About Humans: Index of Topics

Back Matter ↑

Index of Topics

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W

— A —

absolutism: Values are not absolutes
adaptation: We experience resource scarcity; We are the most adaptive species; Our species evolves via genetic evolution; Groups adapt via cultural change; Individuals adapt via autonomy
art: We make art to communicate with others
attention: Our attention is a limited resource; Shallow attention alerts us to danger; Deep attention satisfies and delivers
autonomy: Individuals adapt via autonomy; Autonomy provides freedom to balance values

— B —

backlash: Beware the backlash
balance: We strive to balance competing concerns; We invent new things; Autonomy provides freedom to balance values; We recognize the need for balance
big picture: We think and care big picture and long-term
blind watchmaker: Our species evolves via genetic evolution
books: We write things down
boredom: We appreciate novelty; We crave play, exploration and innovation
bureaucracy: Written culture allow groups to expand

— C —

camps: Friends and colleagues expand the circle
capitalism: We compete with one another
civilization: We build and maintain civilizations
communication: We communicate via sophisticated languages; We make art to communicate with others
competence: We pursue growth and development
competition: We compete with one another
complexity: We are complex beasts; We juggle groups and structures
conflict: We are complex beasts
cooperation: We live in cooperative groups
cosmos: First and last, there is wonder
Covey, Stephen: The Urgent vs. Important Matrix
critical thinking: We use critical thinking to tackle hard problems
cultural evolution: Groups adapt via cultural change
culture: We communicate via sophisticated languages; Culture provides a group's operating system; We share stories; We crave play, exploration and innovation; Groups adapt via cultural change; Values form one element of a group's culture; Groups define roles for their members; Family is the foundational paradigm

— D —

design: We invent new things
developmental levels: Groups use a variety of social structures; Written culture allow groups to expand; Experts form peer groups; Multicultural societies include diverse subgroups; We juggle groups and structures
development: We pursue growth and development
diminishing returns: We do not demand perfection
diversity: We are fallible; Multicultural societies include diverse subgroups
DRAMMA: DRAMMA Model
Dunbar's number: We favor individuation; Friends and colleagues expand the circle

— E —

education: We provide education
empathy: We cultivate empathy
ethics: We can choose to help or hurt one another
evolution: We are part of nature; Our species evolves via genetic evolution; Groups adapt via cultural change
experiments: We perform tests
exploration: We crave play, exploration and innovation

— F —

fair play: We practice and expect fair play
fallible: We are fallible
family: Family is the foundational paradigm
flow: Deep attention satisfies and delivers
four quadrants: We each manage four interrelated realms
freedom: Individuals adapt via autonomy
free will: Individuals adapt via autonomy
friends: Friends and colleagues expand the circle
fundamentalism: Values are not absolutes
future: We think and care big picture and long-term

— G —

gods: We recognize religions as human constructs
governance: Large groups require governance
groups: We live in cooperative groups; Culture provides a group's operating system; Groups define roles for their members; Groups use a variety of social structures; Family is the foundational paradigm; Friends and colleagues expand the circle; Tribes organize even larger groups; We form preferences for particular structures; We juggle groups and structures
growth: We pursue growth and development

— H —

heroes: We favor individuation; We make things for one another; We share stories; We pursue growth and development; We invent new things; We compete with one another; Individuals adapt via autonomy
hierarchy: Groups are often nested; Tribes organize even larger groups
homeland: We forge identities that provide meaning
humanism: We are part of nature; We recognize religions as human constructs

— I —

identity: We forge identities that provide meaning
imagination: We have powerful imaginations; We crave play, exploration and innovation; We figure things out
imperfection: We do not demand perfection
improvement: We improve things
inclusion: Multicultural societies include diverse subgroups
individuals: We favor individuation; We forge identities that provide meaning; Individuals adapt via autonomy; Individuals can effect social change; We make art to communicate with others
individuation: We favor individuation
inner world: We each manage four interrelated realms
innovation: We crave play, exploration and innovation; We invent new things
invention: We invent new things
inventions: We perform tests

— K —

kith and kin: We forge identities that provide meaning

— L —

land: We forge identities that provide meaning
language: We communicate via sophisticated languages; We write things down; We have powerful imaginations; We figure things out
learning: We pursue growth and development; We provide education
leisure: We require periods of leisure
liberalism: We compete with one another
literature: We make art to communicate with others
long-term: We think and care big picture and long-term
love: Family is the foundational paradigm

— M —

making: We make things for one another
mastery: We pursue growth and development
meaning: We forge identities that provide meaning
mission: Each group fulfills a purpose
models: We perform tests; We figure things out
modern level of development: Experts form peer groups
morality: We can choose to help or hurt one another
multicultural: Multicultural societies include diverse subgroups
multiplicity: We strive to balance competing concerns

— N —

nature: We are part of nature
nesting: Values are also nested; Groups are often nested
nirvana antipattern: We use critical thinking to tackle hard problems
norms: Culture provides a group's operating system
novelty: We appreciate novelty

— O —

observation: We observe the world around us
organizing structures: Groups use a variety of social structures; We form preferences for particular structures; We juggle groups and structures
outer world: We each manage four interrelated realms

— P —

parenting: Family is the foundational paradigm
peer groups: Experts form peer groups
perfection: We do not demand perfection
perspectives: We strive to balance competing concerns
planning: We think and care big picture and long-term
play: We crave play, exploration and innovation
property: Groups pool their resources
purpose: Each group fulfills a purpose

— R —

religion: We recognize religions as human constructs
resources: We experience resource scarcity; Groups pool their resources
resources, shared: Groups pool their resources
retention: We retain what works
rewards: We practice and expect fair play
roles: Groups define roles for their members; Roles often provide for specialization; Family is the foundational paradigm
rule of law: Written culture allow groups to expand

— S —

scarcity: We experience resource scarcity
science: We are part of nature; We perform tests; Experts form peer groups
social change: Individuals can effect social change
social networks: Friends and colleagues expand the circle
social structures: Groups use a variety of social structures
society: We live in cooperative groups; We build and maintain civilizations
specialization: Roles often provide for specialization; Family is the foundational paradigm; Experts form peer groups
stories: We share stories; Family is the foundational paradigm; We make art to communicate with others; We recognize religions as human constructs

— T —

teams: We forge identities that provide meaning; Friends and colleagues expand the circle
tests: We perform tests
theories: We perform tests; We figure things out
tools: We forge identities that provide meaning
trade-offs: We invent new things; We do not demand perfection
trade: We forge identities that provide meaning
tribes: We forge identities that provide meaning; Tribes organize even larger groups; We recognize religions as human constructs
trust: Specific trust is built between individuals; We generally trust fellow group members
truth-telling: We practice and expect fair play

— U —

understanding: We figure things out
unity: We seek unity
Urgent vs. Important Matrix: The Urgent vs. Important Matrix

— V —

value creation: We make things for one another
values: We share stories; Values form one element of a group's culture; Values are also nested; Values are not absolutes; Autonomy provides freedom to balance values; Family is the foundational paradigm; We recognize religions as human constructs
villages: Friends and colleagues expand the circle

— W —

wonder: First and last, there is wonder
work: We make things for one another
written language: We write things down; Written culture allow groups to expand; Experts form peer groups

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