2009 - Free Software, Free Society: Yes We Can! Yes We Will! - Stefan Merten de Oekonux
Texto
Abstract
In many respects Free Software is an interesting phenomenon. If we want to know what Free Software may mean for society we need to look at Free Software as implementing a distinctive, new mode of production. The talk describes the mode of production of Free Software and why it is desirable as a fundament of society. The talk then explains how change comes about generally and where Free Software stands today. It closes with an outlook into an Utopian future where the principles of the production of Free Software have taken over.
Slides
The Oekonux Project
A virtual project
- Oekonux == Oekonomie + linux (German)
I.e.: Economy + Linux
German roots but meanwhile international
- Discussion process about Free Software and society
Founded in 1999
Wide range of opinions and fields
Common interest in emancipation
- Virtual project
Mailing lists
Web sites
Wiki
- 4th Oekonux Conference
2009-03-27..29, Manchester (UK)
Together with P2P Foundation
- Feel free to join!
Yes, we can: Free Software as a mode of production
What is a mode of production?
- Common perspective: Free Software as a technology
- Common feeling: But something is different beyond technology
- In this talk: Free Software as a fundamental societal phenomenon
- Mode of production describes how a society reproduces itself
- Important features
1.Products produced and means of production used
2.Societal embedding of production
3.Productivity
- Mode of production is the fundament of a society
That is why we need to look at when we think about a fundamental change in society
Examples for modes of production
To give you an idea of what mode of production means
- Feudalism
Agricultural production, peasants and artisans
Personal relations in communities
Aristocracy
Low productivity
- Capitalism
Industrial production, workers
Exchange based relationships (aka money)
Democracy
High productivity
* Mode of production shapes a society
* Free Software as a new mode of production
What is special about Free Software then?
Yes, we can!
--Barack Obama
What is Selbstentfaltung?
- Enjoying task and project == Selbstentfaltung
Opposite: alienation
- Two basic characteristics
1.Having fun individually
2.While maintaining a relationship to society
- Important expression: Volunteering for useful tasks
- Selbstentfaltung aims at absolute quality
If it is "your baby" you want to be proud of it No boss stops you from doing so
Impossible if you need to make profit
* Selbstentfaltung based quality makes Free Software successful
Other examples of this mode of production
- Wikipedia
Similar to Free Software in many respects Openness, volunteers, transnational, ...
- OpenAccess
I.e.: Free Science
Grass root movement from the scientists
- More
Free Car projects
Free Music
...
- General term: peer production
- Peer production is generalizable beyond Free Software
Change we can believe in: Free Software as a germ form
So far: Potential by a new mode of production
Now: How it is going to happen
What is a germ form?
- Germ form theory describes how development happens
Originated in critical psychology (Holzkamp)
Explains how the human psyche came into being
Applicable to other fields
- Key characteristics of a germ form
Structurally new
Emerging from and existing in the old
Potential to take over
* Germ form theory explains how fundamental change takes place
The five step model
1.Emerging of the new
- First appearances of the germ form
- Think: Free Software in 1984
2.Crisis of the old
- Slump of the old forms
- Think: Crisis of classical Unices on midrange servers
3.Disseminating and expanding
- Germ form becomes important in the old process
Think: Free Software today
- Key question: Does the germ form keep its germ form features?
4. Achieving dominance
- Think: Proprietary software replaced by Free Software
5. Restructuring of entire system
- Restructuring of entire system
Change we can believe in!
-- Barack Obama
Where do we stand today?
- For software
Free Software in phase 3: disseminating and expanding
Pretty obvious
Note: earlier phases were hard to recognize
- For society
Peer production in phase 1: emerging of the new
...or rather in phase 2: crisis of the old
As early Free Software it may be hard to believe in its potential
* Don't hold you breath - but stay tuned
Capitalism as a germ form phenomenon
You may ask: Are there prior examples? Yes!
- Emerging of the new happened long ago
Earliest forms appeared during the Roman Empire
- Crisis of the old when feudal principles exhausted
For instance: Religious schism in the Christian church For instance: European Enlightenment and new forms of science transcended feudal principles
- Disseminating and expanding started with textile industry
- Capitalism achieved dominance in late 19th century
- Restructuring society is still not complete globally
- Note: Society changed after the productive fundament allowed it
Technical revolution was a precondition for a change of the mode of production
- A new mode of production starting as a germ form cantake over
Yes, we will: A peek into the future
The Utopia
How will society look like after restructuring?
However: predictability is very limited
But on an abstract level things can be said
- Selbstentfaltung (aka freedom) is...
...no longer a contradiction to society
...it is rather its fundament
- More automation reduces unwanted activities
- All goods are freely available
- Overcoming labor society
No commodities, no labor
No exchange, no money
No alienation
* The dawn of a free society
Free information goods
- The idea of Free Software spreads out already
As seen already
- Creative Commons licenses are an important step
- But remember: digital technology is the foundation
I.e.: New technology may be necessary for further dissemination
- The basis is there already
Free material goods - the practical approach
- Free design communities
Free car design
Appropedia
... Make production cheaper
- User contribution become more important
Some corporations start to include user contributions
Gives them an advantage in competition
See: Eric v. Hippel
- One of the key questions: Access to expensive means of production
http://en.wiki.oekonux.org/Oekonux/DrawingBoard
* First steps starting from solid ground
Free material goods - the theoretical approach
- Historical example: Capitalism and agricultural production
Agricultural production...
...was key in feudalism
...still exists
...became an appendage of industrial production
Proves: The focus of society moved
- Next: Material production becomes an appendage of information production
Information already is an important precondition for material production
- Restructuring will remove material production from focus
Wrap up
Summary
- Peer economy establishes a new mode of production
- Germ form theory shows how this can develop
- We are witnessing the dawn of a new era
Thank you
- Thank you for your attention
- More on this: http://www.oekonux.org/
- Contact: smerten@oekonux.de
- 4th Oekonux Conference
Free Software and Beyond - The World of Peer Production
2009-03-27..29, Manchester (UK)
http://www.oekonux-conference.org/
- Questions? Comments?
Enlaces
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