Social Guidelines in Neuro are rooted in Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), which consist of interconnected agents (individuals, groups, or entities) that adapt and evolve in response to their environment and interactions. These principles are essential for ensuring Neuro’s ecosystem thrives while maintaining balance, innovation, and upholding ethical behaviour.
The Three Key Rules for Systemic Alignment
Inspired by Iain Couzin’s research, 1 these simplified rules provide a framework for fostering healthy interactions and systemic harmony within Neuro2:
Rule 1. Be an Individual
Maintain Distance Locally to Nearest Neighbours
Original Rule: Maintain a specific distance from immediate neighbours to ensure local balance and prevent collisions.
In Neuro’s Context:
This rule emphasises the importance of individuality within a collective.
Each member of Neuro is a unique agent with personal aspirations, perspectives, and needs. Respecting personal space, autonomy, and agency ensures that members can pursue their goals without overwhelming others or the system.
This prevents “collisions” such as cognitive overload, echo chambers, or toxic behaviour.
Practical Applications:
Wellbeing Interface
Encourages members to maintain a personalised profile (e.g., NeuroLenses, Aspirations) to balance individual needs and interactions.
Personalised Content Curation
Algorithms maintain diversity and avoid oversaturation by exposing members to varied yet relevant content.
Avoiding Overcrowding
Community groups, discussions, and activities are scaled to manageable sizes (Dunbar Groups 3) to maintain meaningful engagement.
Behavioural Implications:
- Focus on your personal goals while respecting others’ aspirations.
- Respect privacy and opinions, fostering constructive interactions.
- Avoid dominating conversations or demanding undue attention.
Rule 2. Be a Collective
Adjust Direction Locally to Nearest Neighbours
Original Rule: Align movement with the immediate group to maintain cohesion and prevent chaos.
In Neuro’s Context:
This rule underscores the importance of collective adaptability and alignment with shared goals.
By observing and responding to the feedback of those nearby (peers, collaborators, or content), members can contribute to a larger, harmonious ecosystem.
It ensures that while individuals maintain their unique paths, they still align with the broader mission of Neuro.
Practical Applications:
Feedback Loops
Members provide input on platform features, content, and moderation through participatory governance tools like Think Tanks and Assemblies.
Shared Aspirations
Members working within NeuroLens groups or community projects align their objectives with collective wellbeing and regenerative goals.
Dynamic Adjustments
Tools like the Aspirations App enable members to adapt their daily actions based on progress and ecosystem feedback.
Behavioural Implications:
- Collaborate on shared goals while valuing diverse perspectives.
- Respond constructively to feedback and adapt to evolving needs.
- Seek consensus while maintaining harmony in group efforts.
Rule 3. Be a Steward
Avoid Threats and Predation
Original Rule: Avoid predators or threats to protect the individual and the system.
In Neuro’s Context:
This rule highlights the ethical responsibility to safeguard the ecosystem and its members from harm.
It encourages members to identify and avoid toxic behaviours, misinformation, exploitation, and systemic imbalances that can undermine the platform’s integrity.
Practical Applications:
Ethical Frameworks
Moderation policies and platform architecture ensure that harmful behaviours, misinformation, and predatory actions are mitigated.
Dignity and Respect
Inspired by the Dignity Model, members are guided to treat others with fairness, inclusion, and understanding.
Reporting and Moderation
Easy-to-use tools empower members to report violations, fostering a culture of accountability and collective vigilance.
Behavioural Implications:
- Be vigilant about harmful behaviours (e.g., trolling, harassment) and report them responsibly.
- Avoid spreading misinformation or exploiting others for personal gain.
- Act as a steward for the ecosystem’s health by supporting positive and ethical interactions.
How the Three Rules Work Together in Neuro
Be an Individual: Encourages autonomy and self-responsibility, ensuring every member contributes meaningfully without overwhelming others.
Be a Collective: Ensures alignment and adaptability within groups, fostering collaborative progress and collective impact.
Be a Steward: Protects the integrity of the ecosystem by identifying and mitigating threats, ensuring a safe and thriving environment.
Broader Implications of These Rules in Neuro
Self-Organisation: These rules allow the system to adapt naturally without heavy top-down control, enabling flexibility and innovation.
Scalability: The principles scale across Levels of Scale—from individuals (Neural level) to global aspirations (Humanity level).
Resilience: By balancing individual autonomy, collective cohesion, and systemic protection, these rules build a resilient and regenerative ecosystem.
Neuro’s adaptation of these rules ensures a dynamic, ethical, and thriving platform where individuality is celebrated, collaboration is nurtured, and threats are mitigated.
This framework reflects our mission to co-create a knowledge network that functions as a regenerative living system.
References
- ID Couzin, J Krause, Self-Organization and collective behavior in vertebrates. Adv. Stud. Behav. 32, 1–75 (2003). ↩︎
- Oktavia Mulyono, Y.; Sukhbaatar, U.; Cabrera, D. ‘Hard’ and ‘Soft’ Methods in Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS): Agent Based Modeling (ABM) and the Agent Based Approach (ABA). J. Syst. Think. 2023, 3, 1–33. ↩︎
- R.I.M. Dunbar,Neocortex size as a constraint on group size in primates, Journal of Human Evolution, Volume 22, Issue 6, 1992, Pages 469-493 ↩︎
