Deliberation

Definition of deliberation

Deliberation is communications processes conducted by people, aimed to find solutions, based on optimally corroborated knowledge, relevant to the solution. It is usually used to achieve maximum cooperation in using a common resource, and/or for achieving collaborative action, based on maximum free choice.

Solutions are achieved by:

• agreeing on the process of deliberation (also known as Munchausen Problem)
• Working toward a common understanding of the relevant field of knowledge (Creation of corroborated SON)
• Proposition of options based on SON.
• Understanding of the resources and values each option bare.
• Personal and collaborative evaluation of the options
• Selection optimal options, based on the evaluation.
• In optimal cases, there will be an optimal option, which all select freely.
• If people need to use the common resource or take coordinated collaborative action, they will need to achieve a single option or several options that do not contradict each other.

Deliberation consumes resources (Time, thinking, meeting-places, etc.), and may take a lot of resources. We may reduce resource consumption by developing more efficient processes. If people need to resolve disagreement and the deliberation wouldn’t produce a solution, by the available resources, they can take other means of decision making, like voting, sortition, or decision by minority or a single person. Yet these methods sometimes may harm the interests of some people and therefore may result in an unwillingness to cooperate or even resist the resolution. Even in such circumstances, setting some time and resources to deliberation may result in a decision that may elevate the will to cooperate.

Deliberation is affected by the medium which is used during the process. It is also affected by social, cognitional, and emotional phenomena.