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Social Evolution and the Science of Networks. Garry Jacobs WAAS e-seminar on Network Science November 8, 2012. Social Evolution. Society evolves increasing consciousness, Consciousness evolves by increasing organization
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Social Evolution and the Science of Networks Garry Jacobs WAAS e-seminar on Network Science November 8, 2012
Social Evolution • Society evolves increasing consciousness, Consciousness evolves by increasing organization • Social networks are complex, highly interconnected and integrated forms of organization • Social development can best be understood as the growth of a complex, highly integrated web of interactions and relationships between people, places, activities, and ideas • Moore’s law is a subset of a social principle operative since before the invention of agriculture.
Social Networks Govern • Movement and exchange of material things • Interactions between individuals and groups • Interrelationships between activities • Linkages between organizations • Collection and dissemination of information • Accumulation and organization of knowledge • Exchange and development of ideas
Society as multidimensional network • Transportation • Communications • Economic exchange • Banking and finance • Rules, regulations and laws • Governing institutions • Civil society organizations • Education and research • News & entertainment • Public opinion • Information, knowledge and skills
Money • Language, Money and Internet exemplify the view of society as an increasingly complex and integrated network. • Money is a networking tool like language • Before money, human exchange was limited to barter based on double coincidence of need and capacity between buyer and seller • Money multiplies the possibilities, speed and reach of economic transactions exponentially from local to global, from the here and now to the distant future • Like language, money is an organization of social symbols and social power • Money organizes the distribution and application of social power in all aspects of life
Market • The power of money is best understood in combination with another social network – Market • Market is a physical and social organization designed to increase the frequency, volume, reach, speed and efficiency of commercial exchanges • Banking is a network marketing system for money. • Credit cards form a global network seamlessly linking banks, merchants and consumers
Characteristics of Networks • Similarities with other forms of social organizations • Predefined activities and pathways • Standardized procedures • Hierarchy of authority • Systematic functioning • Differences from other types of organization • Decentralized or uncentralized flat structure • Multi-directionality • Authority is delegated to standards • Tend to be open systems like language, money, internet
Integration • The concept of integration is critical to understanding the power of networks • Networks have a tendency to integrate with one another, which is a natural property of all social systems • Every new social organization has a tendency to extend its reach to the boundaries of society geographically and integrate itself with every other social institution. • Integration is the key to unlimited expansion of social productivity and human welfare • The degree of integration of any social system is one measure of its development and scope for further growth
Limits to Money • There is no limit to the number or variety of words and concepts we can create to enhance our knowledge and communications • So too, an application of network principles to the multiplication of money will abolish the limitations imposed by 19th century conventional economic thinking • The basis of money is the unlimited potential of society to enhance the welfare and well-being of its members • There is no limit to the amount of money that can be generated • The spread of wealth is one measure of the efficiency of global society as a network
Implications • The potential for improving the performance of human networks for human welfare is immense • We are still at an early stage in the coordination and integration of human interactions for optimal advantage and advancement • The development of networks such as Wikipedia illustrate the untapped potential for enhancing the productivity of global society • The co-existence of high levels of unemployment with high levels of unmet social needs indicates that we still rely on 19th century models of human interaction
Social Application of Network Principles • Transfer of all types and levels of skills • Global marketplace for self-employment opportunities • Tapping the rich human potential of retirees • Global referendum affirming sovereignty of humanity • Global monetary system • Global cooperative security system