ENGENDERING THE FUTURE THROUGH SELF-REFLEXIVE GROUP INITIATIVES

COMMENTARY ARCHIVES, 23 Dec 2008

Anthony Judge

Introduction

This deliberately speculative exploration is based on a set of radical assumptions, namely that:

1.    Self-reflexivity is essential to moving beyond the collective initiatives that effectively give rise to "business as usual", especially in cases where their claims to act differently themselves follow a pattern appropriately described as "more of the same". Relevant arguments have been presented elsewhere (Consciously Self-reflexive Global Initiatives: Renaissance zones, complex adaptive systems, and third order organizations, 2007).

2.    Following Marcus du Sautoy (Finding Moonshine: a mathematician’s journey through symmetry, 2008) it is assumed that there is a profound truth in the statement by Paul Valéry: The universe is built on a plan the profound symmetry of which is somehow present in the inner structure of our intellect.

3.    There is a poorly explored degree of cognitive mirroring with an environment conventionally framed as "external", as discussed elsewhere (Self-reflective Embodiment of Transdisciplinary Integration (SETI): the universal criterion of species maturity? 2008).

4.    It is appropriate to explore a radical "confrontation" between "group theory" as understood in the mathematics of symmetry and "group theory" as understood in the social sciences — both implying different ways by which humans comprehend complexity — with the latter form of group theory in potentially desperate need of insights from the former (for the benefit of society) and the former having a responsibility to assist in developing a comprehensible interface, as argued elsewhere (Dynamics of Symmetry Group Theorizing comprehension of psycho-social implication, 2008)

5.    Information, and its accessibility and comprehension (in a period of exponentially increasing information overload), implies a need to discover radically new cognitive approaches if problematic fragmentation is not to be the primary characteristic of the emerging knowledge society; there is even the possibility that knowledge may be distorted, or rendered incomprehensible, by the surfaces on which it is "de-scribed"

6.    There is a fruitful challenge to assumptions regarding the adequacy of articulation and communication through linear text on conventional plane surfaces

7.    In a society in which there are many calls for changes in patterns of behaviour, and many initiatives to that end, these tend to be undermined by simplistic understanding of the needs for individual and collective "re-cognition" — namely the need for their re-patterning in the eyes of others

8.    There is a case for greater consideration of the implications of challenges in the moment rather than their conventional projection into a possibly indefinite future — action being more immediate than an expression of intent or a "pledge" to future action.

9.    Some widely used metaphors may well be indicative of intuited comprehension that has not otherwise been conventionally recognized.

The current proposal to organize another State of the World Forum (Washington DC, 2009) — building on the hopes and momentum associated with the recent political changes in the USA — is explored (in an Annex) as a case study in the light of the above assumptions.

… CONTINUE READING IN THE ORIGINAL

This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 23 Dec 2008.

Anticopyright: Editorials and articles originated on TMS may be freely reprinted, disseminated, translated and used as background material, provided an acknowledgement and link to the source, TMS: ENGENDERING THE FUTURE THROUGH SELF-REFLEXIVE GROUP INITIATIVES, is included. Thank you.

If you enjoyed this article, please donate to TMS to join the growing list of TMS Supporters.

Share this article: email mastodon facebook 🔗 copy link

This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.

Comments are closed.