# To Fix People or To Fix Systems By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2024-01-23 There is an argument about whether fixing people is required to obtain progress. Fundamentally, we've had something happen to us that potentially prevents or limits us from growing up (maturity), showing up (working within the world), or opening up (being authentic). While there are other "ups" defined by [[Ken Wilber]], these represent most of what people argue about when it comes to progress. Remember that liberals and conservatives approach progress differently, but if one defines progress as moving towards something better, both liberal and conservative progress can be combined. Here, one must ignore these groups' divergent goals and accept that both wish to pursue better states in their own subjectively defined way. So, must people be fixed to obtain progress? Some people believe fixing people is unnecessary as they are who they are and cannot change it. Here, the focus is on systems and processes as an undeniable force preventing progress. Any issues a person encounters result from the system; thus, fixing the system fixes the people. One problem with this approach is the lack of individual accountability, which creates mass confusion about values, beliefs, and actions. This makes organization nearly impossible. Additionally, many see fixing the system as an intractable or impossible problem. Thus, fixing people is the only hope. Fix the people, and they will collectively fix the systemic issues. Of course, here, the problem is those who are making the people fixing decisions have had the system work very well for them. Who is to say that the system is suitable as constructed? An alternative system could result in fewer people to fix. As a result of these divergent views, we've reached an impasse. However, one should feel optimistic that, as a species, we've even reached this point in development where such arguments are top of mind. Until now, humanity has been more concerned about lower-level survival needs. Now, we are concerned with humanity's mental and existential well-being in relation to the universe and systems we've created. This does not diminish the challenge but highlights the novelty of this problem. We've yet to face this kind of problem, and we may need to think differently about how we attempt to solve it. One needs more than a hammer to build a house. Yet, both perspectives represent different types of hammers. This is not a nail problem. This problem requires new tools and perspectives. #### Related Items [[Systems Thinking]] [[People]] [[Progress]] [[Organization]] [[Existential]] [[Psychology]] [[Problem Solving]]