Marti - I think that is just the beginning of "responsibility." In the first moments it is, as you, say - name your passion and show up. But over time the stakes increase if the passion is sustained. Ultimate passions require ultimate responsibility. I am not sure that is a matter of philosophy. For me it is much more a matter of observation. Over the years, that is just the way it has appeared to me. And it is a far cry from the rather limpid laissez faire. I guess I just do not find the comparisons to various political ideologies all that helpful, and for sure in my own experience, OST never grew out of any political ideology. It just happened, and to a large extent, its occurrence was an embarrassment. No right thinking person, schooled in the ways things are supposed to be, would ever believe it. And most don't. Which is at once both a problem and an opportunity. I think.
Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute <http://www.openspaceworld.org/> www.openspaceworld.org Personal website <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: <http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html> www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Martin Boroson Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 9:43 AM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: just wondering I am wondering . The philosophy of Open Space seems to promote a genuinely free market for ideas. The underlying belief, as I understand it, is that allowing each person to follow his/her passion is the best way to discover the best ideas and solutions. It's efficient, just like a market. This sure sounds like the 'invisible hand' and laissez-faire capitalism to me. I have even sold Open Space to some corporate execs by pointing out that since they value the free market so dearly outside their company, they might want to try a free market for ideas inside their company. So I have often wondered if people on this list believe as passionately in the free market for the economy as they do in Open Space. In the current economic crisis, as the world clamors for greater regulation - i.e. more rules and limits on the freedom of markets - I am wondering if any of you have any thoughts or insights to share. I imagine Harrison will remind me that Open Space runs on freedom and responsibility. yet the responsibility asked of participants in Open Space is pretty minimal - naming their passion and showing up for their sessions and respecting others' freedom to do the same. It's well short of socialism. Marty Priory End House 2 North Street, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5NZ United Kingdom +44 784 344 5746 (mobile) www.martinboroson.info * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
