One of the highlights of training for Acumen Fund Fellows is the ‘Good Society’ retreat – so named because the Fellows spend the week reading and discussing the theories of great thinkers, such as Plato, King, and Mandela on how to create a ‘good’ society. The diverse perspectives, both historical and contemporary, help leaders shape their vision of how to create change in the world today. (Click here for the ‘Good Society’ reading list and join the discussion!)
Raphael's The School of Athens
Imagine you could bring together in one room the most prominent thinkers and philosophers of the past. A modern version of what Raphael did in his masterpiece, “The School of Athens.” Imagine you could be part of a conversation with these incredible minds and talk about their idea of human nature, of ethics, the origin of the State. What is equality? What is freedom? Which matters the most?
Last week I was part of such a reunion. As part of the training for the Acumen Fellowship, we spent the three days discussing Plato, King, Mandela, Rousseau and many others. The discussions were led and moderated by Jacqueline Novogratz. Also bringing their perspectives to the table were Suraj Sudhakar, an Acumen Fund Fellow from the Class of 2009, and Blair Miller, head of the Fellows Program. Cooking and living together became an integral part of the experience, and the conceptions of “good society” we built over the weekend were fueled all the more by delicious homemade gnocchi.
Fellow, Mario Ferro & Jacqueline Novogratz
I have found the exposure to these ideas to be empowering. We are all part of a continuing conversation about the deep roots of human nature and the structure of society. Many of the insights that Plato and Aristotle had over 2,400 years ago are applicable to the problems we grapple with in society today and the ways in which we are currently attempting to promote social change.
I ended the week with many more questions than I had before, as well as some interesting pathways towards answers. These readings are seeds that take time to grow and blossom in our thoughts, personal philosophies, and values. Are men evil? Are we born equal? Do men require guidance? Should society aim to rebalance the inequalities of nature?
My most important epiphany was related to the universality of human nature. I approached two of our readings, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United States’ Declaration of Independence, with a strong sense of cultural relativism, and a hint of skepticism. We spent time discussing if these documents are relevant in the context of our modern, global melting pot. In discussions of freedom, independence and human rights — we are forced to consider mankind as one, as a species, as a whole. This sense of humanity is a link, maybe the link, which connects us all. Humanity is a den of empathy, and these documents are a portal to discovering the connections between all of us. Perhaps this vision of a common “us” is the tool to build a good society. And as I talk to my friends and colleagues about these ideas, I see their eyes change and the muscles in their faces relax, as they become calmer, more ready to listen. They seem to see within themselves what I am talking about.
It is up to us to continue these conversations. It is our task to understand how the perspectives of these great thinkers relate to our values. Armed with a vast collection of varied points of view, we can begin to understand the world in which we are attempting to promote social change. Let it be structuring an affordable ambulance service for the BoP in India, improving sanitation in Kenya, or building affordable housing in Pakistan — operational expertise must be combined with a strong sense of value for human beings, for the environment in which we live, and an understanding of the reasons why people come together and contribute to society.
Including others and broadening the conversation is something we can all do. Could Plato’s thoughts apply to a conversation in Kenya’s slums? One might need to adapt his strategy of communication, but should one not try to do it? I look forward to piloting these experiments and sharing their results.
After such an inspiring week, I am not only grateful for the insights this training continues to provide — but the questions it continues to demand.
Mario Ferro is a 2011 Acumen Fund Fellow, who will be working in Bihar, India with Husk Power Systems, which uses innovative biomass technology to convert abundant rice husks into energy that provides power to Indian villages.
Applications for the 2011-12 Acumen Fund Fellowship are now open. Click here for more information and to apply.
Tags: AF Fellows, Ecotact, fellows, follow the fellows, good society
great post Mario, thanks for sharing! also very eager to see how the conversation continues to evolve over time!