But before we can redesign society,
we must first learn to
see the world as a commons.
Thesis 01
Some people see the world as a battleground, while others see it as a commons.
Thesis 09
Those who see the world as a battleground strive to suppress surprise from others. “Loose cannons” are dangerous.
Thesis 10
Those who see the world as a battleground revel in what they’ve made impossible for others. Those who see the world as a commons revel in what they have made possible with others.
Thesis 14
As in battle, as in a market economy: for every plus there must be a minus. This is the essence of profit.
Thesis 51
He who sees the world as a battleground requires an opponent. Lacking an opponent, he lacks an identity. And a future for his past.
If the previous centuries were about protecting the world from the tragedy of the commons, then this century will be about redesigning society to pro- mote their triumph.
Excerpted from Triumph of the Commons: 55 Theses on the Future is a book written by Leland Maschmeyer and illustrated by fifty-five international artists. A mix of philosophy and pop culture, this book reveals the philosophic DNA that makes the commons our most import- ant cultural narrative. Leland’s aim is to vividly frame these key concepts and to provoke discussion about them. Triumph of the Commons: 55 Theses on the Future can be ordered on “Amazon.com”:http://www.amazon.com/Triumph-Commons-55-Theses-Future/dp/B006G23KWQ.