Snip...
> It seems that large networks of mutually
>supportive people connected by family ties, has much economic adavantage.
>Unfortunately it appears to be associated with authoritarian,
>paternalistic qualities which make a token show of allegiance to
>democratic principles.
>Perhaps we should find some new ways in Western society to form
>economically advantageous networks as well, only in a form which retains
>the democratic principles we identify with?? Would the multi-nationals
>allow such a thing?
>Sorry, if this seems overthe top, but non-linear systems behaviours can make
>sudden phase shifts, ones that involve us if we are not vigilant.
>
>Dr. Doug Seeley 100433.133@compuserve.com
> "Are there any places where networks don't exist?"
Your discussion is interesting and thought provoking. Here is a hopeful
(but naive?) scenario:
Genetic (phylogenetic really) predisposition can cause individual
behaviours which maximize self-interest and require only trust in family.
However human social contracts serve to regulate this self interest for
the good of the "group" (species?). Human societal development is based
on the primacy of the social contract over the promotion of individual
benefit i.e. primacy of the emergent linguistic phenomena (social
contracts) over the individual genetic behaviour from which the social
contracts arise. As in many other cases the emergent phase sublimates the
recursive processes which bring it forth.
It is possible to argue that a shift is happening in human society so
that organizations at the forefront are beginning to see the power and
mutual benefit to be derived from the emergent products of collaboration.
To flourish, organizations need to create knowledge and embody it. This
knowledge creation is enabled by vision, autonomy, requisite variety,
redundancy and fluctuations (breakdowns).
The xenophobic selfish organizations you have seen in Australia (and they
are everywhere) are anathema to an environment of trusting collaboration
for the mutual benefit. Such environments are medular to the development
of multicellular life which arises from the selfless cooperation of
individual cells. In the short term, "selfish" organizations may survive
and grow, but in nature as in society life flourishes when many benefit,
and over time those organizations which promote the emergence of
widespread benefit will endure.
Organizations with behaviours of collaboration for mutual (group) gain,
which sublimate the self-interest of our individual genetic drive, will
succed and outlast "selfish" organizations which will be stifled and
isolated . This is in the common pattern of the emergent property (social
contract) sublimating its constitutive processes (selfish genes).
-- Roberto Reichard emergent@sirius.com