Most systems are complex and unique, but three main characteristics seem to be present in all that work very well: resilience, self-organization, and hierarchy. Resilience measures the ability of a system to bounce back after being altered in some way. Self Organization describes the ability of a system to make itself more complex. Lastly, hierarchy explains the arrangement of systems and subsystems within a larger complex system.
Lets take myself as an example of, in my opinion, a well-functioning system. I was created using basic self-organizing principles and rules in the chemistry of DNA, RNA, and protein molecules. On a higher level, self-organization can be see in myself when I am learning and applying new sustainability practices in school. Next, resilience can be seen in the way I take care of my body. On a basic level my body has been learning to fight off disease since I was born, and with the help of vaccines is fairly resilient to most. On a higher level I have learned over time that my body functions better and is more resilient when I eat correctly, exercise, get enough sleep, and practice mindfulness/gratitude. Lastly, on a basic level hierarchy can be seen through the different organs in my body working to help my entire being function. On a higher level, hierarchy can be seen in the ways I organize learning different skills in order to achieve large goals.
While we understand that these three things help a system function smoothly, systems still surprise us. This is due to the following reasons: 1. Everything we know about the world is a model 2. Our self-made models usually have a strong congruence with the world 3. Our models fall short of representing the world fully because our knowledge is amazing, but our ignorance is so much more incredible. Of the examples described showing how and why we are still surprised by systems I found bounded rationality most interesting. This section depicted how we live in an exaggerated reality, focusing too much on the here and now as opposed to empirical data or experiences. People acting rationally in the short term for their best-interest are actually producing overall poor aggregate results. For example, if I take a nice long shower in the morning because its in my best self-interest, I'll be squeaky clean and happy. On the other hand, when everyone else in my home does this, there is not enough water for others to serve their own self-interests such as also taking a shower, or washing clothes.
Lastly, many things about systems that surprise us cannot, and should not, be eliminated. For example, delays, boundaries, and nonlinear characteristics are things we as people cannot control. On the other hand, some systems contain archetypes that create some problematic behaviors. These, we can and should do something about. Of the traps and opportunities that were described in this section, I found seeking the wrong goal to be the most fascinating. Coming from an economics background, global national product (GNP) is something I know well. As a goal, countries aim to increase their GNP, and when they do associate it with an increase of human welfare. GNP though, as the reading beautifully describes, does not account for how well a country does to implement environmentally friendly practices, the levels of happiness among it citizens, or even the quality of products streaming through our economy.
Question for the week: What is something you partook in today that served your immediate self-interests, but when considering the bigger picture will produce poor aggregate results for the community? Conversely, what is one thing you've done today that not only served your own immediate self-interests, but will also contribute to beneficial results for the community as a whole?
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