Sensemaking is the ability or attempt to make sense of an ambiguous situation. More exactly, sensemaking is the process of creating situational awareness and understanding in situations of high complexity or uncertainty in order to make decisions. It is "a motivated, continuous effort to understand connections (which can be among people, places, and events) in order to anticipate their trajectories and act effectively" (Klein et al., 2006a).

To understand what is being explained by Daniel Schmachtenberger in the videos in this article, you need an above-average intelligence and command of the English language, and an equally good understanding of philosophical concepts, science and technology, and finance and business terms. If you have none or only some of these but want to watch the videos anyway, I recommend that you write down the words you don’t know and pause the video to look them up or look them up later.

If you’re capable of and actually enjoy critical thinking, this dialogue will truly be a delight for you. It was for me. Daniel Schmachtenberger’s outline of sensemaking, narrative warfare, the importance of a healthy information ecology and other related topics is simply brilliant.

In this day and age, few people have the mental and intellectual capacity (or even the will) to deeply and, more importantly, correctly analyze complex concepts and situations which, if it doesn’t change and change soon, is an existential threat to the human race.

Daniel Schmachtenberger is a founding member of The Consilience Project, aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogue. The throughline of his interests has to do with ways of improving the health and development of individuals and society, with a virtuous relationship between the two as a goal. Towards these ends, he’s had a particular interest in the topics of catastrophic and existential risk, civilization and institutional decay and collapse as well as progress, collective action problems, social organization theories, and the relevant domains in philosophy and science.

The War on Sensemaking – Part 1

The War on Sensemaking – Part 2

If We Don't Fix Sensemaking, We Won't Survive

Source: Rebel Wisdom