Last Updated on July 28, 2015 by Paulette Brown-Hinds
Europeans’ C14 “Entire” + C16 “Integrity” words are sourced in Integers (make whole). This concept arose from late primitive Europeans emphasizing the Value aspect of Primitive African Bartering practices with respect to the ways a number of elements in any class could be handled. For example, the number of sheep in a herd could be one-one represented by a corresponding number of pebbles put in a pile. Such was done to pair off one sheep with each stone, in such a way that no sheep would be counted twice, and no sheep and no stone was left over. Thus, the integer 5–like digits on a hand (Natural Numbers)–is the mark associated with a Class and with all other Classes whose elements could be paired off with those 5 digits. A Positive Integer—a whole number like 1, 2, 3 used in counting wholes (e.g. sheep, apples)–is greater than Zero, as distinguished from a fraction. Negative Integers (numbers less than Zero, -2, -7) + Positive Integers = a complete Set of Integers. Eventually, European scholars expanded these ideas, with Quantities as primary; Qualities, as secondary. Thus, favored humans were said to be “solid,” whole, intact, and ‘perfect’–implying Integrity meant total abstinence of sexual desire—an assumed preternatural (beyond the normal course of Nature and thus Supernatural) gift of God. This was said to be represented by Adam and Eve before the Fall (note: this was an Ancient African Bible metaphorical story featuring Aisha and Aish). So, Ancient African concepts of Integrity, after being borrowed into C16 Integer (‘In,’ expressing negation + tangere, ‘to touch’), were refocused to spotlight chastity. Next Integral, based on Integer, was formed to indicate details inferred from properties of the complete process. Its unimpaired or uncorrupted condition in humans expanded into having a sense of honesty or uprightness (1548). One of its senses was that humans of upright life are unstained by guilt. Another is the Supernatural concept of loyalty to ones beliefs, convictions, and values—acting in accordance with ones values—expressing, upholding, and translating ones values into practical reality.
African Tradition would refute this since there is no standard given for what is higher than ones beliefs. A generally accepted standard is what Sages of all cultures and all ages have agreed to as Integrity’s Human Ideal—allowing for comparing against it what one does. In looking deeper, my view is that every human is born with everything needed to have a healthy, happy, productive, and thriving life. Together, those things within ones Selfhood possess Coherence; Consistency; Compatibility with Reality, Order, Regularity, Balance, Harmony, and Predictability inside a given human’s Circle of Cosmic Wholism. Allow me to illustrate a few correspondences between an Egg + a human as a “ME/WE” entity inside the Cosmic Organism + that human in an Earth World setting with the Cosmic Organism and the Egg. The Circle of Wholism resembles an intact eggshell covering an Egg. That eggshell is like the Circle of Wholism’ Caring a human gets as a “ME/WE” entity. That eggshell and the Circle of Wholism are also like a human’s birth gift protective Integrity for that human’s Real Self. A human’s personal “eggshell” of Integrity protects its inner core ingredients; acts as a defense against anti-Spiritual Elements; and provides Public Self armor.
Just as the one thing which all eggs must possess is the embryo and its nutrients from which the young animal develops, so is this the core of a human germ inside the Circle of Cosmic Wholism as well as within the Private Self core of a human during Earth living. The two layers of membrane which line the shell of an Egg are widely separated and contain air for the developing chick to breath while pecking its way out of the shell. Similarly, the ingredients of a human’s Integrity provide inner support and nourishment throughout life when that human maintains her/his Real Self. But be clear that the overwhelming majority of people lack “across the board” Integrity because of some insecurity. Even when an Egg is merely cracked, it breaks up the integration of the contents of the Egg inside the eggshell. That is what happens to the Character of humans when they place a “toe” outside the Circle of Cosmic Wholism. Then, as False Selves, they start thoughtless operating out of habit and emulating current trends of the day’s society. This leads them down paths to become Aggressive, Passive, or Passive-Aggressive—all off the track of their Mission in life.