Caught in the W.W.W.web.

Social analyses in network theory, examines the structure of relationships between social entities (Wasserman, 2014). Hayes (2015) suggests Networks are everywhere, these two assertions suggest that in some way humanity is intricately connected. The connection of these networks which stem from hubs gave rise to the idea of six degrees of separation. The six degrees suggests that though hubs networks are formed that link all people.

Spider webs depicting the hub and network effect of network theory. http://curvatureofthemind.com/2012/11/04/spider-web-fractal/

As the picture of the spider web shows, networks stem from hubs connecting stands on the extremity though the networks to the hubs. And although at first glance it may seem to have no rhyme, reason or purpose. It is very much the opposite the spider web serves a purpose that results from an agent i.e. the spider. Although within social networks it is posited nothing controls the forming of the hubs and networks, empirical evidence suggests all things tend to have a purpose and are the result of an agent i.e. parents. This would imply that although it has not been discovered yet, networks do have a specific purpose and are the result of an agent or agents.

McNeill (2012) asserts ‘The digital era complicates definitions of the self and its boundaries, both dismantling and sustaining the humanist subject in practices of personal narrative.” This proposition suggests that as human define self, more and more by existentialist means. People are letting themselves be defined by social networks, hence if a person wakes up one morning and forgets who they are, they can simply log on to reaffirm and validate their identity.

To conclude, although it may seem to have no relevance to this topic, the reader is advised to apply six degrees of separation to find the links in the information. Steve Turner suggest in 'Modern Thinkers Creed'; “We believe that man is essentially good. It’s only his behaviour that lets him down. This is the fault of society. Society is the fault of conditions. Conditions are the fault of society.” It suggests a network of circular arguments by secular scholars when asking the question what it means to be a good human.

Reference List

Barabási, A. L. (2009). Scale-free networks: a decade and beyond. science, 325(5939), 412.

Hayes, A. (2015) BA1002: our space: networks, narratives & making of place, week 7 notes [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-2005336-dt-content-rid-2818986_1/courses/15-BA1002-CNS-EXT_INT-SP2/BA1002%20Week%207%20Networks%20and%20Network%20Theory%20Revised%20PDF.pdf

McNeill, L. (2012). There is no "I" in network: Social networking sites and posthuman Auto/Biography. Biography, 35(1), 65-82.

Wasserman, S., & Faust, K. (1994). Social network analysis: Methods and applications (Vol. 8). Cambridge university press.

http://curvatureofthemind.com/2012/11/04/spider-web-fractal/