Framework (SOF) to explain how worldviews are constructed and to describe the dynamics of various characteristics within each worldview.

The EVS Spectrum

Household-Subsistence

Family

Basic Survival
Symbolism
Exit: Agricultural Revolution

Lineage-Agrarian

Tribe

Security in a Mysterious World
Storage
Exit: Kingdom Revolution

Hierarchical-Feudal

Hero

Territorial Dominance in a World of Brutality
Classification
Exit: Rise of Reason

Republic-Industrial

Citizen

Institutional Integrity in a World of Tyranny
Standardization
Exit: Individualistic Revolution

Meritocracy-Consumer

Achiever

Advancement in a World of Bureaucracy
Specialization
Exit: Counter-Cultural Revolution

Quorum-Actualization

Village

Equity in a World of Injustice
Equity Networks
Exit: Information Revolution

Network-Information

Systems

Clarity in a World of Complexity
Virtualization
Exit: Trans-human Revolution

Cybernets-Technoglobalism

Universe

Unity in a World of Fragmentation
Cybernetics
Exit: The Singularity

EVS Value System Concepts

Describing EVS and Defining Value System
Single System Construct (Elements, Dynamics, and Evolution): [7] A Value System
EVS Essential Guidelines
EVS Theology

Meta

EVS is based in part on Clare Grave’s Emergent Cyclical Levels of Existence (E-C Theory). E-C Theory was developed by Clare W. Graves, Professor Emeritus Psychology at Union College in NY.

In his own words, Dr. Graves describes the basis for his theory:

The psychology of the mature human being is an unfolding, emergent, oscillating, spiraling process marked by progressive subordination of older, lower-order behavior systems to newer, higher-order systems as man’s existential problems change.
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It is not surprising that Graves was not the first one to see this truth. In fact, the Bible frequently reveals these “Levels of Existence” in its narrative and discourse. Many of the systemic solutions of the Bible deal directly with dysfunction caused by and related to these levels. One primary difference between the Bible’s perspective and Graves’, is that the Bible sees an end to the spiral.

Graves once said mankind “finds at every stage that the solution to existence is not the solution he has come to find. Every stage he reaches leaves him disconcerted and perplexed. It is simply that as he solves one set of human problems he finds a new set in their place. The quest he finds is never ending.“

On the other hand, Scripture tells us that it is the failure of mankind to depend on God for his existence and the resulting brokenness that forces the emergence of new systems. Mankind’s healing and the answer to his existence is the reconciliation and re-creation available in Christ.

Even though the final outlook of EVS and Graves’ theory are different, it was Graves’ research that initially identified this systemic approach to human thinking. Since the completion of Grave’s work many have forwarded and applied this theory in helpful ways. Michael C. Armor and Don Browning have applied this system to church leadership in Systems Sensitive Leadership (SSL): Empowering Diversity without Polarizing the Church (Joplin: College Press, 2000). Much of EVS is based on their descriptions of the interactions of the systems. Also, Brain Technologies Corporation has developed an assessment tool that was very helpful in the development of our own.