Friendship 2.0: Reinventing Bonds as Cornerstones of a New World

While reflecting on the low hanging fruit of profound societal changes - I keep on thinking about human relationships, with a particular focus on friendships.

At the heart of every utopian dream lies an evolved version of human relationships. In a world without wars, people would love each other without the burden of competition. Likewise, a more equal and just world would be one where genuine care for others prevails.

No true self without others

The centrality of relationships to human existence is so profound that many philosophers argue there's no true self-contemplation outside the social environment and reflection upon other human beings.

Rousseau emphasised the role of social interactions and relationships in shaping the development of an individual. He argued that self-awareness and moral development are intimately tied to one's interactions with others.

Buber saw true selfhood emerging in authentic relationships.

Hegel, in his Master-Slave dialectic, observed self-consciousness as achieved through recognition from others.

Our happiness, well being and health are inextricably linked to our social life and positive interactions.

Meaningful friendship networks as deliberately developmental spaces

While I appreciate the impact that "improved" friendships could have on the world globally, I'm at the moment exploring friendship as another example of deliberately developmental spaces.

What are the limits to the ambition, capacity and creativity of forming deep and meaningful relationships for individuals that are not encumbered by various cultural and ideological constraints of the past.

Those people would be open-minded, experimental, socially fearless, mentally strong and not overly traumatised. They would be devoid of strong ethical biases pertaining to certain dogmas or norms - religious or cultural, for example.

In a world where sameness and otherness are not defined by ethnic or national identities, what becomes the basis for friendship communities?

What are the valuable traits of a friend to a confident person? If we're not looking to shore up our insecurities, what are the minds we would like to join up with?

What are we looking for when socialising with friends?

  1. Enjoyment of each other's company
  2. Liking the other person
  3. Appreciating their qualities
  4. Synergising
  5. Providing each other with an enhanced platform / infrastructure for exploring the world
  6. New perspectives
  7. Humour, cynicism, mischief, playfulness, daring
  8. Intellectual engagement
  9. Cultural exchange

Challenge to the exclusivity of friendship and questioning the commitment.

Smaller number of close friends means a deeper connection on the basis of interdependency.

Interdependency is formed on the dynamics of desirability and scarcity. If that dynamics is mirrored on both sides - it emerges as an exclusive friendship that further gets codified in trust and homogenised by the adoption (or homogenisation) of shared values.

It appears that a friendship builds a culture to represent social glue that can be used as a blueprint for more friendships.

Friendships re-invented

In envisioning "friendships re-invented," characterised by promiscuity, low commitment but high engagement, what would this new paradigm look like?