How Rules Are Created and Humans' Co-Create
Behavioral rules, which guide individuals toward forming spontaneous orders, can themselves arise spontaneously. These rules often emerge from patterns of behavior shaped by numerous specific, temporary prevailing circumstances. This means that behavioral rules and patterns in nature predate the emergence of human-made rules. Societies did not create these rules out of necessity; instead, societies emerged because these behavioral rules already existed. Such rules, fundamental to the formation of social systems, were naturally selected through an evolutionary process (think back to money, law etc).
The evolutionary process does not act on single individuals but rather on the collective behavior of individuals, as reflected in a shared code of conduct. Spontaneous order adjusts to myriad changes in circumstances, and the knowledge of these changes is never held by one individual but distributed across all participants. This collective adjustment shapes the behavior of individuals and reinforces the code of conduct rather than specific individual actions. Unlike the misconception of social Darwinism, the evolutionary process does not select individual behaviors but a system of behavioral rules that sustain the overall order.
For spontaneous order to emerge through behavioral rules, it depends not only on individuals following those rules but also on their ability to use their knowledge about specific prevailing circumstances. As previously mentioned, order can only occur when the behavioral rules align with and respond to numerous unique, context-specific events and occurrences that influence individuals' actions. These rules must be adhered to within the context of the existing events and happenings. When these rules are collectively followed within this context at the individual level, they create the desired cohesion that forms an organism-like unity.
As individuals follow the same behavioral rules to make decisions while sharing a similar context, a type of interconnection emerges that drives unity and a collective direction. Essentially, rules reduce variety by defining what people can and cannot do, confining them to operate within a specific framework, thus facilitating cohesion and shared purpose.
For example, consider the emergence of traffic systems in urban environments. Drivers follow simple behavioral rules, such as obeying traffic lights, yielding to pedestrians, and maintaining safe distances. These rules were not designed by one person but emerged through collective adjustments to ensure safety and efficiency. Over time, these rules became formalized into laws and codes of conduct. The result is a spontaneous order that adapts to changes such as new road constructions, increased vehicle numbers, or the introduction of autonomous cars, demonstrating how a shared system of rules evolves with collective participation.
Behavioural Rules and Order/systems
Rules of conduct often have an abstract nature, emphasizing the "how" rather than the "what." They guide behavior in a way that benefits survival, even if individuals are unaware of the benefits. These systems evolve through natural selection, favoring rules that work well together to maintain overall order. The focus is not on isolated behaviors but on the broader system of rules.
Complex systems manage large groups of individuals on a meta-level by creating an environment where self-organisation occurs. This involves setting rules—both written and unwritten—to guide behavior. These rules reduce variety, specifying what individuals can and cannot do within a framework. Not all rules foster order; some hinder it, and it is impossible to dictate specific outcomes directly.
