What
is Collective Intelligence?
- “Intelligence” refers to the main cognitive powers: perception,
action planning and coordination, memory, imagination and hypothesis generation,
inquisitiveness and learning abilities.
- The expression “collective intelligence” designates the cognitive
powers of a group. These cognitive powers are closely related to the group’s
culture.
Animal versus Human Collective Intelligence.
- Collective intelligence first began with animal societies and passed a major
threshold with the advent of language and human culture.
- Human collective intelligence grows with the knowledge, autonomy, responsibility,
ethical behavior and creativity of the individuals who compose it.
Is there Progress in Human Collective Intelligence?
- Cultural evolution is closely linked to the historical emergence of tools
(languages, medias, technology…), institutions (politics, law, economy…),
knowledge (social and natural sciences) and values (humanism, religions…).
All these dimensions of culture contribute to improve human collective intelligence.
Is a Science of Collective Intelligence Possible?
- Collective Intelligence can be investigated, understood, improved
and learned.
- Much research is been undertaken in this field. It’s time to gather
it together in order to create a scientific interdiscipline that is of critical
importance for human development in a global knowledge society interconnected
by cyberspace.
