Most Promising Paradigm: Whole Person

I came upon this paradigm named by Stephen R. Covey in his 2004 book The 8th Habit. I say named by because I believe the paradigm is not new and has been mentioned and addressed by many. Its view of human beings is that each is a unique association of body, mind, heart and spirit, the integration and balancing of which unleash voice. It opposes and rejects the reduction of persons to things, which Covey (and Peter Drucker, he says) attribute to industrialization, but appears to have begun with Galileo and to have been nourished by Descartes and Hobbes.

The eighth habit is find your voice and inspire others to find theirs. Dr. Covey maintains that it is not a late addition to his list (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, 1989), but adds a third dimension to it. Thus, I've come to describe the newer book as an upgrade. I recommend both, beginning with the newer one.

Covey opened The 7 Habits... with "Interdependence is a higher value than independence." I not only like that; I believe sustainable communities will necessarily be populated by whole people. Whole people can make and maintain whole places.