In an era defined by sprawling urban centres, digital connectivity, and globalised economies, the question of what fosters true human flourishing has become increasingly urgent. British anthropologist Robin Dunbar's concept of "Dunbar's Number" suggests that humans are cognitively wired to maintain stable, meaningful social relationships with approximately 150 individuals, a number rooted in the size of ancestral village-like communities. This psychological limit, derived from studies of primate brain size and social group dynamics, stands in stark contrast to the scale and complexity of modern globalised society. By exploring Dunbar's insights alongside C.H. Douglas's Social Credit philosophy and E.F. Schumacher's "Small is Beautiful" ethos, we can better understand why smaller, human-scale social structures may be essential for fostering well-being, community, and genuine human flourishing in an age of mass systems.
Dunbar's Number, often rounded to 150, represents the approximate number of people with whom an individual can maintain stable, reciprocal relationships, those where you know someone well enough to approach them uninvited for a drink or feel comfortable asking for a favour. This figure emerges from Dunbar's research, which correlates the size of the neocortex (the brain region tied to cognition and social processing) with group sizes in primates. For humans, 150 aligns with the average size of hunter-gatherer clans, Neolithic villages, and even modern organisational units like military companies or workplace teams.
These relationships are not superficial; they require trust, mutual obligation, and emotional investment. Dunbar's work reveals a layered structure within this limit: an inner circle of about 5 intimate relationships, followed by layers of 15 close friends, 50 friends, and the broader 150 meaningful contacts. Beyond this, connections weaken, becoming acquaintances (around 500) or recognisable faces (up to 1,500). Maintaining a group of 150 demands significant time, Dunbar estimates up to 42% of social time for grooming or bonding activities in high-pressure settings like subsistence villages.
In contrast, globalised society pushes us toward networks far exceeding this cognitive ceiling. Social media platforms, for instance, allow us to "connect" with thousands, yet Dunbar argues these are often low-quality, one-sided interactions that don't meet the criteria of meaningful relationships. The average number of Instagram followers or Facebook friends may hover around 150, but only a fraction represent true social bonds. This mismatch between our cognitive wiring and the scale of modern interactions raises questions about whether globalised systems undermine our capacity for deep connection.
Globalisation, with its emphasis on mass production, urbanisation, and digital interconnectedness, creates social and economic structures that often dwarf the human scale. Cities house millions, corporations employ thousands, and online platforms expose us to countless strangers. While these systems offer efficiency and access, they can foster alienation, loneliness, and a sense of disconnection. Dunbar's research suggests that exceeding the 150-person threshold strains our cognitive capacity, leading to weaker social cohesion and reduced trust. In large, dispersed societies, individuals meet less frequently, making it harder to maintain familiarity and mutual obligation.
This tension is evident in modern phenomena like social media overload, where users struggle to filter meaningful interactions from a deluge of superficial ones, or in workplaces where teams exceeding Dunbar's Number face communication breakdowns. The Swedish Tax Authority's 2007 reorganisation to keep offices under 150 employees, reflects an intuitive recognition of this limit, though it overlooks external social networks like family and friends. Such examples highlight a broader issue: globalised systems choose scale and efficiency over the human need for intimate, stable communities.
Moreover, the psychological toll of navigating vast, impersonal systems can erode well-being. Dunbar's work suggests that our brains evolved for small, tight-knit groups where trust and cooperation were survival mechanisms. In contrast, globalised society often demands interactions with strangers, fostering competition over collaboration and anonymity over accountability. This misalignment may contribute to rising rates of loneliness and mental health challenges, as individuals struggle to find the deep social bonds that foster flourishing.
C.H. Douglas's Social Credit philosophy offers a complementary perspective, arguing that economic systems should serve human needs rather than dominate them. Developed in the early 20th century, Social Credit critiques industrialised capitalism's tendency to concentrate wealth and power, proposing mechanisms like a national dividend to distribute economic surplus directly to individuals. This approach emphasises decentralisation and local empowerment, aligning with the human-scale principles implicit in Dunbar's Number. By reducing dependence on centralised financial systems, Douglas Social Credit aims to restore agency to communities, enabling them to function at a scale where relationships remain personal and reciprocal.
Douglas's ideas resonate with Dunbar's findings by valuing economic structures that support smaller, cohesive groups. A community of roughly 150, where individuals know and trust one another, could theoretically manage resources and decision-making more equitably under a Social Credit framework. Such a system would reduce the alienation of globalised economies, where individuals often feel like gears in a machine, and instead foster environments where social and economic interactions reinforce mutual support. For example, local cooperatives or community-based enterprises, operating within Dunbar's cognitive limits, could enhance both economic security and social bonds, creating conditions for human flourishing.
E.F. Schumacher's "Small is Beautiful" philosophy further reinforces the argument for human-scale structures. Published in 1973, Schumacher's book critiques the excesses of industrial society, advocating for technologies and institutions that respect human dignity and environmental limits. He argues that "small" systems, those designed to operate at a scale comprehensible to individuals, promote meaningful work, community cohesion, and sustainable living. This ethos directly supports Dunbar's findings, as smaller groups naturally align with our cognitive capacity for relationships.
Schumacher's vision of decentralised, human-scale communities, contrasts sharply with the mass structures of globalisation. For instance, he champions local economies and intermediate technologies that empower individuals rather than overwhelm them. A village or workplace of 150 people, as Dunbar's research suggests, is an ideal size for fostering trust, collaboration, and a sense of belonging, qualities essential for flourishing. Companieswhich limit operational units to 150 to maintain cohesion, exemplify this principle in practice.
Moreover, Schumacher's emphasis on meaningful work and environmental stewardship aligns with the psychological benefits of small-scale social structures. In a community where individuals know one another, work can be collaborative and purpose-driven, rather than alienating. This environment supports Dunbar's observation that strong social bonds, maintained through frequent interaction and emotional investment, are critical for well-being. By scaling down economic and social systems, we create spaces where people can thrive as individuals and as part of a collective.
Human flourishing, encompassing emotional well-being, social connection, and a sense of purpose, depends on environments that respect our cognitive and psychological limits. Dunbar's Number suggests that our brains are wired for village-like communities, where relationships are deep and reciprocal. Globalised society, with its vast networks and impersonal systems, often exceeds these limits, leading to fragmentation and disconnection. Both Douglas's Social Credit and Schumacher's "Small is Beautiful" offer frameworks for reimagining society at a human scale, where economic and social structures value relationships over scale.
To foster flourishing, we might consider hybrid models that blend the benefits of globalisation, access to knowledge, resources, and diversity, with the intimacy of small-scale communities. For example, digital platforms could be designed to yield meaningful interactions within Dunbar's 150-person limit, perhaps by fostering smaller, curated groups, rather than infinite follower lists. Locally focused economic policies, inspired by Social Credit, could empower communities to manage resources collaboratively, reducing reliance on distant systems. And Schumacher's principles could guide the creation of workplaces and neighbourhoods that feel personal and purposeful.
Robin Dunbar's Number, rooted in the biology of our social brains, reminds us that humans thrive in smaller, village-like structures where trust and connection flourish. In a globalised world, this insight challenges us to rethink the scale of our social and economic systems. By drawing on C.H. Douglas's Social Credit and E.F. Schumacher's "Small is Beautiful," we can envision a world that balances the benefits of modernity with our innate need for human-scale communities. Such a world would not only respect our cognitive limits but also create the conditions for true human flourishing, where relationships, purpose, and well-being take precedence over the relentless drive for scale … and profit!
https://www.daastol.com/books/Schumacher%20(1973)%20Small%20is%20Beautiful.pdf