The DE Philosophy

Perhaps most iconic within the DE community is our values-based philosophy, often shared as our "Intro-Doc". Every member that joins a chapter should agree to critically and wholeheartedly engage with the values that the Chapter has set itself around. Of course, during the Reset and Reflection sessions, members can offer suggestions to modify or add values for the Chapter. At a broad-level, here are the key elements of the DE Philosophy.

Name

The name of the group, Deliberate Evolution, was chosen because it reflects our members’ conscious embodiment of a belief in growth through open and stimulating dialogue. We actively, deliberately seek to intellectually challenge ourselves in order to consciously evolve. We choose to expand our understanding of the world, to face opposition to our belief system, and to refine our assumptions and understanding over time so that we might become even better connected to people we encounter. In turn, we can empower others to evolve as well by demonstrating this refined knowledge, philosophy, and engagement.

Purpose

Deliberate Evolution seeks to challenge and evolve individuals through intellectual and empathetic discourse and ongoing exploration of pressing and important topics facing our contemporary global society. Through our commitment to respectful debate and reflection, we hope to empower ourselves, others, and society to grow and evolve.

Values

Rigor: We believe in offering thoughtful reasoning to explain our views, advocating for these with rationality rather than blind belief. This requires both open-mindedness and conviction, simultaneously; it also necessitates that we respectfully challenge one another to continue refining, testing, and articulating our beliefs. Rigor is the ability to take in evidence, integrate information from multiple sources, derive meaning from it, and make critical decisions quickly.

Realistic Optimism: We balance an aspirational view of the world and its potential with the realistic, pragmatic understanding that real change is fundamentally difficult. Demonstrating an understanding that the world operates in a state of paradoxes -- good and evil, hopeful and crushing -- enhances the quality of our discussions.

Humility: We practice humility, never believing ourselves to be superior or more deserving and constantly striving for improvement. We understand that, regardless of background or prestige, we are all always learning and growing. Humility encapsulates self-awareness, appreciation of the capacity to learn from others, curiosity, respect for all, and open-mindedness.

Curiosity: We enjoy both the acts and outcomes of learning. We are always exploring, questioning sincerely, taking risks, and actively shifting and expanding our perspectives in order to better understand the world. We foster this curiosity in others beyond the group through open sharing and active listening.

Respect: We respect all people and their voices. Respect for others is intertwined with humility, as we believe all people offer opportunities for learning and growth. We also believe that giving respect garners respect.

Responsibility, Accountability, Ownership: We take ownership of the faults that exist in the world, even if we are not directly liable. We understand the difference and distance between intention and impact, and we recognize that our own biases may unintentionally impact others. We actively seek to take ownership of ourselves and the world around us.

Diversity in All Forms: We know that the strongest communities are built on a foundation of diversity. We actively seek to bring diverse perspectives and voices to the dialogue.

The manifestations of these principles can change and adapt to the needs, desires, and aspirations of the group’s current members. Times change, and operations need to reflect this - as long as these operational practices align with the core principles of the group, the group will continuously grow and evolve.