Swarm Ethics: Redefining Right and Wrong for the 21st Century
Revolutionizing Ethics for the Digital Age
Lately, our world has been pretty wild, hasn’t it?
It’s like we’re all in this big, messy science-fiction movie that keeps throwing nasty surprises our way. Isn’t it time for a new story, a new plot? We need a narrative not just tailored for a select few but one that’s truly fair for everyone.
Some might say it’s an unattainable dream, but is it? If we look closely, nature itself suggests a different story.
Have you ever noticed how birds in the sky move like one big cloud? They twist and turn, all without bumping into each other. It’s like they have a secret signal, showing us how to move as one. Ants, too, marching in lines, each carrying food, they’re like a never-ending assembly line of teamwork. In floods, they link to form a raft.
Nature is wise; it’s showing us the way to smoother paths if we just watch and learn, especially through the power of Collective Intelligence.
Contrary to popular belief, induced by outdated thinking, we ‘rational’ humans are also just a part of nature. Our distinction from other animals is more about degree than kind. To step out of the shadows of this dystopian ‘life-movie’, we must harness our collective human intelligence. True progress is like a symphony, composed by the collaboration of diverse minds, pooling knowledge, insights, and skills to create a melody that resonates with all of us.
Building on the idea that life’s complexities can be navigated through our combined efforts, we also might consider refreshing our views on what’s considered right or wrong? Traditionally, we’ve tried to set these rules in stone, almost like math problems with strict right answers. Instead of one-size-fits-all solutions, we could look at the wisdom in our diverse experiences, stories, and traditions to figure out the best way forward.
It’s about listening and adapting, not just deciding and enforcing. This way, we can create rules that are not just fair in theory but feel right in the complex patchworks of our lives. This is where the concept of Swarm Ethics comes in.
What is Swarm Ethics?
Swarm Ethics suggests a dynamic approach to ethical concepts, evolving through collective human experiences and dialogues, much like how a flock of birds adjusts its formation to the winds. It offers a fresh perspective for our digital, AI-driven society. It upgrades static moral codes and augments them with a vibrant, adaptable system that mirrors the rhythm of our digital interconnections.
SWARM ETHICS™ is the first ethical framework to address the challenges of the “BANI” (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible) world we live in today.
Why do we need Swarm Ethics?
Historically, ethical ground truths were shaped by single thinkers — acting as hubs in the system. Think about ancient philosophers, religious institutions, enlightenment thinkers… This process was slow; only a few people made big decisions, and sharing information took ages. But now, in the digital age, things have changed dramatically. We have larger, more diverse groups, super-fast information spread, and a mix of different values and principles like never before. Globalisation, travel, international business, and the internet have all contributed to this.
So, Swarm Ethics looks at how our society’s sense of right and wrong can keep up with the rapid spread of information and changes in our digital world. It helps our social understanding and behaviors move forward just as quickly as our technology does.
It’s ethics in motion, shaped by the living context of our interconnected lives.
How does it work?
Imagine we’re all part of a vast, intricate web, where each thread represents our lives, thoughts, and actions. This is the essence of Swarm Ethics, a concept that views the world through the lens of systems thinking. Everything is interconnected, and even the tiniest actions can send waves across the entire network, influencing lives in ways we might never fully grasp.
Think of yourself as a unique puzzle piece, shaped and coloured by your personal journey — the books that opened new worlds to you, the TV shows that made you laugh and cry, and the myriad of people you’ve met, both in the real and digital realms. These experiences don’t just shape you; they ripple outwards, influencing others. As we travel through life, our mental ‘toolbox’ grows richer. It’s like we’re gathering tools — not hammers and wrenches, but ideas and principles that help us navigate the murky waters of right and wrong, fair and unfair.
Our toolbox includes Basic Guidelines (First Principles), How-To Instructions (Principles of Action), and Reaction Guides (Principles of Reaction).
Swarm Ethics shows us that our sense of right and wrong grows from how we all interact. It’s not just about individual beliefs, but about how we collectively think and act. With technology everywhere, this happens even faster. Our chats, stories, and moments of kindness mix together, reshaping our perception of ethics. It’s a continuous cycle, where our actions influence others, and theirs influence us.
Consider online groups — they create their own rules about what’s nice or mean, fair or unfair. These groups are microcosms of Swarm Ethics, showing how our interconnected lives online change our ideas of being good, fair, and truly human.
In the world of Swarm Ethics, we’re not just observers; we’re active participants, adding our ideas and experiences to this ongoing change. It’s a path of constant learning and evolution, and along this path, we discover the beauty of growing together as a community.
In a lively swarm, people often see patterns in how everyone thinks and acts. These patterns aren’t identical but spread out in different ways. By observing these patterns and understanding what most people think or do, someone can identify the average or most common ideas in the group (shown as yellow in the figure below). Then, these common ideas might become the representative of the whole group. This “representative” could be the most talked about, the most marketed, or something else.
Think of Swarm Ethics like a group chat that never stops — it’s always changing, thanks to what everyone adds to the conversation. The big ideas here?
First, we’ve got ‘Ethics as a Team Sport’ — where what we do and chat about shapes our sense of right and wrong.
Then, there’s ‘Everyone Gets to Chime In’ — making sure no one’s left out.
And lastly, ‘Tackling the Tough Stuff’ — staying open and flexible to sort out the knotty problems in our crazy world.
Swarm Ethics in practice
Here’s the cool part: Swarm Ethics is all about getting everyone on board — in team projects or even in AI systems. It’s like putting our heads together to dream up smarter, more suitable ways of doing things. Plus, it’s a game-changer for how we get along with AI — kind of like teaching them to play nice with us.
Imagine a smart city where AI systems adjust traffic or energy use based on what people need or want. The rules for these AI systems evolve from constant feedback from people, making them more responsive and tailored to real-life needs.
The Minds Behind Swarm Ethics
So who are the people behind this whole Swarm Ethics thing? There’s Katja Rausch, the founder at the House of Ethics; Ingrid Vasilu-Feltes, calling the shots at The Science, Entrepreneurship, and Investments Institute; and Daniele Proverbio, the whiz scientist, consultant, and co-author of the Swarm Ethics concept. To learn more about Swarm Ethics, check out their website or YouTube channel.
Wrapping up
As we close this exploration of Swarm Ethics, let’s embrace the excitement and hope it brings. Picture us all weaving the fabric of our future, where every voice and action shapes a fairer, more understanding world. This isn’t just about watching change; it’s about being part of it. So, let’s step up and be the change — because our shared story of ethics in this digital age starts with each one of us.
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with the Swarm Ethics organisation. The concept caught my interest when I stumbled upon it a while back, and I was so intrigued that I chose to write a brief article about it. All concepts explained are based on research of Swarm Ethics™ and the first Op-Ed article by Daniele Proverbio.