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If we are to promote a philosophy and vision of community, and be successful in actually building community, we must organize the basic principles of the philosophy that guide our activities, in a way that we can and should promote to the participants in our projects.
By posing a tentative initial set of these principles, we can create and refine this philosophic vision as a process of community collaboration. Thus, this following set of principles and guidelines is posed as a "first hypothesis", to be refined and corrected and expanded, through a process of community dialogue that seeks an informed and wise consensus.
- Everyone who wishes to be is included in our community; there are no a priori conditions for involvement or participation
- There is no a priori ideology on issues; every social and professional class of people is included, regardless of background or ideology
- Humanity is highly diverse, in innumerable ways
- We embrace diversity, and see in it a source of strength and vitality
- We respect the differences between human beings; the strength and vitality of community does not depend on uniformity or widespread agreement on highly specific issues.
- We can strongly disagree on specific issues without wounding or fracturing community or our interpersonal relationships
- Dialogue takes place among equals; there is no implicit apriori authority
- Everyone is a student as well as a teacher ("If the messenger be an ant, heed him.")
- Begin dialogue with another person by trying to agree; look for a favorable interpretation
- Recognize that truth has many aspects, and no one has all the aspects; be open and receptive to new insights from new perspectives
- There are at least two sides to every controversial issue; don't judge a question until you have heard all sides
- The rhetoric of dialogue is subject to misinterpretation; strive to grasp the true intent of the speaker
- "Know that you do not know." Be open and receptive and humble.
- Combine the specialized expertise of individuals ("Many hands make work light")
- No one of us knows everything, but many of us together know a great deal
- We all have different roles to play within the context of a larger whole
- "Vision of the Network" -- the insights and views of many people come together to form a brilliant and many-aspected perspective on all issues
- Be as trusting and open as possible to your fellow human beings
- Begin a new personal relationship by being friendly and receptive and accepting, and do not judge someone because of their class or background or ideology
- This is a big world, of tremendous diversity, but there are many aspects of reality which we share
- We can identify those common factors, and build interpersonal and inter-community relationships based on them
- We must identify and honor both similarities and differences between one individual and another, and between one cultural group and another
- "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (Golden Rule)
- We seek to maximize individual freedom, and do what we can to empower the freedom of the individual, without compromise to the context of the larger unity
- Individuals are free to define themselves to us and to the world in any terms they choose; we do not create categories and classes and place them within them
- Decisions affecting the group should be made by the group
- Majority opinion should be respected, but must be constrained by principle
- Collaborative methods can be formalized to develop optimal designs
- Wherever possible, ideas and hypotheses should be carefully tested, according to well-defined and explicit principles
- New ideas should be subjected to "peer review"
- Scientific methods should be applied in any context where applicable
- "Judge not lest ye be judged"
- Strive to overcome the "us against them" mentality: minimize blame
- "Let the past be prologue"
- Insofar as possible, each person must take responsibility for their own welfare and well-being
- Each person is responsible for their own behavior, and should not blame or assign this responsibility to others
- In this context, remember that "we are our brother's keeper" -- and that "all men are brothers" ("all people are brothers and sisters")
- Read and listen accurately, to what people actually say
- Do not project interpretations of their meaning based on ungrounded assumptions
- This is especially true in the context of electronic networks, where body language and other communication clues may be absent
- "Give me the strength to change what I can, to leave alone what I cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference"
- Strive to be good. It is not always easy to do, but it is noble and honorable, and connects the individual human being to the core power of the universe
- Be as loving and gentle and kind as possible
- Support your fellow human beings in every way you can