Swarm Response 01/25/12

The intelligence of animal based swarms exists through their communication. By sensing movement and taking cues from its nearest neighbour (s) swarm intelligence begins to emerge and direct the swarm behaviour. Humans only seem to exhibit swarming behaviour at times when communication is at a minimal (rioting, voting etc.) If human swarming activities do not exhibit communication within the swarm is there intelligence embedded within the swarm?

Additionally DeLanda discusses the effect of emergence as existing “only for as long as a law from which it can be deduced has not yet been found”. Humans, being rational autonomous entities have events, circumstances and emotions that lead to individual interpretations and responses to situations. When these responses manifest themselves in the form of swarming it could be argued that rational decision making is overpowered by impulse and emotion leading to irrational mob mentality. Regardless of this it would seem to reason that human motives and intentions behind swarming can to some degree be understood. Not all humans choose to riot given the same set of circumstances which can lead to swarm behaviour, as some may choose to flee the scene of a riot or try to prevent the masses and their enraged activities. It would stand then that since all humans can respond to a set of circumstance with their individual agendas it would seem that swarms are not inherent within humans and thus any intelligence that may seem to emerge or exist must be questioned. In conjunction with this statement it should be considered that although human “swarms” may not be deduced to a law which explains their emergence, the activities on a per person basis can be evaluated and scrutinized to understand why some choose to participate in a swarm while other don’t, and why everyone individual in a human swarm acts independently and on their own agenda, not necessarily for the greater good of the whole.

~ by parkermatthew on January 25, 2012.