Human-Made Systems
The Shift Within: How We End Oppression and Divisiveness to Create Liberation and Indivisibility for All
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Human-Made Systems
Like natural systems, human-made systems are interconnected, interdependent, and always evolving. However, our dominant human-made systems have not been designed with these systemic connections in mind and that has led to the pressing social and environmental challenges that we face today. There are two types of human-made systems; social systems and industrial systems. Social systems and industrial systems are a part of each other and they play a role in the survival of one another.
Social systems are created by humans as a means of communicating with one another and supporting each other’s existence. Elements like language, writing, government, hospitals, and marriage are examples of social systems. Industrial systems are manufactured material-based systems that provide the infrastructure for our social systems. Elements like homes, roads, vehicles, boats, clothing, and buildings are examples of industrial systems.
A concentric circles diagram of the evolution, interconnectedness, and interdependence of human-made systems.
The human species would not have evolved or survived if it weren’t for the creation of social systems like language, writing, and the ability to organize themselves in tribes where each person played a role in the survival and growth of one another. Conversely, these social systems would have never been created had humans not created them out of an innate need to adapt to the survival needs of one another. Social systems and humans are interconnected and interdependent. Neither is greater or more valuable than the other because, without one another, each would cease to exist.
It is also true that from the most primitive stone-made tools created by early humans to the most advanced machinery and technologies of the modern era, industrial systems were created to meet the developmental needs of social systems. Social systems depend on the tools and technologies of industrial systems in order to exist and express themselves in tangible ways that meet the needs of human societies. Social systems and industrial systems are interconnected and interdependent. Neither is greater or more valuable than the other because, without one another, each would cease to exist.
It is with these insights and understanding that I am able to confidently say that the shortcomings and failings of people who struggle in our society like for example the poor, homeless, mentally ill, and even the imprisoned… are also a failing of the people who do not fall into those categories because we are all interconnected and interdependent. Also, because of my understanding of systems thinking I am able to confidently say that no one is to blame. The problems that I just shared are systemic, meaning they are problems inherent in the design of our current dominant social systems.
In the next post I will share how I was able to move away from “seeking to blame” when confronted with occurrences of the harsh realities of oppression in our society.
Thanks for reading. I hope you’ll join me for my next post!
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'...they are problems inherent in the design of our current dominant social systems.'
Yeah, agreed. Many of our prevalent social issues are indeed deeply systemic in nature. I strongly feel that there needs to be serious systemic reforms in order to create a more just, truly equal society than the one we currently live in. Our current system is indeed broken.
“No one is to blame” should be a slogan. Or a movement centering piece.
This would dodge a whole lot of polarization in the media in terms of social issues.