Commentary and Philosophy Non-Fiction posted May 17, 2024


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Mind Expansion - read notes first

Tuning in

by Cogitator


 

Isn't it just splendid to exist? It is utterly amazing to feel alive! Imagine peeling away the layers of life's complexities, and what do you find at the core? A cocktail of feelings and the simple joy of being. It's like finding a secret garden through meditation, effort, and a relentless quest for truth. It's a treasure hunt where the prize is a state of mind so pure, that only the true seekers are rewarded with a map to their universe.

Believing in ourselves is the golden ticket to making a real difference. Truth is the compass that guides this belief. It's steadfast, not bending to whims or egos. Speaking of egos, they love a good debate, don't they? Armed with nothing but flimsy words, they try to defend their castles in the air. But truth isn't a game of make-believe; it's the solid ground we build our dreams on.

We use words to pass the torch of truth, but sometimes, it flickers in translation. Misunderstandings crop up like weeds. We've got five senses tuning into life's symphony, picking up all sorts of vibes. It's like dialing into your favorite radio station, except the music is the universe itself.

Thoughts are like celestial bodies, orbiting through space. They need to complete their journey to make sense. This cosmic voyage zips through Awareness, Attitude, Attention, Interest, Focus, Analysis, Importance, and finally lands on Decision. It's at this crossroads we figure out if we're ready to act, or if we need to dig a little deeper.

Linguistics and semantics? They're the rulebooks for our word games. But meanings can be as unique as snowflakes. We often value things for their labels, but it's their essence that truly matters. Take money, for instance, it's just paper until it works its magic. And people? It's not who they are, but, 
what they do that counts. Our decisions are a dance of values, shaping the belief systems that run the show.

Balance is the rhythm of life, and when it's off, we feel the beat calling us back to harmony. Mother Nature wants to maintain homeostasis in her creatures. It's a dance, a sequence of steps to get us back to our comfort zone. Nature's got this down to an art; it's the maestro of balance on this planetary stage.

Wisdom isn't a walk in the park. It's the fruit of knowledge, intelligence, and logic, all linked together. Patience is the secret ingredient often missing. In a world of instant everything, wisdom takes a back seat. And let's not forget cognitive dissonance, the mind's way of saying "talk to the hand" to uncomfortable truths. Today's political climate is rife with truth resisters.

Our consciousness is like a riddle wrapped in a mystery. Why do we exist? Why do we build castles in the sky? It's not about losing our spark; it's about understanding our divine nature and not settling for being cogs in the corporate machine. If we gain consciousness to navigate the earth, what would be the purpose if we lose it? Our consciousness must be linked to all consciousness to exist. An existentialist knows he resides on the surface of the subjective/objective mirror.

Truth is like a clear sky, but egos are the clouds. We're like puppets in a show when we're under their spell. But when we cut the strings, we start painting the world in shades of heaven. We have developed a mind that allows us to stop a thought. Stop and think. This is our meditation headquarters. Our creative power is activated when we center our consciousness in the center of our brain - the Corpus Callosum.

Starting the journey of discovery is as simple as not jumping to conclusions. Beliefs are just guesses until proven otherwise. Faith might bridge the gap, but truth stands alone, unshakable.

Take numbers, for example. We agree that 2 plus 2 equals 4, but that's because we agreed on the meaning of those symbols. In binary code, it's a whole different story: 10 plus 10 equals 100 also means 4. It's all about language.

And time? We talk about weeks and days, but there's only today. The past and future are just scenes in the theater of our minds. We envision those scenes by looping through our thoughts from subjective and objective. Even the length of a day is up for debate. It's all a matter of consensus.

Truth is within reach, but it takes some digging. Owning our thoughts is the first step to lifting the veil. After all, the truth is always better, just like R. Buckminster Fuller said. So let's embrace it, shall we?



"Truth is by nature self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that surround it, it shines clear." - Mahatma Gandhi.

"We should stop kidding ourselves. We should let go of things that are not true. It's always better with the truth." - R. Buckminster Fuller

A group of scientists and philosophers claim to have identified a "missing law of nature," which has huge implications for our understanding of everything. Most of us are familiar with the names, if not the intricacies, of many physical laws that govern the world and beyond, such as gravity and thermodynamics. And yet, no established physical law has been able to describe the behaviors of countless complex systems existing across the universe - until now.

Briefly, their law states that evolution is not limited to life on Earth, it also occurs in other massively complex systems, from planets to atoms. This means that these systems naturally "evolve" to states of greater diversity, and complexity... which comprise the following characteristics:

"They are formed from many different components, such as atoms, molecules, or cells, that can be arranged and rearranged repeatedly." I think of da Vinci's "Everything is connected..." and have realized that we are in an ocean of forever evolving thoughts.

"They are subject to "natural processes that cause countless different configurations to be formed." When life activates and flows through its users without interference, a magic universe opens. Pearly Gates.

Only a small fraction of these configurations survives via a process of natural "selection for function." This is like Paul's Purge and Merge" routine  that eliminates unconnected thoughts that were combined. The useless have to go.

According to the researchers, regardless of whether the system is living or nonliving, when a new configuration works and function improves, evolution occurs.

An important component of this proposed natural law is the idea of 'selection for function,'" the study's lead author, astrobiologist Dr Michael L. Wong, explained.

The team's research builds on Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, which suggests that the function exists to ensure the "survival of the fittest." For their work, Dr Wong and his team expanded on this perspective, pointing to the existence of three types of this selection for function in nature.

The first, most basic type, they claim, is stability, the stable arrangements of atoms or molecules selected to continue. The second consists of dynamic systems, selected for their ongoing supplies of energy. And the third, and most intriguing, function is "novelty," the tendency of evolving systems to explore new configurations which can lead to surprising new behaviors or characteristics. Our egos can be NEW! and IMPROVED!

Novelties of course are nothing new when it comes to the evolution of life from the simplest one-celled organisms through multicellular lifeforms as those cells 'learned' to cooperate and new species evolved thanks to advantageous new behaviors such as swimming, walking, flying, and thinking.

Likewise, this team expanded on the concept of Darwinian Evolution in biology to include not just geology (Earth's minerals, which began with only about 20 at the dawn of our solar system 4.5 billion years ago, now number almost 6,000 known today thanks to ever more complex physical, chemical, and ultimately biological processes over those eons.) Cosmology and the universe evolved from the primordial mix of hydrogen and helium resulting from the initial Big Bang to synthesize 20 additional elements in the first generation of stars, and nearly 100 additional elements that now populate our Periodic Table in succeeding stellar generations.

Some additional quotes from an earlier physics.org review. Equating Darwinian Evolution to Einstein's Special Relativity within the context of his broader theory of General Relativity:

"We contend that Darwinian theory is a very special and very important case within a larger phenomenon. The notion that selection for function drives evolution applies equally to stars, atoms, minerals, and many other conceptually equivalent situations where many configurations are subjected to selective pressure."

"The universe generates novel combinations of atoms, molecules, cells, etc. Those combinations that are stable and can go on to engender even more novelty will continue to evolve. This is what makes life the most striking example of evolution, but evolution is everywhere."

The new law has several exciting implications, including a deeper understanding of how the Universe itself came to exist. It could also help explain how life differs from other complex evolving systems and could help aid the search for life elsewhere.

Furthermore, when increasingly autonomous AI systems are of increasing concern, it is very handy to have a law that characterizes how both natural and symbolic systems evolve. It also offers insights into how we could artificially influence the rate of evolution of some systems which, again, could prove invaluable.

The key point to remember, as Dr Wong put it, is that whilst life is the "most striking example of evolution," it is not the only one. Evolution, it transpires, is everywhere. Once quantum computers are humming all over the planet using AI, they will evolve us into transcendence.

Reinterpreting Reality: A New Paradigm

Reality is an intricate tapestry woven from two fundamental threads: subjective experience (consciousness) and physical reality (the realm of time, space, matter, and energy). These dimensions, though distinct, are deeply intertwined, akin to the two sides of a coin. This interconnectedness can be likened to a reflective mirror, with each side informing and influencing the other.
 

From the central point of this mirror, akin to the brain's corpus callosum, which bridges the left and right hemispheres, we can explore our thoughts and emotions. This vantage point allows us to reflect on our subjective experiences while simultaneously interacting with the objective world. This interplay between thought and feeling not only defines our existence but also underscores our ability to relate to the broader universe. Leonardo da Vinci's observation, "Learn to see, everything is connected," encapsulates this concept.

Through imagination, we can create intricate scenarios that merge understanding with creativity. This collective ability to shape reality transcends individual ambitions. The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), founded by astronaut Edgar Mitchell, explores the idea that consciousness and physical reality are not mutually exclusive, but intricately linked.

Nikola Tesla's assertion that reality is composed of energy, frequency, and vibration aligns with this view. The corpus callosum can be seen as a tuning mechanism, enabling us to select and interpret different frequencies, akin to a radio. In this metaphor, robots could represent the advanced capabilities of analog and digital systems using zero and one, synthesizing information with precision.

The Subjective Nature of Reality

The physical world as we perceive it is filtered through our understanding, which is shaped by our consciousness. The notion of "solid" objects becomes less concrete when we consider that, at a fundamental level, everything is composed of energy and matter in various forms. Our perception of the world is like a hologram, where forms represent deeper truths.

The metaphorical mirror also reminds us that human interactions go beyond physical appearance. True connections occur at the level of shared consciousness and spirit. In the movie "Avatar," the Na'vi greet each other with "I see you," signifying a deeper recognition of each other's essence.

The Power of Imagination

Imagination plays a crucial role in shaping reality. By collaborating and envisioning new possibilities, we can create a world that reflects collective values rather than individual selfishness. This concept extends to advanced technologies, such as AI and quantum computing, to engage in a metaphorical tennis match with our wisdom and creativity.

In this context, traditional concepts of God as a personal creator are reimagined. Godness can be seen as synonymous with "existence" itself, rather than a distinct entity. Bucky Fuller's idea of God as a verb, rather than a noun, emphasizes that life is not something we possess; rather, we are participants in a broader process. This approach shifts the focus from religious dogma to existential understanding.

A Path Toward Social Transformation

The idea that consciousness and physical reality are interconnected suggests a broader perspective on societal transformation. By integrating more information and expanding our awareness, we can imagine new beginnings for humanity. This shift requires introspection and meditation, allowing us to explore our place within the larger context of existence.

The life of Helen Keller serves as an inspiring example of the power of perseverance and education. Despite her physical limitations, Keller's legacy demonstrates that obstacles can be overcome with determination and guidance. Her story reminds us that our capabilities are not limited by our physical forms but by our imagination and willpower.

Reimagining Rights and Governance

In reinterpreting reality, we also reconsider the concept of rights. Rights are not inherent; they are social constructs established through agreements and governance. A right exists when one person acknowledges another's freedom to act without interference. Societies generally reach a consensus on fundamental rights to maintain stability and order.

Similarly, political systems benefit from leaders with a commitment to public service and rationality. The idea of tribal elders, rooted in wisdom and community, highlights the importance of integrity in governance. As technology connects us globally, the concept of political borders becomes less relevant, emphasizing our shared responsibility for ethical conduct and peace.

Toward a Unified Vision

Our reality, though complex, can be understood through the lens of interconnectedness. The challenge is to find harmony between subjective experiences and physical existence. By embracing a unified vision and valuing collective well-being over individual gain, we can work toward peaceful stewardship of life on Earth. This journey requires imagination, compassion, and a commitment to understanding the deeper connections that bind us all.

Utopia, Nirvana, and Paradise

Attitudes of a utopian society:

1. Values and Ethics

     - Universal Human Rights: Ensure that everyone has fundamental rights, including freedom, safety, and respect. Violence has no rights.
     - Equity and Justice: Strive for equality in access to resources, opportunities, and justice. Address systemic inequalities and biases.
     - Community and Cooperation: Encourage a sense of community, collaboration, and mutual aid over competition. I doubt we need to make a policy on neighborliness.

2. Resource Distribution

- Resource-Based Economy: Instead of traditional money, resources are distributed based on need and sustainability. This could involve advanced algorithms to manage resources efficiently. The first point of order is to ensure that no one on earth has more than a day's trek to eat. Once quantum computers analyze logistics, this will happen quickly.
- Universal Basic Services: Provide all essential services (healthcare, education, housing, transportation) free at the point of use, eliminating the need for money for basic living.

3. Automation and Robotics

- Automated Infrastructure: Use robotics and automation to handle routine tasks, from manufacturing to agriculture to transportation. Asimov's "I, Robot" should be read and/or seen for a reasonably well-defined idea of what the future will bring. In one scenario, at least. There are zillions of scenarios AI can define for any lifestyle.

- Human-Centered Automation: Design automation to enhance human life, not replace it. Ensure that robots and AI serve the community's best interests.

4. Clean Energy and Sustainability

- Renewable Energy: Implement solar, wind, hydro, and other renewable sources to power society. Aim for a zero-carbon footprint. This is ridiculously simple after we close the military/industrial complex.

- Circular Economy: Design systems that recycle and reuse materials to minimize waste and environmental impact. Plant Chicago demonstrates this sustainability and uses an anaerobic digester to deliver fresh water, energy, and solids that can be used as fuel or fertilizer.

5. Education and Innovation

- Lifelong Learning: Provide ongoing education and training to help people adapt to a changing world. Emphasize creativity and critical thinking. The entire knowledge base of humanity is at the touch of a button.
- Open Innovation: Encourage open-source technology and collaborative research to foster innovation and problem-solving.

6. Global Citizenship

- No National Borders: Embrace a global perspective, allowing free movement and collaboration across former borders. Foster cultural exchange and understanding.

- Global Governance: Establish international bodies to address global challenges like climate change, health, and security. The methods suggested by intelligent systems will outstrip human thinking if it hasn't already.

7. Community and Culture

     - Localized Communities: While global in perspective, maintain a focus on local communities to ensure a sense of belonging and cultural preservation. Travel is free and subject only to availability. No passport or visa is required.
     - Art and Creativity: Encourage artistic expression and creativity to enrich society and provide diverse forms of fulfillment.

8. Conflict Resolution and Justice

     - Restorative Justice: Instead of punitive systems, use restorative practices to heal harm and rebuild relationships.

     - Peaceful Conflict Resolution: Develop systems and structures that resolve conflicts without violence, promoting dialogue and understanding.

These guiding principles can create a utopian society where people live in harmony with each other and the environment, supported by advanced technology and a sense of shared humanity. However, implementing such a society would require significant cultural shifts, technological advancements, and a commitment to a shared vision of a better future.

Some people look at their life and ask "Why." Utopians ask "Why not?
 
All we need do is start singing "Imagine" and the world will be as one with as many lifestyles as there are people.
 




My manuscript is at the publisher's office. It is titled "My Vacation on Earth" and should be on Kindle in a couple of weeks. The final hard copy design is next.

This is the result of forty-two years of research. I started doing systems analysis on November 23, 1963. I am convinced we can join in the effort to turn this spaceship around.
in 1995, Paul and I founded Cognitor, Inc. to market an inference engine we named Cogitator. Current technology is nearly where we were.

The mysteries are officially over. The truth has set us free. We can all create the future with our collective thoughts.
Pays one point and 2 member cents.

Artwork by corrinas creations at FanArtReview.com

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