Gurteen Knowledge Letter
Issue 298 – April 2025
So far, we’ve recorded three episodes on knowledge, conversation, and reason. In each episode, we take a simple question and unpack its more profound implications. You can view the podcast here.
Contents
- Rethinking Intelligence
A broader view that includes plants, bacteria, ecosystems, and machines - Beyond Words
How Mandela's conversations changed a nation - Lessons From the Hive
Do flaws in human nature help societies thrive? - The Burden of Freedom
What Peter Block and Dostoevsky reveal about true leadership - How We Learn Together
Peer Instruction vs. Peer Learning - Help Keep My Work Alive
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- Gurteen Knowledge Letter
Rethinking Intelligence
A broader view that includes plants, bacteria, ecosystems, and machines
For centuries, intelligence has been narrowly defined as the ability to solve problems quickly — a view deeply embedded in education, work, and culture. But a recent article in BigThink documenting a gathering at The Island of Knowledge, held in a centuries-old Tuscan church, challenged this definition. Scientists, philosophers, and artists proposed a broader view: intelligence is the capacity of a system — whether a cell, plant, mind, or civilization — to perceive, adapt, relate, and respond to its environment to remain viable.
This redefinition presents intelligence as relational, systemic, and distributed — embedded in all life and even in some non-living systems. From bacteria navigating toward nutrients to trees communicating through mycelial networks, intelligence appears as a spectrum of adaptive behaviors across complex systems.
Interestingly, the article makes no mention of whether the group considered "artificial intelligence" to be a form of intelligence. That omission stood out to me, as I regard artificial systems as intelligent. I've explored this in my blook, whearguingat intelligence is not exclusive to humans, but rather the ability to interpret and respond purposefully to an entity's environment. By this measure, immune systems, ecosystems, and even AI systems demonstrate varying degrees of intelligence.
Beyond Words
How Mandela's conversations changed a nation
I've been thinking about what it means to lead through conversation, especially in divided times. Nelson Mandela remains one of the clearest examples. He didn't just speak—he listened, even to those who saw him as an enemy. His patience, humility, and willingness to talk made change possible. In my blook, I look at how Mandela used dialogue to defuse conflict and build trust.
Lessons From the Hive
Do flaws in human nature help societies thrive?
Do private vices harm society—or help it thrive? In this post, in my blook, I reflect on Bernard Mandeville's The Fable of the Bees, which suggests that self-interest and ambition, while morally questionable, may actually support prosperity and innovation. His argument challenges the assumption that virtue alone leads to progress. I explore what this means for how we lead, live, and think about human nature.
A big thank you to my friend Charles Savage for introducing me to this fable, and I'm sorry it took me so long to realize its significance in understanding human nature and its impact on society.
The Burden of Freedom
What Peter Block and Dostoevsky reveal about true leadership
What if leadership isn’t about providing answers or control but confronting people with their freedom? In this post, in my blook, I reflect on Peter Block’s powerful view of leadership as an act of love—and its surprising connection to Dostoevsky’s Grand Inquisitor.
Both challenge us to consider whether we truly want freedom or simply the comfort of certainty. These questions feel especially urgent in the age of AI.
How We Learn Together
Peer Instruction vs. Peer Learning
People learn differently, and the way we engage with knowledge shapes understanding. Traditional teaching often focuses on delivering information, but peer instruction and peer learning offer more active, discussion-based approaches. While both involve collaboration, they serve different purposes—one clarifies known concepts, while the other explores complex, uncertain ideas. Understanding these methods helps leaders, educators, and teams foster deeper learning. Read more in my blook.
Help Keep My Work Alive
For almost 25 years, I’ve been sharing the Gurteen Knowledge Letter each month, and many of you have been reading it for five years or more. My Knowledge Café also reached a milestone, celebrating its 20th anniversary in September 2022.
If my work has made a difference to you, I’d be grateful if you could consider supporting it. A small monthly donation or any one-off contribution would greatly help cover some of my website hosting costs.
Thank you to the 50+ patrons who already support me – your generosity means a lot.
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Gurteen Knowledge Letter
The Gurteen Knowledge Letter is a free monthly email newsletter designed to inspire thinking around Conversational Leadership and Knowledge Management. You can explore the archive of past issues here.
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David Gurteen
Gurteen Knowledge
Fleet, United Kingdom
