The Evolutionary Role of Dialogue and Deliberation

What is the role D&D people play in society’s evolution? How can we call forth our potential for helping society evolve to be more conscious, effective, and wise? Tom Atlee and Peggy Holman asked these questions during their popular workshop at NCDD’s 2006 conference in San Francisco. Download their handouts – a 7-page paper by Tom, a 10-page chapter from The Change Handbook by Peggy, and a 3-page document featuring three diagrams….

Here is the full description of Tom and Peggy’s workshop:
What is the role D&D people play in society’s evolution? How can we call forth our potential for helping society evolve to be more conscious, effective, and wise? For 13 billion years evolution, has been driven by the interaction of diverse entities — physical, biological, and social.  A few hundred thousand years ago, language emerged and began evolving, and conversation began to arise out of and powerfully feed the evolution of human society. We D&D folks are the beneficiaries of thousands of years of learning how to do conversations well. We have know-how that can reduce human dependence on force, guile and chance. During the session we shall consider what it means to be evolutionary agents as we strive to address the crises around us. A bigger evolutionary Story is unfolding, in which D&D has a profound role to play. Join us for an experiential exercise, presentation, and dialogue.

Here is the introductory paragraph from the 7-page PDF document written by Tom Atlee entitled “The Role of Conversation in Evolution“…
Evolution and conversation are close cousins. Both are “process” — and they embody each other. Evolution is the ongoing process of change. If we want to consciously and intentionally change our social systems, we need to talk together about it. The more inclusive, wise and productive our conversations are, the more powerful and positive the changes will be. It is no accident that the conversational dimension of our work is usually called “process.” Conversation is our way of being in process and evolving together. Given the many crises that are emerging today, high quality conversation is an essential evolutionary force.

A 10-page PDF of Part 3 Ch 66 of The Change Handbook (2006, Berrett-Koehler Publishers) entitled “From Chaos to Coherence: The Emergence of Inspired Organizations and Enlightened Communities” was also made available to participants. This chapter outlines Peggy Holman’s thoughts on the future.

Also download the 3-page PDF document featuring these three diagrams:

• A Sweet Spot: in the Evolution of Consciousness and Social Systems
• Search for Fitness: Evolution and Collective Intelligence in Human Systems
• Conscious Emergence In Social Systems