Excellent points, Andrew. I've always questioned the wisdom of some groups, despite the evidence that many groups (i.e., "group" projects in school or work) are inefficient and counterproductive. "We're stronger as a team," is only true if the team members have some strength within them individually.
Ya. Some "group projects" in high school and college come to mind. Agency and drive was often in short supply, even if skill was present. And later in life, it seemed like high agency could actually be counterproductive when discernment and skill were lacking.
Nailed it!! A while back I too wrote on this topic and I refer to it as the Wisdom IN Crowds. Simply put, the crowd works under very controlled circumstances, cultures, and needs. Like you said, otherwise it's just Alchemy. I see this all the time in data science where they think they found a signal but they just found the Law of Large Numbers. The fact still remains that there is wisdom in crowds, but you have to be discerning and intentional on how you look for it. Heres my writing on the topic that supports your findings: https://www.polymathicbeing.com/p/rethink-the-wisdom-of-crowds
If we want better humanity the solution is better individual humans- that is the essence of it, I think! Personally, I have never seen a wise crowd. I’ve seen mobs who spread panic or violence or committees who compromise into mediocrity.
Excellent points, Andrew. I've always questioned the wisdom of some groups, despite the evidence that many groups (i.e., "group" projects in school or work) are inefficient and counterproductive. "We're stronger as a team," is only true if the team members have some strength within them individually.
Thanks!
Ya. Some "group projects" in high school and college come to mind. Agency and drive was often in short supply, even if skill was present. And later in life, it seemed like high agency could actually be counterproductive when discernment and skill were lacking.
Well said. High agency may be worse; something I think about in the context of current politics and groupthink, locally and nationally.
Nailed it!! A while back I too wrote on this topic and I refer to it as the Wisdom IN Crowds. Simply put, the crowd works under very controlled circumstances, cultures, and needs. Like you said, otherwise it's just Alchemy. I see this all the time in data science where they think they found a signal but they just found the Law of Large Numbers. The fact still remains that there is wisdom in crowds, but you have to be discerning and intentional on how you look for it. Heres my writing on the topic that supports your findings: https://www.polymathicbeing.com/p/rethink-the-wisdom-of-crowds
If we want better humanity the solution is better individual humans- that is the essence of it, I think! Personally, I have never seen a wise crowd. I’ve seen mobs who spread panic or violence or committees who compromise into mediocrity.
There is strength in numbers, but not necessarily wisdom.