Wikipedia as a Cultural Superorganism: A Conversation with David Sloan Wilson and Anne Clin (aka Risker)

Wikipedia is world famous as a distributed cultural entity that functions well with the vast majority of its members working on a volunteer basis. You might even call it a cultural superorganism, similar to a biological superorganism such as an ant colony. According to evolutionary scientist David Sloan Wilson, this comparison is more than a poetic metaphor. In a recorded conversation with Anne Clin (aka Risker), a senior member of Wikipedia’s volunteer workforce, David explored the “anatomy” and “physiology” of Wikipedia as a cultural superorganism at length. This conversation is part of a series of conversations titled “Science of the Noosphere”, which is a collaboration between the nonprofit  Human Energy founded by Ben Kacyra and 

David’s nonprofit  Prosocial World.”

 

Now David and Anne are making themselves available to discuss their conversation with others on Tuesday, March 15, from 6-7:30 PM Eastern US Time. The audience is expected to have viewed their recorded conversation beforehand so that the session can be devoted almost entirely to Q&A.  The discussion with the audience will be oriented toward how other cultural superorganisms can evolve, including a new experimental group within Prosocial World called the Prosocial Commons. 

 

Go here to view the 90-minute conversation between Anne and David (note that it is divided into three segments).

Register here for the free event, which will be recorded and made available to the public.