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| c:consensus [2026/02/23 13:39] – [Consensus] Simon Grant | c:consensus [2026/03/26 18:58] (current) – Katja Durrani |
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| //(one of the [[c:start|concepts]] in our Knowledge Commons//) | //(one of the [[c:start|concepts]] in our Knowledge Commons//) |
| # 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. |
| "**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." | "**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 [[https://www.sociocracyforall.org/consent-decision-making/|Consent decision making]]: | 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. | "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. | 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. | Clearly, people can choose the term that they want, to signify this concept. |
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| ## Related concepts, topics and links | ===== Related concepts, topics and links ===== |
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| - We have a topic on [[soci:Sociocracy]]. | - We have a topic on [[soci:Sociocracy]]. |
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| ## Commentary | ===== Commentary ===== |
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| - Back in 2008, one involved individual gave his opinion about [[https://lehors.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/what-consensus-means/|what consensus means]]. | - Back in 2008, one involved individual gave his opinion about [[https://lehors.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/what-consensus-means/|what consensus means]]. |
| - [[https://www.oxebridge.com/emma/isos-orwellian-definition-of-consensus-should-scare-the-pants-off-of-you/|This article]] points out some dangers in the use of the ISO definition, and related process. | - [[https://www.oxebridge.com/emma/isos-orwellian-definition-of-consensus-should-scare-the-pants-off-of-you/|This article]] points out some dangers in the use of the ISO definition, and related process. |
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| ## Questions arising | ===== Questions arising ===== |
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