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The Limits of an Individualist Worldview
Beneath the forest floor there is a complex network of life – fungal threads that weave through the soil and into plant roots, creating a web of connections between organisms. This allows water, nutrients, and chemical messages to flow and resources to be shared, a cooperation between species that benefits all involved.
Yet when these mycorrhizal fungi were first observed the assumption was one of exploitation; a tree with a large number of connections was viewed as one that was diseased, subject to parasitism.
Community care is a practice that is present in the roots of cultures around the world yet over time dominant strands of Western thought have become increasingly individual-orientated. Economic models are centred around ‘rational actors’ who are self-interest driven and political theory describes society as a set of contracts between individuals.
With this lens in place it makes sense that the relational nature of mycorrhizal networks was misunderstood, we had placed our own expectations upon the behaviour.
Bridging the Gap: Reciprocity in Action
Only by moving into a perspective that allows for interdependencies have scientists begun to understand the complexities of these networks. We have learnt that the sharing of resources is nuanced, taking into consideration availability and need. Repeatedly we have observed that participation in these networks allows for greater flourishing than isolation. If viewing plant life from an individualist stance fails to capture the reality of these systems, then why does so much of dominant academic thought continue to assume that humans, who are at their core another part of nature, can be best understood as separate, competitive beings.
When we look at human communities on a local scale, we inevitably observe patterns of behaviour that echo the reciprocity of fungal networks: childcare, emotional support, food sharing, mutual aid, and teaching. These forms of care often bring no measurable benefit to the individual and so are incompatible with models built around rational actors and self-interest.
Interdependence as an Organising Principle
Because they do not conform to these dominant narratives, they are frequently overlooked and so, despite being essential to the functioning of society, are rarely considered within academic spheres. Even when such exchanges are acknowledged, they are often dismissed, framed as a form of weakness or vulnerability to exploitation. This is intensified by the fact that much of this unrecognised labour has historically been performed by groups whose contributions have been systemically devalued.
What if, instead of treating interdependence as anomalous to human society, we recognised it as one of its organising principles? As with mycorrhizae, might such a shift in perspective allow us to better understand the world around us? By centering existing practices of community care, we would create space for further connections to be built, increasing our capacity for mutual gain.
All Flourishing is Mutual: Building a Practice of Care
Within dominant individualist models, dependence is often treated as weakness and giving as loss, but observationally we see the opposite. Whether it’s through fungal networks or community groups we find that the circulation of resources is not a drain but rather a form of sustenance: care, knowledge, and support moving across the social body in response to need.
Engaging with our world in a less separatist way has already led to positive changes. Increased awareness of interdependence has allowed for a rethinking of approaches to legal policies and social practices that has had tangible impacts ranging from rights of nature to improved social provisions. By promoting and practising mutualism within our communities, including those not necessarily recognised as such, we are contributing to a broader systemic change. An ontology of reciprocity suggests that what we gain from giving is a lot more than personal satisfaction or the hope of something in return. We gain the possibility of a world in which the needs of many are met with care, consideration, and shared commitment. As Robin Wall Kimmerer writes, ‘All flourishing is mutual’, embodying a practice of generosity extends beyond inter-human relationships. When a blackberry becomes a gift or the shade of a canopy an act of consideration, we become rich in a way that profit-driven values cannot measure.
Evelyn Byrne and The Team