In chapter one Senge lays out the five disciplines of a learning organization. The third one, mental models stood out to me. Senge (2006) writes: %u201C Mental models are deeply ingrained assumptions, generalizations, or even pictures or images that influence how we understand the world and how we take action. Very often, we are not consciously aware of our mental models or the effects they have on our behavior%u201D (p. 8). I think what Senge calls mental models can also be identified as worldviews.

In the book Making sense of your world: a biblical worldview. Phillips, et-all (2008), define a worldview as %u201Cthe framework of our most basic beliefs that shapes our view of and for the world and is the basis of our decisions and actions%u201D (p. 8). Worldviews are also described as:

[A] pair of glasses through which we see the world%u2026. [O]ur worldview puts the world in focus and shapes how we make sense out of what we see; and, like glasses, it will either help us or prevent us from seeing the world as it really is (p. 4)

To some it may seem that worldviews are passive but Phillips et-all, asserts that the reality is worldviews are actively confronting our meaning in the world. Though not always noticed or almost as second nature, a human is daily confronting ultimate questions about origins, meaning, morality, destiny, and identity. How one answers these questions frames out one%u2019s worldview (Phillips,et-all, 2008, p. 9).

Phillips et-all, also assert that every person has a worldview. For some people, they have thought about their worldview and have all of the details worked out. Others have mixed and matched various worldviews into one patchwork worldview that is personally satisfying. The rest have a worldview of some sort but have never really thought it through. Whether well defined, ambiguous, or never addressed, the human being constantly tries to make sense of their world and find meaning (Phillips et all, 2008, p. 4-5).

Senge (2006) goes on to write about the importance of understanding ones mental model seeing it is one of the five disciplines of a learning organization:

The discipline of working with mental models starts with turning the mirror inward; learning to unearth our internal pictures of the world, to bring them to the surface and hold them rigorously to scrutiny (p. 8).

So how does one do this? Phillips et-all (2008), asserts that as a person attempts to make sense of their world or find meaning they must confront three major concepts: the upward, God or ultimate reality; the inward, the reality of human existence; and the outward, nature or the existence of the physical and spiritual world if there is one (p. 9). %u201C[o]ne%u2019s view of God is the starting point of all worldviews%u201D (Phillips et-all, (2008) p. 10). This first confrontation has more implications and consequences than any other aspect of a worldview.

Although both Senge and Phillips et-all, assert the importance of forming and understanding ones worldview or mental model, Phillips et-all (2008) writes %u201CSociety in general gives little evidence of thinking about ultimate questions and important issues. the resulting self-indulgent values permeate every strata of social interaction%u201D (p. xi). This in turn is having a disastrous effect on the young and upcoming generations who will be taking over the business world. Phillips et-all (2008) states: %u201Cwithout a well-developed philosophy of life, students are not prepared for the ethical and existential dilemmas they will face. They face what some have called a %u2018quarter-life crisis,%u2019 questioning who they are and why the exists, despite having the degree, career, and lifestyle that they always desired%u201D (p, xii).

The question I pose is why is it that people neglect to fully understand their worldviews or mental models?

The question above needs to be answer in a paragraph form with at least one cited reference to back up the answer you come up with! You will need to include this cited reference so that I can see where it came from also.