[7] A Value System
A Value System names the elements, dynamics, and evolution of a socio-cultural value system in the Emergent Value Systems (EVS) framework according to the [7] The Matrix system shape. EVS views values systems as a Complex Adaptive System constructed around a core of meta-narrative — a big story about how the world works. The system evolves as it further defines its model of reality and interacts with that model, the dynamics of individuals and groups using the system, and the “real world” environment it inhabits.
Three Phases of Value System Evolution
Early / Crisis Phase: The systems emerges in the context of revolutionary struggle against the conditions of the proceeding system, the costs of organization, and the challenges of the outside environment. This phase sets the mythology with which the system will express the meta-narrative. It may include several attempts at organization before being able to gain enough traction to meaningfully deploy its solutions to life and gain stability.
Mid / Stability Phase: The system has achieved ascendancy and sets about its work to make its project a reality. The interplay between social-organization and economy will lead to new iterations of the system, often both more efficient and more complex. As progress is made towards the project, the system’s exposure to dynamics of the environment challenge increase leading to complexification of the challenge.
Late / Decline Phase: The success of the system has led to the emergence of new issues and problems both within and without that the system cannot itself address. People will begin to move toward the formation of another new system and this will begin to set up an exit revolution. Components of the old system will be retained in toolbox form through the transition to the new.
Elements of a Value System
Meta-narrative ([1], ⊙) : The “big story” of the value system serves as its Prime — it’s mythological origin and central organizing principle. As the system evolves, it will interact and increase the refinement and complexity of the story to create a uniquely culturally-styled model of reality.
Project (α) : Each value system has a “great project” which is the Alpha that it is pushing to achieve. The project is implied in the meta-narrative and a direct and opposite response to the environmental challenge (β) posed to the system. As the Alpha, the project is beyond and bigger than the system itself, thus systems believe their project as “altruistic purpose” in that, if it were completely achieved the world would be a fundamentally better place for all.
Environmental Challenge (β) : Interactions between the system and the larger environment in which it exists exert a Beta pull on the system. While these pull-forces are larger than than the system itself, the way they interface with the system is particular to the system’s geometry.
Identity Complex (2) : Early adopters of the system forge a new self-concept or identity complex that takes the meta-narrative as their story and begins a push for the project, even if their activity is merely visionary or aspirational. Their relative lack of power will cause them at first not to be noticed or persecuted by the proceeding system, and their lack of relative mass will limit their exposure to the environmental challenge, though they will be aware of it and design against it in their work on the meta-narrative.
Existential Crisis (3) : Users of the new system will see their project as a necessary evolution away from the problems generated by the old system and on the level of an existential crisis: unless the new system arises, existence is in some way threatened. As the users of the system gain power, they will begin to experience opposition for the outside that will threaten the emergence, success, or survival of the new system also adding to the existential crisis. This crisis is a direct derivative of the environmental challenge — the growth demands on the system from both within and without, and may also include opposition from other competing systems. Regardless of source, the existential crisis is always mythologically encoded as direct and active opposition to the system and its project.
Systemic Innovation (∴) : As the system gains power over its crisis, it develops an all-systems-level organizational innovation which is a socio-technological contextualization of the meta-narrative. This innovation will become the bedrock of everything the system builds. This represents first main transition — The Diversity Threshold — of the system where the emphasis of the system will shift from Source motion to Cycle motion: or from gathering resource to doing and refining work. This marks the transition to the Mid / Stability Phase of the system.
Social Organization (4) : The system formalizes its social organization based on the systemic innovation optimized to limit anti-social behaviors that threaten the organization and the meta-narrative. This organization will converse with the economy of the system and refine or evolve iterations of its geometry in response to efficiency needs in the economy.
Economy (5) : The system formalizes its economy based on the systemic innovation and how it meets the environmental challenge with increasing efficiency. Economic organization evolves in conversation with the social organization and will refine its geometry in response to threats to social structures and the meta-narrative. The net gains of the system through the increasing efficiency of the economy eventually enables the rise of the empowerment paradox.
Empowerment Paradox (✛) : As the economy makes gains against the environmental challenge and reaps benefits from advancing the project, spare capacity will enable some people to critique the system and either (1) begin to advocate for reform of the system’s excesses or shortfalls leading to a new iteration of the system, or (2) to discover new issues and opportunities now emerging that demand the creation of a new system. As this latter group of people gains traction and members into what will become the exit revolution, the system will begin the transition to the Late / Decline Phase.
Legacy (6) : The old system will deny the emergence of a new system and reality, instead insisting that the meta-narrative is still valid. The system will “charicturize” itself as it goes to extremes for relevance. This defensive posture will stifle adaptability, and thus meaningful reform and innovation, and lower the system’s competitiveness with the emerging new system and the environmental challenge. Social, political, economic, or military conflict may occur as the old system attempts to slow its decline, but generally the more violent its response, the more the decline will accelerate.
Toolboxing (7) : As the seeds of the exit revolution take root, a negotiation will begin about what parts of the old system will be allowed to continue over into the new reality. Efficient or useful ideas and institutions will be placed in a “toolbox” for use when situations present themselves that are similar to the meta-narrative, project, or environmental challenge of the old system.
Exit Revolution (Ω, [8]) : The changes that demand a new system will now grip the majority of people and sub-systems leading to conditions that demand the full emergence of a new system and its ascent to power. This period of transition may be filled with power struggles and the rise and fall of early versions of the new system with faulty timing or geometry.
Derivatives
Each of the eight value systems of the EVS Spectrum use this Frame:
1 Family VS | 2 Tribe VS | 3 Hero VS | 4 Citizen VS | 5 Achiever VS | 6 Village VS | 7 Systems VS | 8 Universe VS
Media
SVG 
PNG, Limited to console