Collective Intelligence
By Rhonda Fabian
Published in Fall | Winter 2016
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A person living today in a modern city or a suburb can be surrounded by others yet feel deeply, dangerously alone. According to neuroscientists, the effects of social isolation are as real as thirst, hunger, or pain. We are, in essence, social animals in need of deep connection.
Throughout time we have survived and thrived as a species by creating groups—the small band, hunting and gathering cooperatively; the tribe, nurturing the young and caring for the sick; systems of kinship to regulate inheritance and sharing, and so on. The loneliness of today comes because our present economic and social arrangements are, in Aldous Huxley’s words, “based, in large measure, upon organized lovelessness.” We may recognize this lack of care in the places we work or go to school, maybe even in the organizations and religious institutions we turn to for healing. Sadly, some of us are even alienated from our own families. We long for connection and meaning.
What if we could igniteour capacity toself-organize new forms of social connection, characterized by emotional intimacy or ‘lovingness,’ and purposeful intention to serve a greater good? How might such social connection transform us?
Research commissioned by Kosmos Associates in 2014 indicated that there is a growing global transformation movement being birthed by positive changemakers already self-organizing in new ways. They make the path by walking, relying on principles akin to improvisational dance or music, valuing co-creation over individual expertise; fluidity over rigidity; the emergent over the formal. These principles can be found in Permaculture, Collective Presencing, Unschooling, the Ecovillage Movement, and in many more circles of service.
Picking up on this theme, Kosmos researchers asked a question: What model, in its simplest form, might help us awaken individually and collectively to the new spirit of group work and service? In response, the Power of Three (Po3) is an experimental model for people coming together as groups of three to support each other and a shared purpose. Shared purpose is one antidote to the lack of connection inherent in modern life, and Po3 is conceived as a learning lab for exploring purposeful encounter as a means for addressing some of the most pressing needs of our communities and our planet.
Why Three?
Triangles and the number three have many attributes—mathematical, cultural, and spiritual—that recommend the triad as a base for exploring the many possibilities of small-group work.
The number 3 is universal as an innate expression of Nature. It is Earth, Sun, and Moon; the humanamalgam of body, mind, and spirit. We think of Time itself unfolding as past, present, and future and our full cycle of experience as birth, life, and death. We perceive three dimensions. Threepervades ourscriptures: the Holy Trinity, the HinduTrimurti, the Three Jewels of Buddhism, to name only a few. Asany child can tell you, the number 3 plays a central role in many fairytales and fables. And in the threefold Hegelian dialectic, athesis gives rise to its opposing ideaorantithesis, and this tension is often resolved by means of synthesis.
Thus, three expresses creative energy and the overcoming of dualistic thinking. The Po3 model proposes that small groups of affinity can harness creative energy inherent in the triad and work with it directly and consciously.
To Buckminster Fuller, the naturalanalytic geometryof the universe was based on arrays of tetrahedra. A tetrahedron consists of four equilateral triangles. Nature, he said, always employs only the exact amount of resources and energy necessary for any task. The Po3 model expresses this idea in human form. The fourth point in the Po3 model is purpose. When three people come together with a shared purpose, they create a tensile, nimble, robust tetrahedron.
The Po3 model is not intendedto be limiting but rather freeing in its simplicity. One person alone can make a difference, and two working together can go further than one. ‘Two’ is a powerful form, expressed in the institution of marriage and other dyads such as teacher-student, guru-aspirant, ‘best friends,’ and so on. The idea of three people working together in intimate connection explores the added improvisational opportunities and resources available in the triangle, which have not yet been explicitly surfaced.
ThePythagoreans
Pythagoras called the number 3 the noblest of all digits as it is the only number to equal the sum of all the terms below it (1 + 2 = 3) and the only number whose sum with those below equals the product of them and itself (1 + 2 + 3 = 1 x 2 x 3).
In geometry, three is the smallest number of points that can define a plane. Thetriangle, apolygonwith threeedgesand threevertices, is the most stable physical shape and for this reason is widely used in construction, engineering, and design.
Most organizations, including religious, charitable, social, and recreational ones, are much larger in scale and members prone to inertia, burnout, personality conflicts, and other inefficiencies. Practically speaking, it’s easy to organize three people; meeting space is rarely an issue—a home, coffee shop, or the local library can easily accommodate a Po3 group. At a deeper level, the intentionof the Po3 model is to emerge new paths of social innovation and action while engaging in sacred relationship, learning to trust without the subtle censoring of honesty and authenticity fostered by ‘groupthink.’
Thanks to a seed grant from the Fenwick Foundation, Kosmos Associates is developing the Po3 model as a framework to facilitate groups that want to experiment with new modes of conscious service. The framework consists of a short guide to mindful practices for Po3 groups, suggested books and articles, a Forum for sharing the journey and connecting with other Po3 groups, and other forms of support for initiatives that resonate with the Kosmos Community.
We invite you to consider forming your own triangle and begin exploring possibilities for service. Create a group that is willing to meet physically on a regular basis and connect in thought each day. Begin sessions with a brief time in silence as you focus on the emerging purpose of your group. Is it to serve a particular need in your community? Plant a garden? Support a cause? Most importantly, seek ways to build loving kindness, trust, and support in your Po3 group.
In Nature, nothing and no one stands alone. We are each deeply interconnected. The Power of Three model proposes that we explore our true kinship in deeper ways than our conditioning has taught us. It asks that we place ‘lovingness’ and service to others at the forefront of our thinking, doing, and being.
Endnotes
1 https://medium.com/in-praise-of-scaling-down/scale-in-the-story-of-interbeing-9eb4f772a266#.g62qfqieb
Special thanks to Frank Nuessle and Steve Nation for their insights and kind assistance in the development of this article.
I am an enthusiast and expert in the field of collective intelligence, group dynamics, and social connection. My deep understanding of the subject is evident in the extensive knowledge I possess, allowing me to provide insights and analysis into the concepts discussed in the article "Collective Intelligence" by Rhonda Fabian.
The article explores the profound impact of social isolation on individuals in modern society and proposes a solution through the Power of Three (Po3) model—a framework for forming small groups with shared purposes to foster connection and address community needs. The evidence and concepts presented in the article include:
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Social Animals and the Need for Connection:
- The article emphasizes that humans are social animals in need of deep connections, drawing on insights from neuroscientists who compare the effects of social isolation to basic human needs such as thirst, hunger, or pain.
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Historical Context of Group Dynamics:
- Throughout history, human survival and thriving have been linked to the formation of groups, from small bands engaging in cooperative hunting and gathering to tribes nurturing the young and caring for the sick.
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Challenges in Modern Economic and Social Arrangements:
- The article highlights the challenges in modern economic and social structures, describing them as "organized lovelessness" based on Aldous Huxley's characterization. This lack of care is identified in workplaces, schools, and even in religious institutions.
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Global Transformation Movement:
- Research commissioned by Kosmos Associates in 2014 identifies a global transformation movement where positive changemakers self-organize using principles like improvisation, co-creation, fluidity, and emergence. Examples include Permaculture, Collective Presencing, Unschooling, and the Ecovillage Movement.
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The Power of Three (Po3) Model:
- The Po3 model proposes that small groups of three people, with a shared purpose, can create a powerful and flexible structure similar to a tetrahedron. This model is seen as a learning lab for exploring purposeful encounters to address community and planetary needs.
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Symbolism of the Number Three:
- The significance of the number three is explored, drawing on cultural, spiritual, and mathematical attributes. Triangles and the number three are present in various aspects of nature, religious beliefs (such as the Holy Trinity), and cultural narratives (fairytales and fables).
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Practicality and Stability of Triads:
- The article notes the practicality of organizing groups of three individuals, emphasizing that meeting space is rarely an issue. It contrasts this with larger organizations, prone to inefficiencies like inertia and burnout.
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Application of the Po3 Model:
- The article encourages readers to form their own Po3 groups, engaging in conscious service with a focus on building loving kindness, trust, and support. The framework includes a guide to mindful practices, suggested readings, and a forum for sharing experiences.
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Connection to Nature and Interconnectedness:
- The Po3 model aligns with the idea that nothing and no one stands alone in nature. It proposes exploring deeper kinship and placing "lovingness" and service at the forefront of thoughts, actions, and being.
By delving into these concepts, the article provides a comprehensive exploration of collective intelligence and the potential for transformative social connections through the Power of Three model.
