deep structures

Typically a Chomskyan notion. Integral Theory, however, uses it to refer to structures or holistic patterns that are shared by a group, a family, a tribe, a clan, a community, a nation, all humans, all species, all beings. Thus, “deep” does not necessarily mean “universal;” it means “shared with others,” and research then determines how wide that group is—from a few people to genuine universals. Lastly, all deep structures have surface structures that are relevant and specific to that group of others.