What do you think about the idea that the human capacity for "Hive Mind" ? Is it possible that by organising effectively we could solve incredibly complex problems?
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.The use of Big Data for more informed decisions is almost approaching that concept. A good overview of the idea is Seth Stephens-Davidowitz' Everybody Lies. A good introduction how big data can provide insights and it limits in doing so.
I must admit some bias here as I do believe in evidence based decisions, so am very interested in any and all progress that gets us to use evidence and data in our decisions. Or at least in our discussions what our decisions should be.
RPardoe
Level 7
June 16, 2018
0
@SueZ You will enjoy the book then. I don't have my copy handy as I keep loaning it out to be read. But IIRC - there was one section about a person who was good at predicting horse races by incorporating larger, different data sets into the consideration. Things like heart size (Secretariat had a very large heart for example) and other factors that aren't usually considered.
I also remember early explorations into Delphic polling. The idea is that no one person can predict the future, but as a "hive mind" the aggregate thoughts can be pretty accurate. This was in Omni magazine way back in the 70s. Big Data is similar in that it doesn't predict individual behaviour, but aggregate behaviour and trends.
It can be negative or positive.
Piece2YourPuzzle
Level 8
June 16, 2018
0
@SueZ On the negative side, there might be a lack of opinion and diversification of ideas. Too much agreement can hinder progress. People's ideas can compliment each other. One person might come up with a good idea and another person might add to it or see something that the other didn't and correct something too. On the positive side, it could eliminate arguments or conflict. I tend to lean towards thinking it could be more of a negative than a positive. It wouldn't be a complete hive mind though would it? Would someone else be able to control it and/or manipulate it? If someone did control or manipulate it, would it be harmful to others? Wouldn't those being harmed agree with it in a sense? It almost is comparable to lemmings going off the cliff.
100% Albert Einstein spoke on this theory stating that, "When a group of Scientist were working on a project it would appear that a Spirit would manifest within the Consciousness of the group and remain until the completion of the Scientific project."
dae·mon1
ˈdēmən/Submit
noun
- (in ancient Greek belief) a divinity or supernatural being of a nature between gods and humans.
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archaic spelling of demon1.
The French call it an Esprit de Corps
The Germans call it Zeitgeist
Psychologically it is a manifestation of Spirit or Consciousness that evolves around the collective who are focused on a centralized concept.
Atheletes know this all too well. Team, Collective Goal, Distributed Out come, ect. ect.
Etre
Level 7
June 16, 2018
0
Isn't that what many cultures were / are? The Aztec, the Egyptians, the Inca. Anywhere there is ancient monumental architecture.
The people responsible for the actual construction of the pyramids were not slaves as previously thought. They were actually free people's who built them. Plenty of archaeological evidrnce to support.
Also by extension, was the Nazi regime a form of hive behavior. For heneious and evil intent, but the movement and the associated war machine could be construed as a firm of hive behavior. What do you think?
t1nick
Level 8
June 16, 2018
0
Well the idea has been explored in science fiction (notably Logopolis), and there is some evidence that in ancient China large groups of trained Mathematicians worked with abacus to form basically organic thinking engines, for complex economic problems.
LenHazell53
Level 9
June 16, 2018
1
No
Gatovicolo
Level 8
June 16, 2018
0
@SueZ
Sure, we are wirhout the ability to think in unison. While there there is a possibility of telepathy, it’s not common enough to allow for integrated thought or an intranet of minds. Without that one direct means of communication, a hive mind is, in my opinion, impossible. Computers could do that through an intranet, but we’re not computers.
@SueZ I think people are far too individualistic for that. The kind of coordination you’re talking about is akin to military discipline. Most people can’t handle that.
While there's no such thing as a "hive mind" in some science fiction sense, there can be different boundaries and assumptions that allow a society to flow in an orderly fashion and to subsume some personal aspirations and goals into the larger society in certain contexts.
"Hive mind" is an arguably stereotypical label that non-Asians sometimes apply to Asians based on their observation of Asian societies. I don't think it's entirely stereotypical or based on a misunderstanding. I visited Vietnam a few years back and visiting their museums and historical sites, I got the distinct impression of a friendly and peaceful people who nevertheless unhesitatingly march to their deaths in droves in the process of defending their homeland when attacked. It seems clear to me from that and the way our military was taken aback by the differentness in how they process duty, the tenacity in sacrificing self to the collective, that there's something to this.
It also finds expression in their "traffic control optional" handling of city traffic. Most often there are no stop lights or signs, traffic just flows and pedestrians walk right out into it. The only unwritten rule is, no sudden fits or starts or stops, just move steadily so people can gauge where you're going to be when they reach your position, so that they can flow around you. This, to me, is highly symbolic, reflecting a completely different social contract and sense of personal space and personal responsibility (and explaining a lot about why Asian students "jaywalk" all the time in my college town).
mordant
Level 8
June 16, 2018
1
or we could use this hive mind to collectively elect the most embarrassing president of a democratic union that the world has ever known It's just a suggestion i hope it never happens but there is no telling what could result when hive minds are engaged
Science-guy
Level 8
June 16, 2018
2
Good point. We know that crowds can function as an organism and can be manipulated by charismatic individuals
@SueZ it is not the political system that creates a hive mind, it is the recent MAGA political ralliying that does. racism is surging worldwide (arguably) as a result of Trump and his poison rhetoric. Trump thrives on adoration and knows how to engage the hive.
@Science-guy all very true and in my opinion the reason we should be putting a lot more effort into this field. The question for me is not so much how can we creare a hive mind? But how can we work with the various hive minds that already exist in our society. The rise of extreme individualism is relatively new in western society and is as an idea right up there with the easterbunny.
In my opinion, no. We just aren't built that way.
AndrewInVail
Level 6
June 16, 2018
2
@SueZ For simplistic basic physical survival, yes we can definitely collaborate like social animals. Once that kind of teamwork is no longer necessary to an individual's survival the innate and learned differences between individuals begin to manifest themselves in our separate needs, wants, and desires. Add to this no two individuals are equal in their ability, and the unity needed for a hive mind begins to come off of the rails. When you see that your a fellow human "isn't carrying their weight" or conversely when someone else thinks that about you, inevitable conflicts will result. History bears this out a time or two. TL;DR: We are very imperfect beings. Unity is difficult.
“Organizing effectively” is impossible with humans!
goldrose
Level 7
June 16, 2018
3
What if they are assimilated? 7 of 9 for example.
Mob mentality is usually as good as it gets. Someone gets scapegoated, punished, the crowd cheers and disperses. The next day nobody admits to being there.
@Science-guy I select jury’s... one idiot may be able to persuade 2 people but there is someone that always sees the logic. Others will see the same logic with different conclusions. It’s always a crap shoot!
I want to rewrite my ideal job title as "cat herder" after reading that.
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