• Philosophy
• Purpose
• Manifesto
• Founder

The Verticality Manifesto:

In place of writing the traditional vision and mission statements, we have elected to share our manifesto, based on a core set of interdependent principles, and written in plain English:

The world is becoming increasingly more complex.From our scientific laws to social interactions, the mysterious web of human life has experienced a rapid evolution toward greater complexity. Our ability to design a world that works for everyone lies in how well we to adapt to current and future life conditions.

Seek simplicity. Our plethora of choices has decreased the “marginal utility” of freedom. With more options than any other generation in history, our salvation lies in simplicity. Complexity may afford us room to breathe, but it can quickly lead to suffocation if allowed to run wild. Our technology should simplify our lives, not add to the clutter.

But model the complexity. If we seek simplicity in our own lives, how can we understand the complexity around us? Modeling—specifically agent-based computer modeling—offers insight into the dynamic nature of social interactions. Rational choice and neoliberalism won’t do the trick. Modeling can. It trumps ideology; rather than arguing over competing theories, modeling finds out what works.

There is no final state, only emergence. Modeling teaches us that the world engages in a continual state of emergence. And really, if we open our eyes, we observe a world constantly in motion, ebbing and flowing, devolving and evolving, disintegrating and reorganizing.

All human efforts should lead to positive emergence. The goal of producing “higher” levels of existence—more cooperation, tolerance, understanding, sustainability, compassion—must become a consciously adopted goal by each of us. Only if our individual and organizational motives are in alignment with the vision for a better future can we produce emergence that benefits all.

Human emergence is bolstered by technology. The great enabler of human cooperation—what Richard Wright terms “non-zero-sumness”—is technological innovation. While technology itself is no panacea, it comprises an essential part of the picture. The internet has allowed for global data collection, communication, and cooperation the likes of which we’ve never seen before.

The internet is (like) a global brain that processes data. The internet can learn (for you skeptics, think of this as homologous). Of course, it’s fueled by human brainpower. But for the sake of argument, let’s entertain the notion of the “internet as a neural network.” In this frame, the better data we procure, the smarter the “brain” gets.

Data is information, and the key to evolution lies in harnessing that information meaningfully. If humans thrive on information systems, then what we need is not more information, but more meaningful information. Our information must map out the complex cultural codes, social networks, and human values systems (as in the model of Spiral Dynamics) that midwife diverse worldviews and behaviors.

Information leads nowhere without a context. Our perception of value and meaning emanates from a particular context. If I believe the purpose of life is to get and have for myself because the world is my oyster—and hey, I might as well get mine while I’m here—then that context will lead me to use information for self-seeking purposes. The same goes for all other contexts.

Collective emergence will most likely occur when information is shared in an integral context. At its core, integral means “balanced, inclusive, whole.” We believe integral theory, or AQAL (“All Quadrants, All Lines”), is the most expansive context for human existence to date. Our technologies and research are based on the AQAL model, in addition to other integral methodologies.

The more people who share, the better. As more people adopt an integral worldview and share information within that context, they will form holistic, self-organizing feedback loops. Those loops lead to “learning networks,” or communities of people who continually upgrade and improve their knowledge base. As the knowledge base grows, and more people draw from and contribute to it, the designs that emerge will also improve.

Global design improves in tandem with our global knowledge base. In Hindu mysticism, certain clairvoyants can access the Akashic Records, a metaphysical database of every recorded piece of information, past and present. Until we find those records, we’ll have to rely on a human-built knowledge base to support our designs.

Design should anticipate what’s next. Though we can’t predict the future, we can use our knowledge base to design systems that withstand the trials of time. And given the massive amounts of data available, we now have the informational reserves necessary to design sustainable technologies and institutions.

Whether we make it or not depends largely on our capacity to design for sustainability. In the 90’s, we had growth on our minds. Now, sustainability has become the global imperative of change agents across multiple sectors. The challenge before us, we believe, is designing models of integral sustainability—systems that support evolution in self, culture, and nature.

Our number priority, individually and collectively, must be freedom—from hunger, poverty, conflict, war, and all other forms of human suffering and limitation. What are we evolving toward? The elusive ideal of liberation, both within and without. When no one is looking, even the most skeptical among us long for liberation, for a mind free of dogma and a world that works for everyone. That’s what drives Verticality to create.

My freedom is inseparable from yours. At some point, we must recognize that all of our fates are intertwined—that we’re one global community, not isolated islands separate from one another. Each of our stories connects to overarching narrative of humanity. It’s time we align our business and personal practices with the movement toward individual and collective freedom.

We must all work together to liberate humanity. Even if you’re not into the Jungian notion of a “collective unconscious,” you have to admit: taking the perspective that we’re all in this together will lead to a much better world than believing we’re all separate, and need only to look out for our own well being. So regardless of your belief system, let’s work together to create a better future.

All of this is possible—the only factor is how badly we want it. It’s a tough choice, but someone has to make it: are we—you and I—going to be for evolution or against it? Are we going to open our hearts or turn a cold shoulder to humanity’s unfolding potential? Are we going to develop sustainable designs or focus only on short-term profits? A better world is possible—now more than ever—but it will appear only once enough of us have decided that we want to create a positive future more than anything else.