Alternative to hierarchy, purpose and belief as a way of thinking

What is it about?

Certain ideas get embedded in our everyday thinking and talking to an extent we are not even aware. Yet, they drive and limit what we do and the actions we consider, some of which are perpetuating a world of violence and oppression. Three such ideas in Western culture are hierarchy, purpose and belief, especially reward-oriented hierarchy, goal-oriented purpose and universal/absolute truth-oriented belief. Ideas in cybernetics provide an alternative way of thinking about organizing, motivating and living. Recursive processes and dialectical thinking represent an alternative to hierarchy as a way of thinking about organizing; a consciousness of presence (where desires are treated as constraints in the here and now) represents an alternative to a consciousness of purpose (where desires are treated as future goals to be achieved) as a way of thinking about human motivation/accomplishment; and, passions provide an alternative to beliefs as a way of thinking about what anchors us in our day-to-day living--i.e., temporary acceptance of those explanations we need to do what we need and want to do is sufficient, without having to "believe" them.

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Why is it important?

Cybernetics offers a way of thinking about ways of thinking, rendering the way of thinking a choice. With awareness of our ways of thinking and their limitations, we can begin to imagine an alternative world, one without violence, or at least where violence is a last resort, and one where the uniqueness of every individual is treated as a potential contribution to the society of which each is a part.

Perspectives