5 Classic Principles of AI

The Core Principles of Appreciative Inquiry, which describe the basic tenets of the underlying Ai philosophy, were developed in the early 1990’s by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva (Cooperrider’s advisor at Case Western Reserve University) and serve as the building blocks for all AI work. The five original principles are: Constructionist, Simultaneity, Anticipatory, Poetic, and Positive.

The 5 Classic Principles IllustratedThe 5 Classic Principles Illustrated - Diana Arsenian 2016

Principle Summary Details
Constructionist Principle Words create worlds Reality, as we know it, is a subjective vs. objective state and is socially created through language and conversations.
Simultaneity Principle Inquiry creates change The moment we ask a question, we begin to create a change. “The questions we ask are fateful.”
Poetic Principle We can choose what we study Teams and organizations, like open books, are endless sources of study and learning. What we choose to study makes a difference. It describes – even creates – the world as we know it.
Anticipatory Principle Images inspire action Human systems move in the direction of their images of the future. The more positive and hopeful the image of the future, the more positive the present-day action.
Positive Principle Positive questions lead to positive change Momentum for [small or] large-scale change requires large amounts of positive affect and social bonding. This momentum is best generated through positive questions that amplify the positive core

– From Cooperrider, D.L., & Whitney, D. A Positive Revolution in Change: Appreciative Inquiry. Taos, NM: Corporation for Positive Change, 1999.

Continue Learning – Read About the 5-D Cycle of AI
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