Conflict Entrepreneurs

Politics and Social Issues
1

Some of you may have noticed a long standing feud with myself another member. Sorry if that has caused you any inconvenience. A term I heard recently is “Conflict Entrepreneurs”. It comes from business, the people who prefer disrupting their workplace instead of working hard, or, applied more positively, entrepreneurs who handle customer and internal conflicts well. I usually don’t like AI, but Bing gave me a couple of lists.

First, it gave me some business and political examples, but I’ll skip those. Think, mercenaries, they don’t care what war they fight, they just want to get paid to fight. Or, Alex Jones, making money off hate. But I want to get to how to counter it. Bing gave me this.

Countering conflict entrepreneurs requires a multifaceted approach. Here are some strategies:

  1. Strengthen Governance and Rule of Law : Improving governance, transparency, and accountability reduces opportunities for corruption and illicit activities. Legal systems should be robust and impartial.
  2. Economic Diversification : Encourage economic diversification in conflict-affected regions. This reduces reliance on resource extraction and arms trade, making conflict less profitable.
  3. Target Financial Networks : Identify and disrupt financial networks that fund conflict entrepreneurs. Sanctions, asset freezes, and international cooperation can help.
  4. Promote Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution : Invest in peacebuilding initiatives, dialogue, and mediation. Address root causes of conflict to prevent escalation.
  5. Raise Awareness : Educate communities about conflict entrepreneurs and their tactics. Awareness empowers people to resist exploitation.
  6. Support Civil Society and Local Initiatives : Grassroots organizations play a crucial role. They can monitor activities, advocate for change, and provide alternatives to conflict-driven livelihoods.
  7. International Cooperation : Collaborate across borders to track and apprehend conflict entrepreneurs. Interpol and other agencies can assist.

Remember, countering conflict entrepreneurs requires sustained effort and collaboration at local, national, and global levels. :earth_africa::v:

Hopefully those sound familiar. But you might ask, “what can I do about it?” I first heard the term at the Braver Angels convention last week. We are addressing problems like this at the individual level, learning to listen to the people in our lives, like our family that has different politics, and our community builders that need partnerships instead of divisions.

The lessons from successful conflict resolution in business can be applied to various contexts:

  1. Interpersonal Relationships :
  • Active Listening : Like Airbnb, practice active listening to understand others’ perspectives. Empathize and seek win-win solutions.
  • Effective Communication : Clear communication, transparency, and compromise are key. Address conflicts promptly and openly.
  • Negotiation Skills : Learn negotiation techniques to find common ground and resolve disputes.
  1. Family and Social Settings :
  • Empathy : Understand family members’ needs and feelings. Show empathy and find compromises.
  • Conflict Prevention : Address issues early to prevent escalation. Open dialogue is crucial.
  • Shared Goals : Focus on shared goals rather than individual interests.
  1. Community and Civic Engagement :
  • Community Dialogues : Organize forums for open discussions. Encourage diverse perspectives.
  • Collaboration : Work together to address community challenges. Seek consensus.
  • Advocacy : Advocate for fair policies and social justice. Engage with local leaders.
  1. Education and Learning Environments :
  • Teacher-Student Relations : Apply conflict resolution skills to address disagreements in educational settings.
  • Peer Mediation : Teach students conflict resolution techniques. Foster a positive learning environment.
  • Parent-Teacher Communication : Transparent communication helps resolve issues effectively.
  1. Healthcare and Patient Relations :
  • Patient-Centered Care : Listen to patients’ concerns. Involve them in decisions.
  • Compassion : Show empathy during difficult medical situations.
  • Ethical Dilemmas : Address conflicts related to treatment choices or resource allocation.
  1. Legal and Dispute Resolution :
  • Mediation and Arbitration : Use neutral third parties to resolve legal disputes.
  • Fairness and Justice : Uphold principles of fairness and justice in legal proceedings.
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution : Explore non-adversarial methods to resolve conflicts.

Remember, conflict resolution skills are universally valuable. Adapt them to specific contexts, and foster understanding and cooperation. :star2::v:

Much of that list overlaps with the CFI guidelines for this forum.

2

Lausten you’ve offered me a chance to explain what I mean when I say, we are having two different discussions.

That’s a wonderful summary and real life,

I’m “embedded” within varieties of families, all more or less simply living the American life.
But as you can imagine none quite relate to my views and values. I manage to find common ground, you know “when in Rome do as Rome” and get along. So I appreciate “Conflict Entrepreneurs” list, and don’t find anything up wrong that list, within its narrow focus.

But I’m focus on way more fundamental stuff. Our relationship with our own thoughts. Our inner security, being able to seriously answer the “who am I question.” Viscerally appreciating the Physical Reality ~ Human Mindscape divide and how that alters one’s outlook on everything.

The reality of being the product of an unbroken bloodline for near a half billion years.

The realizing, personally, within my own body, that I am an evolved biological creature.

Which leads (with the aid of serious scientific learning) to understanding and appreciating that my thoughts are a reflection of my body communicating with itself.

And the cascades real life insights that come with time (remember I’ve had five years musing on it, and trying to evolved it and explain it better. But the core story is the same - how each person processes it, is many other stories.

Think about list firm confined to the “Human Mindscape” it is a oversimplification, still basically that list about how to best turn our thoughts into actions.

It’s about our relationship with our own thoughts with nothing beyond that. The very definition of being trapped within our mindscapes.

There was nothing about Earth, or the important of taking science understanding seriously, … despite our desires. ETC…

We need a new theory of consciousness, one that firmly ejects all meta-physical machinations, and elevates physical, biological, understanding above personal opinions and desires.

A bottom up evolutionary approach to a new theory of consciousness. Consciousness at it’s most basic level is an interaction with the inside of an organism and its environment, and it was present in the oldest of creatures, and evolution has been playing variations on a theme ever since.

Understanding that your body/brain, interacting with environment; produces Mind.
The reason a bat feels like a bat is because it inhabits a freak’n bats body. It’s not complicated, even if the details certainly are. Still it is a no-brainer.

That’s what I’m talking about. Wish I had time to reread and edit, but don’t, sorry for the inevitable duddies.

3

I know. I’ve been saying that.

4

And running away form it,
while I’m busy exploring it.
,
,
…

5

You’ve said that too. It’s not true though. You don’t explore. You tell me that I have to “get it”.

6

It’s more like I’m saying you don’t get it.
You insist you do get it.
Then you trivialize everything I bring up, or sidestep it altogether.
Then you say stuff that totally underscores my complaints, about that mindset’s short comings, along with the trapped within the mindscape thing.

You appear to be highly offended by my encapsulation of the “Abrahamic” “Western” mindset as, self-absorbed and self-serving, even though the whole of western history underscores that theme, yet you won’t, you don’t explore it, you ignore it.

and so on . . .

7

You’re on repeat again

8

And you aren’t?

I’m trying to discuss the most fundamental observation we can make about our “human condition,” The Physical Reality ~ Human Mind divide, along with its cascading implications which reach into every aspect of our experience.
And you trivialize and distract.
,
,
…

9

I stumbled on this example of the fruits of Cartesian thinking:

Seriously, learning about the physical world and connecting with the reality of biology - driven by curiosity and guided by scientific honesty and fidelity that demands a different way of thinking, where ego become secondary to understanding and living with dignity in difficult times. Coming to terms with the biological fact that your consciousness is your body communicating with itself, and has been a hallmark of complex life from the very beginning, when the insides needed to differentiate between good and bad stuff coming in and going out. Consciousness does not need any metaphysical skyhooks, biology is revealing all the steps and stages and the still staggering overwhelming complexity of the process.

Realizing that even our Gods are creations of our own thoughts produced by our passions and needs and experiences. They are powerful, and real, but they are not of the physical world, they are the product of the human mind, collectively and individually.

Along with an explicit appreciation for being a product of Earth, not heaven! That we aren’t all that matters. It takes time and effort but bit by bit one becomes aware of overlooked details. It also helps eliminate the existential angst that is so much a part of modern people’s mindset.

10

So, you are on repeat. I post different things in different threads and every time, you repeat.

11

What inconvenience?

You remind me of arguments with my sisters when we were little and they’d stuff their fingers in their ears and start singing, to drown out my words.

I’m talking about seeing through this bubble of human self-absorption and considering the physical world beyond your thoughts, your mind, your consciousness.

I’m talking about familiarizing and absorbing the fact that your consciousness doesn’t need any metaphysical explanation a la God; or Chalmers’ impossible conceit; or Hoffman’s “mathematically rigorous” Conscious Agents interpreting reality for us; or Pinker’s rosy impress how western society provided the best of the bests whateverism.

And you are on repeat with your denial of the topic.
Then you can’t resist slapping up something totally arrogantly irrelevant to underscore your trivializing, (or is it contempt display ?), while gaslighting me.

Perhaps they’s why I’m going to repeat myself until either you shut up, or you get serious and discuss what you keep missing. Our thoughts and mind come from within our bodies and that is hugely significant and worth digging into, rather than running away from.

12

That seems like a reasonable analogy for how it’s been for a few months. There was some time a while back, when you first introduced your blog on the subject, that I thought I was giving reasonable feedback, but you disagreed. I didn’t hear much from you other than you saying I’m wrong, or that I’m not engaging you properly.

If I’m wrong, there is probably a way to describe how to engage correctly. And since the words you’ve used so far haven’t worked, maybe use some different ones.

14

I did none of those things. I opened with that comment to tell you that I’m not intetested in you right now. You are trolling me. Everything I post, you bring up your themes, and demand i engage with them. Look at my conversations with anyone just before I ban them. I tell them that no one is obligated to respond to any post. (That is not a moderator warning BTW)

We disagree on some things.

Find a way to live with that.

15

Wish I had time to sit down, because there’s a lot of clarifying to do. But only have a few moments to share a new insight gleaned on while walking Maddy down to a still flowing river (creek).

It’s about exploring the Ego-centric outlook Vs. an Earth Centric (physical science bound) evolution infused outlook.

Given what’s steam rolling at us, it’s a discussion that need more than ever.

Excuse the “shut out” it was more a ‘stop pooping on me’
I don’t mind you baiting me, but your reaction doesn’t walk your talk…

I still love ya pal, even if we’re scrapping cousins. Will explore your response after I have a chance to read it. Oh an the reason I keep working it because frankly for the season of mankind we are, something along this line is needed. I’ve been listening to Sapolsky’s “Behave” and the biological stuff like chapter 8 is awesome. But there’s no clarifying overview, “theory” to hang the cornucopia of information upon.

We need a new theory of mind - one that takes into account modern science and disregards pre-evolutionary ideas people shared among themselves.

16

Nicely said. Back at ya’

1 Like
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I know we all know Pinker, but probably less are familiar with John Wood Jr. He is wickedly intelligent and self-aware. In his interviews, he does not reveal directly where he stands. He questions the person’s evidence and how they reached their conclusions, instead of going after their group affiliations or searching for flaws. He doesn’t generalize. It’s a type of journalism I’d like to see more of. Anyway …

Click to the “Blank Slate” at 25:47 mark

Pinker discusses the Left vs Right differences on issues, and perspectives from Right and Left authors who have discussed it. The old “infinitely malleable human who can dream of utopia and reach for it”, or “we’re just flawed and need institutions to keep us from killing each other”. Blank Slate vs Human Nature. Then gives an example a Left Wing advocate of the human nature side. Pinker turns it around and says the evidence is, we progressed at least to some degree, then asks, “what made that possible?”

I find that an interesting dialog. When I thought about where you might weigh in on this, I realized I don’t know. How does the Physical Reality – Human Mindscape divide relate to this question?

18

The video started at 25:50 and he’s talking about “Human Nature” as if it were a belief system. Some believe in it. Others don’t believe in it.

So far have only gotten to 29:00 and I need to ask a question:

  • Does he define this human nature he speaks of?
  • Can you define what “human nature” he’s discussing?

Back to listening, … while tending my little jungle, it was already a totally hippy experiment, now come to realize my compost left plenty of viable seeds so between the wildflowers and weeds I have squash, tomato, lettuce coming up all over. Definitely an organic organic garden and it’s better than the packed dirt that was there before, birds and bugs and bees love it.

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I didn’t think that needed more than the basic definition. He refers to a few big names and their thoughts on it. That’s the discussion, are we driven by our instintcs, or can we think our way to a better world? Are we just animals who can perceive past and present better than other animals, or do our creative abilities extend beyond?

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Human Nature

First published Mon Mar 15, 2021 - plato.stanford.edu

Talk of human nature is a common feature of moral and political discourse among people on the street and among philosophers, political scientists and sociologists. This is largely due to the widespread assumption that true descriptive or explanatory claims making use of the concept of human nature have, or would have, considerable normative significance. Some think that human nature excludes the possibility of certain forms of social organisation—for example, that it excludes any broadly egalitarian society. Others make the stronger claim that a true normative ethical theory has to be built on prior knowledge of human nature. Still others believe that there are specific moral prohibitions concerning the alteration of, or interference in, the set of properties that make up human nature. Finally, there are those who argue that the normative significance derives from the fact that merely deploying the concept is typically, or even necessarily, pernicious.

Alongside such varying and frequently conflicting normative uses of the expression “human nature”, there are serious disagreements concerning the concept’s content and explanatory significance—the starkest being whether the expression “human nature” refers to anything at all. …

Okay, watched and listened to it, first the last half, then all of it. Sure plenty of good stuff but also a few telltale red flags, but I don’t want to knit pick the interview. I will say I really liked the interviewer who, for my tastes, really kept the dialogue moving in a substantive direction.

Still it’s all rather scattered, there’s no clear founding principles or unifying theory around which to hang our diverse blocks of information, and developing a grand overview.

What is human nature?

Why not start out with introducing the grand outlines that Earth & biological sciences that has been able to establish (over the course of history and especially recent) incredibly detailed understanding and their implication.

Our biological body processes massive amounts of information it receives, via body and brain interacting with environment to produce our “Mind”. The inside reflection of your body communicating with itself. That is profoundly important, and shouldn’t be glossed over or buried under vague hints. It should be the centerpiece of the introduction because it helps order the information in a coherent manner that makes sense.

Even Sapolsky’s “Behave” awesome book nearing the end of my second listen. Loads of great chapters, a few chapter that get into the weeds. Time and time again, I see my summary echoed in what he’s talking about - and why not - I learned through keeping up on scientific findings and developing understanding for the past half century and more. It’s all this ocean of information that my encapsulation reflects. No woo, no meta-physics just learning about this actual factual planet Earth and our origins and where it points me.

You and your thoughts are your body dealing with life.

Those thoughts along with all the rest of your introspective consciousness is produced by your body communicating with itself.

Our biological humans nature is our Biological Body in action.

That biological body possesses internal knowledge that’s been acquired, (and has been handing down from mom to babies since the dawn of time.)

I believe the only way to appreciate your body’s subsurface impulses (human nature?) and priorities - is to start with absorbing the implications of our inherent duality: appreciate the physical body producing mental thought and sense of self.

We create our own Gods and make them real, still everyone of these Gods belong within our mindscape beyond,
The real physical Earth that operates by its own laws, well beyond all that we can imagine, desire, demand.

I hope that conveys something.

21

I only asked about the specific few minutes that I referenced. You can talk about the rest of it if you want, but the people involved weren’t the question. The question was, how does your idea of the Human Mindscape-Physical Reality divide map onto the nature/nurture discussion? Are we beings with an animal nature capable of being good, or are we good beings that sometimes give in to our animal instincts? Is progress a result of competition or can we reflect on ourselves and come up with ideas that can affect our progress?

I think the discussions about that already start with the grand outlines of Earth and biological sciences including our recent understanding. I don’t think these two, or many of the people who discuss this gloss over how the body processes info and creates the mind. No woo required. Like you say, handed down by parent to child, exactly what we’re talking about. Yeah, the inherent duality. That.