It is often said that many problems in society are systemic, and therefore we only need to change these systems in order to improve and progress. The idea being that once we change the system of the containing society, then human behaviour will change and improve accordingly. This is a dangerous mistruth because it externalizes blame to something outside ourselves that does not exist, leading us to take no action instead.
While it’s true that there are observable systems in society that we can describe, and that social conditions do influence our behaviour, we overlook the fact that our social systems are the emergent effects of our collective values and behaviour over time. They are what we prioritize, do and tolerate. No-one creates social systems; they evolve and are maintained by our values and behaviour.
It is true to say that environment shapes behaviour and behaviour shapes environment, so society’s progress can be viewed as a circular feedback loop. However, behaviour is the only side of that loop that we wilfully control. You can’t change a system, because there’s nothing tangible to change, nor can a system wilfully change itself. We can only alter its inputs.
Neither is it reasonable to expect people of great influence to effect change directly on a system, without significant values change themselves, which is a paradox since being of great influence requires the values that upholds their influence. However, behavioural pressure from outside can strongly influence value change.
Wilfully altering our own values, perception and behaviour is the only realistic path towards a changed society. Society is merely a reflection of us. Change us, change society.
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