--- title: Commons description: Raising the Commons is a frequent topic of conversation, contemplation and research. This is a brief overview of some of our thinking to date. --- [PRAXORIUM](https://praxorium.org?hsLang=en) [About](https://praxorium.org/our-history?hsLang=en) [Our Code](https://praxorium.org/our-code?hsLang=en) [Donation Policy](https://praxorium.org/donation-policy?hsLang=en) [Kairotic Flow](https://praxorium.org/kairotic-flow?hsLang=en) [Commons](https://praxorium.org/commons) [Contact](https://praxorium.org/contact?hsLang=en) # Raising the Commons A repeating theme of conversation and contemplation. From philosophy to praxis. [BECOME A PATRON](https://www.patreon.com/kyliestedmangomes) ### The Commons - a term still defying common definition **Wikipedia**: (with our emphasis) “The commons is the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of a society, including natural materials such as air, water, and a habitable Earth. These resources are held in common even when owned privately or publicly.  Commons can also be understood as natural resources that groups of people (communities, user groups) manage for individual and collective benefit. Characteristically, this involves a variety of informal norms and values (social practice) employed for a governance mechanism.  Commons can also be defined as a social practice of governing a resource not by state or market but by *a community of users that self-governs* the resource through institutions that it creates…. ... The Digital Library of the Commons defines "commons" as "a general term for *shared resources in which each stakeholder has an equal interest*". #### How we use the term "Commons" Commons are shared resources, of any kind, in which a given set of constituents have a *common and equal interest*. We especially distinguish Commons from Market and State. It’s important to note that the nature of *interest* in what we might naturally think of as a particular set of resources may *differ* from one group to another, e.g. the Amazon rainforest. - Globally, we all have an equal interest in the Commons of breathable air, and the Amazon rainforest has a part to play in that, so in that way we *all* have an equal interest in it. - Locally, those living in the Amazon rainforest have *additional* interests in the Amazon rainforest as their home, as their source of food and livelihood. Commons philosophy remains messy. In some ways it is easier to talk about what we think Commons are *not*: - they do not have to be 'free access' - they do not have to be *currently* under Commons governance #### Three sectors, each with a different form of governance ## Something Powerful ### Tell The Reader More The headline and subheader tells us what you're offering, and the form header closes the deal. Over here you can explain why your offer is so great it's worth filling out a form for. Remember: - Bullets are great - For spelling out benefits and - Turning visitors into leads. **MARKET - private sector**  - Markets enable us to buy resources, try new things and optimize what works, based on the transactions of people ‘voting with their wallets’ **STATE - public sector**  - States provide standards, stability, and public services, based on voting and formal hierarchy **COMMONS - community/non-profit sector** - Commons provide everything else through our relationships, collaboration, voluntary participation, norms and mutual support ![Screenshot 2023-08-01 at 18.11.37](https://praxorium.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202023-08-01%20at%2018.11.37.png?width=380&height=377&name=Screenshot%202023-08-01%20at%2018.11.37.png "Screenshot 2023-08-01 at 18.11.37") #### Access to resources and power in the three sectors **MARKET - private sector**  - Most resources humans need to live are **owned** or **harvested** within Market structures across the globe - Massive cohered, active power from **resource control** **STATE - public sector**  - **Owns** some assets and charges **taxes**, **royalties** - Fewer resources than Market in most countries, but still has significant access; also has **formal,** cohered power (e.g. legislative, judicial, executive) **COMMONS - community / non-profit sector** - Relies on **volunteers**, **philanthropy** and **grants** - Resources are **scarce**, power is **dispersed** (incoherent) ![Screenshot 2023-08-01 at 18.12.22](https://praxorium.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202023-08-01%20at%2018.12.22.png?width=380&height=378&name=Screenshot%202023-08-01%20at%2018.12.22.png "Screenshot 2023-08-01 at 18.12.22") #### Why are the Commons so underpowered and incoherent? The imbalance is an inevitable consequence of the way/sresources are currently collected and distributed. Metaphorically (where water = resources needed for life): **MARKET -**We each use ***watering**cans***to distribute resources we’ve collected to where we think we will get the best ROI **STATE -** We vote to distribute resources to activities / areas we believe are valuable and viable, using systems of ***water**pipes*** **COMMONS -**Needs ***rain*** but presently suffers continuous drought as resources are nearly all captured and redirected into ***watering**cans*** and ***water**pipes*** ![Screenshot 2023-08-01 at 18.13.08](https://praxorium.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202023-08-01%20at%2018.13.08.png?width=380&height=369&name=Screenshot%202023-08-01%20at%2018.13.08.png "Screenshot 2023-08-01 at 18.13.08") Watering can Icon by [www.wishforge.games](https://freeicons.io/profile/2257); Rain Icon by [ferdizzimo](https://freeicons.io/profile/104321); Water pipe Icon by [Muhammad Waqas](https://freeicons.io/profile/321513). All on [freeicons.io](https://freeicons.io/) ## Support our mission   Praxorium gratefully accepts no-strings-attached donations of all sizes from organisations and people who support our mission, initially via our founder's Patreon page.  [BECOME A PATRON](https://patreon.com/kyliestedmangomes) ©2026 Praxorium. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://praxorium.org/privacy-policy?hsLang=en)