Society is the stories we tell ourselves about each other.
This newsletter explores the relationships between the people, processes and paradigms that create and maintain the idea of a society—this specific society we're in—in cities and in the blue suburbs of the internet in America in 2020 during a global pandemic.
Systems thinker Donella Meadows laid out the following set of points we could use to change a system:
PLACES TO INTERVENE IN A SYSTEM
(in increasing order of effectiveness)
9. Constants, parameters, numbers (subsidies, taxes, standards).
8. Regulating negative feedback loops.
7. Driving positive feedback loops.
6. Material flows and nodes of material intersection.
5. Information flows.
4. The rules of the system (incentives, punishments, constraints).
3. The distribution of power over the rules of the system.
2. The goals of the system.
1. The mindset or paradigm out of which the system — its goals, power structure, rules, its culture — arises.
In DANA we’re talking about No. 1 - the mindset or paradigm out of which the system arises.
[Donella ‘Dana’ Meadows died abruptly in 2001 at age 59 and this newsletter is named after her. Dāna is also the Sanskrit term for the Buddhist quality of generosity.]
In this newsletter I attempt to sketch out the leverage points in society’s biggest, gnarliest paradigms, find their soft underbellies and explore what might entice them to move one way or another.
Every two weeks we discuss one idea—its roots, its relationships to system goals, people, and other structures, and curate a handful of resources relevant to understanding the idea further.
I will draw somewhat on my undergraduate studies in political science and postgraduate studies in economics, my experience building technology in Silicon Valley and my (extremely brief) experience in Hollywood, but we all know that isn’t really going to convince you.
Good. Good ideas and good writing should.
A lot of what I am aiming to do is synthesise the ideas and research of many other, earlier thinkers and artists, in a way that is both intellectually honest and condensed enough that this newsletter becomes worth your time. And mine.
I want to do the opposite of spam you. I would prefer you never sign up than that you regret signing up once you have.
So please, take your time and read the back catalogues before you decide to gift me with access to your precious inbox. DANA and I are patient.
