The Schumacher Institute
The Schumacher Institute
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A project to explore systemic discrimination and institutionalised perversities. The output would be a paper and an article for presentation through our network. The Schumacher Institute is a fellowship of people working on various social, environmental and cultural issues using systems thinking methodologies.
Downward causation:
How the whole affects the parts – what emerges from the complexity is imposed on the parts, developing a reinforcing loop.
When systems go wrong, they can produce systemic inequalities, systemic conspiracies, institutionalised racism, misogyny etc. These characteristics emerge from the system but are not inherent in the parts (people) but a downward causation can result in people exhibiting discriminatory behaviours.
This is not about abrupt failures or even drift into failure this is about how systems can endure but exhibit perverse, undesirable effects.
What are the system archetypes that lead to systemic coercion and downward causation?
If bad characteristics emerge from systems, what are some equivalent ‘good’ ones? Systemic resilience, compassion, success, equality – what mechanisms would encourage positive downward causation?
This is an ongoing opportunity with no set application deadline.
Supporting Documents:
Sector:
Industry:
Mode:
Work Format:
Location:
Contact:
A project to explore systemic discrimination and institutionalised perversities. The output would be a paper and an article for presentation through our network. The Schumacher Institute is a fellowship of people working on various social, environmental and cultural issues using systems thinking methodologies.
Downward causation:
How the whole affects the parts – what emerges from the complexity is imposed on the parts, developing a reinforcing loop.
When systems go wrong, they can produce systemic inequalities, systemic conspiracies, institutionalised racism, misogyny etc. These characteristics emerge from the system but are not inherent in the parts (people) but a downward causation can result in people exhibiting discriminatory behaviours.
This is not about abrupt failures or even drift into failure this is about how systems can endure but exhibit perverse, undesirable effects.
What are the system archetypes that lead to systemic coercion and downward causation?
If bad characteristics emerge from systems, what are some equivalent ‘good’ ones? Systemic resilience, compassion, success, equality – what mechanisms would encourage positive downward causation?
This is an ongoing opportunity with no set application deadline.
Supporting Documents:

