User:Grian/courseplanningpage/Course outline/Learning pathways/Alternative social views/Introduction

= Introduction = In this learning pathway, we will consider four different approaches to understand human being and social relationships, all of them emerged from different fields of knowledge, such as psychology, neuroscience, sociology or economics.

Depending on your interests, preferences or the time you have available, you can choose to delve into one or more -or even all- of the following topics: Here you are a brief introduction to each of these topics, so you can decide which of them might interest you most.
 * 1) Collective intelligence
 * 2) Sociological discoveries
 * 3) The Empathic Civilisation
 * 4) The Economy for the Common Good

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A. Collective intelligence
We deal here with the shared or group intelligence that emerges in situations of collaboration or cooperation, collective efforts, or just in social situations where self-organization behaviours arise. Here you will learn about striking phenomena such as the Wisdom of the Crowds, and consider how collective intelligence and leadership could help to build a deeper democracy and a global sustainable civilisation. If you want to dig deeper, you can also learn the results and consequences of recent scientific studies on the development of cooperation in human groups -how cooperative behaviours emerge spontaneously to overcome selfish approaches.

B. Sociological discoveries
In the field of social values, some highly suggestive studies have arised in recent decades. One of them has been the work of Paul H. Ray and Sherry Ruth Anderson on Cultural Creatives. According to this study, since the 1960s a new distinct kind of people has emerged in Western countries as a separate subculture from the already known ones which prevailed during the first half of the 20th century: moderns and traditionals. This new subculture, which is growing remarkably throughout our planet, seems to be giving birth to a planetary civilisation based on social justice, non-violence and respect for the nature.

C. The Empathic Civilisation
In 2010, the economic and social theorist (and activist) Jeremy Rifkin published a book that has deeply impacted social and human sciences: The Empathic Civilization. In it, Rifkin argues and justifies that human species is evolving now to a more humane and altruistic civilisation, a global society based on relationships and communication. According to Rifkin, this trend will facilitate the development of a sense of empathy to create a biosphere-wide consciousness able to address the social and environmental problems that plague us. Moreover, you will learn how recent neuroscientific studies on the so-called mirror neurons come to support the Rifkin's thesis.

D. The Economy for the Common Good
This is a social movement for an alternative economic model. Opposing the neoliberal approach of large private profits and unbridled competition, the Economy for the Common Good (ECG) proposes an economic system based on common interest and cooperation. Christian Felber, promoter of this movement, suggests means and methods for companies to incorporate the values of trust, responsibility, appreciation, democracy, solidarity and cooperation. This movement integrates thousands of people in 15 countries in Europe and America. On the other hand, you can also find, if you wish, some notes on the new sharing economy, a way to understand economic relationships based on the timeless and worldwide culture of sharing goods and services. }}