Concept I

Cultivate
Human Agency

Cultivate human agency

to make ethical cooperation possible

To cultivate human agency
you must have at least some of all three

Expand
Understanding
Offer
Clear
Choices
Improve
Options
Cultivate
Human
Agency
Architect Horrible Choices
Treat People Like Pets
Offer Random Things

The areas where two circles overlap each illustrate “near misses” that don’t necessarily cultivate human agency.

Discourse is a kind of communication
that aims to cultivate human agency

Communication
Communication includes propaganda as well as discourse.
Discourse
is communication that is directly intended to be factual, ethical and authentic.
Propaganda
is manipulative communication. It aims to get people to do things that they might not choose otherwise, often by choking off understanding.

When we engage in discourse we routinely and intentionally expand understanding, improve options, and offer clear choices.

Cultivating human agency is the foundation for ethical cooperation. When people genuinely understand their choices, have good options, and can act freely, they can cooperate in ways that are truly ethical — not merely compliant.

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