Heterarchy

• A [[system or organization]].
  • I was introduced to this concept by [[armengolaltayo]].
  • [[by]] [[warren mcculloch]]
• [[go]] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterarchy pull
  • Elements of the organization are [[unranked]] (non-hierarchical) — or possess the potential to be ranked a number of different ways.
  • [[quote]] The concept of heterarchy was first employed in a modern context by Warren McCulloch in [[1945]]. As [[Carole L. Crumley]] has summarised, "[h]e examined alternative cognitive structure(s), the collective organization of which he termed heterarchy. He demonstrated that the human [[brain]], while reasonably orderly was [[not organized hierarchically]]. This understanding revolutionized the neural study of the brain and solved major problems in the fields of [[artificial intelligence]] and [[computer design]].

Heterarchy

I like it. In terms of organisation, sounds similar to [[Institutional Analysis and Development]], [[Viable system model]], [[Horizontalism vs verticalism]], etc.

In commoning

In a heterarchy, different types of rules and organizational structures are combined. They may include, for example, top-down hierarchies and bottom-up participation (both of which are vertical), and peer-to-peer dynamics (which are horizontal).

– [[Free, Fair and Alive]]

In a heterarchy, people can achieve socially mindful autonomy by combining multiple types of governance in the same system.

– [[Free, Fair and Alive]]

Heterarchy brings together top-down and bottom-up (both hierarchical), and peer-to-peer dynamics. One can think of it as reconciling distributed networks and hierarchies.

– [[Free, Fair and Alive]]

In knowledge management

Traditional note taking methods, including outliners (Workflowy, Dynalist) necessitate creation of preconceived hierarchies, built “top-down”. In contrast, the heterarchy of Zettelkasten is built organically from “bottom-up” via gradual forming of links between the notes.

– Heterarchy - Neuron Zettelkasten

• [[flancian@social.coop]] https://social.coop/@flancian/109502094704345433 pull

• [[2022-12-12 18:22:44+00:00]] @[[flancian@social.coop]] https://social.coop/@flancian/109502094704345433:

  • I say the people, united — we’ll cope together using [[heterarchy]] for the good of the people in the Commons.

• [[2026-01-08 23:09:14+00:00]] [[flancian@social.coop]] https://social.coop/@flancian/115861995799797732 pull