[via Social Synergy Weblog]
The P2P Foundation blog has posted a little quote from both myself and Spiraldynamics author Chris Cowan. This was partially from a discussion about the Cooperation Commons project, and how the theories of Clare W. Graves might give another lens onto the concepts of peer to peer dynamics and cooperation.
Chris' response is very interesting. Here's a small quote:
The presupposition of many P2P discussions at your level seems to be collaborative, open minds with a shared goal of building better systems capable of adaptation and knowledge gain with individual ambitions attenuated while individual rights increase. The pitfall is that open systems nearly guarantee a mix of minds with multiple agendas - a hard fact often unacknowledged. Some motives are overt while others are cloaked. Thus, the motive field is a complicated one, and it is part of the whole when the system is open to all and the distribution of systemsis ‘normal.’ Motive recognition and management is a challenge in the P2P arena quite as much as the knowledge spread.
Our own small adventures with the Wiki world have demonstrated for us how the psychology and motivations of contributors can sway ‘truth’ and their approach to its promotion. If there is a culture of open inquiry and sharing, things have a chance to work. If there are fanatics with agendas - either ideological or financial - or fixated minds stuck on particular ideas, then the outcomes turn into products of endurance, competitiveness, and alliance-building. If you’ve got a couple of folks who believe themselves without peer, it’s a problem. And for those who find such things unpleasant or not worth the effort, truth inevitably suffers. It doesn’t take but a couple of rotten apples to spoil an egalitarian barrel. There has to be a mechanism for rotating the fruits and monitoring process, as well as content.
Read the rest at P2P Foundation Blog
The Cooperation Commons project is at least partially about creating an open literacy of cooperation. This is a sorely needed resource in our world right now. Chris Cowan's statements above reflect the value of also having literacy of epistemology/human psychology/human nature, in my opinion.
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