A Common Consensus

Thu Aug 14 07:23:21 PDT 2008

I appreciate your keeping our eye on the magic of emergent systems,
Harrison, where things continuously seek pattern and differentiation
simultaneously. This invites the frame of consensus as both seeking sameness
within uniqueness and uniqueness within sameness. The tension energizes, as
you remind us, the rich creative space of both-and. We place a false and
unnecessary constraint on the system and the possibility space when we try
to seek either sameness or uniqueness exclusively. So, "and" is one of the
most space opening words in our common language.

Best,

Jack

Jack Ricchiuto
DesigningLife.com / 216.373.7475 (EST)

On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 9:05 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

>  Peter – Tyranny by the majority is certainly a downside of Democracy as
> practiced in my country (USA). That said, it seems to me that there are
> circumstances where it is the preferable alternative. The passage of the
> Civil Rights Act here in the US was vociferously and often violently opposed
> by a very vocal minority, however I would doubt that many black Americans
> opposed the vigorous enforcement of that act, and fortunately (for the good
> of the country) a majority of all Americans, regardless of hue, were in
> agreement.
>
>
>
> Consensus politics has much to commend it, but it too has its downsides.
> Resolution at the lowest common denominator is one such, which often appears
> to be no resolution at all. Alternatively, the whole system may simply
> become paralyzed. At such times, I for one find myself longing for a
> straight up or down vote. There is also such a thing a Tyranny of Consensus,
> I think.
>
>
>
> Perhaps it is useful to think in terms of both/and as opposed to either/or?
> For example, Majority Rule, as in the case of the Civil Rights act, was
> possible only because of a prior consensus in the American Population that
> the Rule of Law was to be preferred even if you were on the wrong side of
> the Law.
>
>
>
> I suspect that the situation is infinitely more complicated than the simple
> alternative (Consensus/Majority Rule). My learning has been that our
> capacity to design and implement effective systems of all sorts (political,
> corporate, etc) is limited at best. We simply cannot comprehend the infinite
> complexity and random occurrences (essential chaos), characteristic of all
> living systems. Our solutions are always approximations, and try as we
> might, we will never get it "right" – and for sure we will never be in
> control.  This doesn't mean that we shouldn't keep trying, but I think it is
> essential that we understand the true status of our creations – they are
> maps, and never to be confused with the territory. Like all maps, some are
> better than others, and as conditions change these maps become more or less
> relevant/accurate.
>
>
>
> We really get in trouble when we decide that there is "One Right Way." This
> effectively limits our options and reduces the living space (open space).
> Pushed to extremes the system will die – which is the end state of all
> systems, regardless. When you run out of space/time you run out of life.
> Fortunately our maps do not create the systems, and our systems are
> infinitely more robust than our designs could ever be. Are they perfect? No.
> They are always on the way to something new. And if they ever get "there"
> that will be the end, I think.
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Harrison Owen
>
> 189 Beaucaire Ave
>
> Camden, ME 04843
>
> 207-763-3261 (Summer)
>
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>
> Website www.openspaceworld.com
>
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>
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>
>
>   ------------------------------
>
> *From:* OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] *On Behalf Of *Peter
> Emerson
> *Sent:* Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:21 AM
>
> *To:* OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> *Subject:* Re: A Common Consensus
>
>
>
> Dear Jack,
>
>
>
> They key, then, is to ask these folks, do they believe in democracy?  Yes?
> Oh jolly good.  And do they believe democracy is for everybody, or just a
> majority?  And if they agree to the former, away you go.
>
>
>
> Mediation works only when the parties to the dispute agree to it.
> Democracy should work for all democrats.  Russians and Georgians claim the
> adjective.  But the idea that a majority can determine the fate of an
> unwilling minority *should* be abhorrent… to both.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
>
>
> Peter
>
>
>
>
>
> Peter Emerson
>
> Director, The de Borda Institute
>
> 36 Ballysillan Road
>
> Belfast BT14 7QQ
>
>
>
> 028 90 711795
>
> 078 377 17979
>
>
>
> pemerson at deborda.org
>
> www.deborda.org
>
>
>
> The Borda count "is the best protection ever devised from the tyranny of
> the majority."  Professor Sir Michael Dummett.
>   ------------------------------
>
> *From:* OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] *On Behalf Of *Jack
> Martin Leith
> *Sent:* 14 August
> *To:* OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> *Subject:* Re: A Common Consensus
>
>
>
> Peter,
>
>
>
> Thanks for taking the trouble to explain the method in so much detail. I've
> turned your post into a Word document and filed it under Decision Making
> Methods for future reference.
>
>
>
> The challenge is getting people's agreement to use the method.
>
>
>
> Catch-22!
>
>
>
> Warm wishes,
>
>
>
> Jack
>
> Jack Martin Leith
> Now-to-New activist
> Bristol, United Kingdom
> Mobile: 07831 840541 (+44 7831 840541)
> Skype: jackmartinleith
> email: jack at jackmartinleith.com
> www.jackmartinleith.com
>
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