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| c:consensus [2026/02/23 13:22] – [Related concepts, topics and links] asimong | c:consensus [2026/02/23 13:41] (current) – [Consensus] asimong |
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| # Consensus | # Consensus |
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| Commons are, by definition, self-governing, and the governance of a commons often requires decisions to be made. Usually, the decision-making process will be aimed at some kind of consensus. However, there is divided opinion about the meaning of that term. Originally the term "consensus" had a rather vague meaning. Different people have interpreted it either to mean "general consensus" or something more like unanimity — i.e., everyone is in agreement. | Commons are, by definition, self-governing, and the governance of a commons often requires decisions to be made. Usually, the decision-making process will be aimed at some kind of consensus. However, there is divided opinion about the meaning of that term. Originally the term "consensus" had a rather vague meaning. Different people have interpreted it either to mean "general consensus" or something more like unanimity — i.e., everyone is in agreement. |
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| One can argue that defining "consensus" by itself, separately from process, is mistaken, and the Wikipedia article is helpful on [[wp>Consensus decision-making]]. | One can argue that defining "consensus" by itself, separately from process, is mistaken, and the Wikipedia article is helpful on [[wp>Consensus decision-making]]. |
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| Official standards bodies like ISO offer [[https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/store/en/PUB100269.pdf|documentation]] around consensus. ISO have for decades offered a definition, since 1996 or earlier: | Official standards bodies like ISO offer [[https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/store/en/PUB100269.pdf|guidance documentation]] around consensus. ISO have for decades offered a definition, since 1996 or earlier: |
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| | "**consensus:** General agreement, characterized by the absence of sustained opposition to substantial issues by any important part of the concerned interests and by a process that involves seeking to take into account the views of all parties concerned and to reconcile any conflicting arguments.\\ NOTE Consensus need not imply unanimity." |
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| | On the other side, an article by Ted Rau says, describing what Sociocracy calls [[https://www.sociocracyforall.org/consent-decision-making/|Consent decision making]]: |
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| | "You can think of consent as a version of consensus. |
| | But instead of asking everyone, "Do you agree?", we ask, "Do you object?" If no one objects, there is consent". |
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| | Clearly, people can choose the term that they want, to signify this concept. |
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| “**consensus:** General agreement, characterized by the absence of sustained opposition to substantial issues by any important part of the concerned interests and by a process that involves seeking to take into account the views of all parties concerned and to reconcile any conflicting arguments.\\ NOTE Consensus need not imply unanimity.” | |
| ## Related concepts, topics and links | ## Related concepts, topics and links |
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| - We have a topic on [[soci:Sociocracy]]. They use the term "consensus" (pejoratively) to mean more like unanimity; and "consent" for essentially the same concept as "consensus" here. | - We have a topic on [[soci:Sociocracy]]. |
| ## Commentary | ## Commentary |
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| ## Questions arising | ## Questions arising |
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