Question

How might geometry be used to build a feeling of community? type please

Answer 1

Geometry   is a branch of mathematicsconcerned with questions of shape, size, relative position of figures, and the properties of space. A mathematician who works in the field of geometry is called a geometer.

Geometry arose independently in a number of early cultures as a practical way for dealing with lengths, areas, andvolumes. Geometry began to see elements of formal mathematical science emerging in the West as early as the 6th century BC.

A framework of community development practice has been presented here that identifies four key stages and that proposes a way of thinking about each stage of practice through the prisms of sociality and ‘geometry’. The former illustrates the social processes of community development practice named as nurturing inter-subjectivity, hospitality, networking and structuring. The latter illuminates a particular way of thinking about the technical tasks (in terms of space, shape and direction) of dialogue, moving from dyads to triads, web weaving and engaging the horizontal and vertical dimensions. It is important to understand that such a framework operates on a rendered sense of the ‘real’ – we acknowledge that the ‘real world’ of community practice is much messier than stages and clearly named social and technical processes. However, the framework can signpost ways of thinking about practice that ensures a community development worker does not ‘get lost’ in the felt chaos. Maintaining a clear understanding of the significance of social processes such as nurturing the intersubjective, hospitality, networking and structuring will stand a practitioner in good stead. While maintaining a clear (and concurrent) understanding of the geometrical shape and direction of dialogue, building triads, web weaving and engaging the horizontal/vertical dimension can ensure that a worker brings technical discipline to the work. The driving principle and underlying ethos of ‘practice’ are that there is a disciplined wellthought out, tried and tested way of working. We argue that highlighting some staged social and technical processes through the prisms of sociality and geometry should add to that discipline.