I like that: better theology, too. Jim Metcalf
-----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu]On Behalf Of Harrison Owen Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 1:45 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: Self-Organization At 07:27 PM 11/17/01 -0500, Jim Metcalf wrote: So, I m proposing that we have a continuum. On one end is the nearly pure democratically self-organized system. On the other end of the continuum is the tyrannically organized system, which must always contend with the natural inclination of people to self-organize in order to meet their own needs. One thing that seems to make Open Space work is that it goes with the flow. It takes advantage of people s natural inclination to self-organize, to have input into their own destiny, to be free. I believe the other thing that makes Open Space work is its reliance on Word to create the self-organizing system. The words that are shared in Open Space create order out of the initial chaos. The words that are shared in Open Space also prevent the continuing chaos of people acting individually without words, without communication, without coordination, without care for another s ideas. Good thought! But I might suggest a different phrasing. In the beginning there were self-organizing systems to which there has been a continuum of response -- ranging from tyrannical to democratic. Self-organization is intrinsically neither, and is prior to both. However, it seems to function much better at the democratic end of things if only because it is then free to be itself. How about that? ho Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, MD 20854 USA phone 301-469-9269 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org <http://www.openspaceworld.org/> Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh <http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh> osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
