690 lines
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690 lines
38 KiB
Plaintext
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| File Name : COMPLEX.ASC | Online Date : 06/10/95 |
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| Contributed by : InterNet | Dir Category : ENERGY |
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| From : KeelyNet BBS | DataLine : (214) 324-3501 |
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This file deals with the authors idea of the universe being composed or
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progressively complex systems. It directly corresponds with enfolded (nested)
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structures such as are developed in scalar fields and used practically in
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radionics.
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220 15009 <3pqtkr$kmd@stud.Direct.CA> article
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Path: ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!uwm.edu!math.
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ohio-state.edu!scipio.cyberstore.ca!news.Direct.CA!usenet
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From: pweis@Direct.CA (Peter H. Weis)
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Newsgroups: alt.sci.physics.new-theories
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Subject: Progressive Complexity - The Equation of All Creation -
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emlplexy.2 [1/1]
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Date: 22 May 1995 20:53:47 GMT
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Organization: Internet Direct Inc.
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Lines: 670
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Message-ID: <3pqtkr$kmd@stud.Direct.CA>
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NNTP-Posting-Host: dyn-158.direct.ca
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Mime-Version: 1.0
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Content-Type: Application/octet-stream
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X-Newsreader: WinVN 0.92.6+
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Progressive Complexity - The Equation of All Creation
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by Peter H. Weis
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This brief and simple synopsis deals with the nature of our universe and its
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creative forces. In the course of this synopsis it becomes clear that our
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universe is CONSTRUCTIVELY DYNAMIC - as the planet under our feet and a single
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glance at the firmament shows - and hence, that our universe is governed by a
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vast plan and supreme purpose. Since the same forces that have created and
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govern the universe and Life alike have also created and govern the existence
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of our kind and selves, our existence is automatically endowed with an equally
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vast plan and supreme purpose.
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When we look at our universe, we see two basic aspects. On the one hand, we
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see chaos and decay, and on the other, we see vast and increasingly complex
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structure and order - an order so immaculate that it can be described in the
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pure logic of mathematics. That the nature and the workings of our universe
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can be revealed with the absolute logic of mathematics is the measure of its
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own immaculate logic and inviolable Order. For reasons which will forever
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baffle me, our scientists have focused exclusively upon the chaos and decay,
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and have dismissed the profound structure and immaculate order of our universe
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as totally meaningless and "astronomically unlikely accidents' in a
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fundamentally chaotic universe.
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Consequently, at least in their eyes, our existence is also just as
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accidental, and therefore, utterly meaningless and without any purpose
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whatsoever. Even today the professional stature and reputation of any
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scientist still rests upon this profoundly subjective and deliberate one-eyed
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view of our universe. As this synopsis shows, our scientists could not have
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been more wrong. Here, the Chaos and the Order of our universe are unified
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into the two complementary aspects of an indivisible unity to yield - akin to
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Male and Female - "The Equation of All Creation".
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The understanding of the creative forces of our universe by its offspring is
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part and parcel of the plan, evolution and supreme purpose of our universe -
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and therefore, the star-spun destiny of our kind. And while this understanding
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delivers immense cognitive along with real power into the hands of our kind
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and selves, its advent in our time also marks the coming of age of our kind
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and the evolutionary quantum leap from Homo sapiens, sapiens to Homo nobilis,
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stellaris (see "The Emergence of Homo Nobilis, Stellaris" by this author).
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However, this cognitive evolutionary quantum leap remains, as always, a matter
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of individual choice (see Darwin's recognition of Sexual Selection, a pure
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matter of individual choice, even at all instinctual levels). Fortunately, the
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creative forces of our universe are almost ridiculously easy to understand;
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the average 15 year-old is fully capable of understanding these fundamental
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universal forces, at least in principle.
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Lest this be construed as the worst kind of anthropocentric hubris by some,
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the evolution of the universe and of Life alike are driven by exactly the same
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fundamental universal forces, and therefore, the universe harbours billions
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of other races on millions of other planets in billions of other galaxies. And
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although they differ vastly in form and function according to local
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conditions, they all face the same star-spun destiny.
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Since the universe as it exists today evolved from the burst of pure energy of
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its big bang birth, EVERYTHING that exists MUST be inherent, if only
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ultimately, in the nature of energy. Consequently this synopsis begins with
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the nature of energy, to see what it may contain. And although an analysis of
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the nature of energy is not everyone's favourite thing, make an exception
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this time and you will be richly rewarded. You will be rewarded with a basic
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but comprehensive understanding of the universe, of the forces which have
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created and govern the universe, the Earth, Life and its evolution, the
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emergence of our kind, and thus, the existence of our selves.
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Indeed, you will understand the forces of All Creation. And although we are
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creatures of the Earth, you will also know that we are first and foremost the
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direct product and offspring of the creative forces of our universe itself,
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and that our existence is endowed with the same vast plan and supreme purpose
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that governs our universe.
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We begin with the nature of energy, as stated in the 1st law of
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thermodynamics. Everything that follows is as simple and as general as the
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first law - as it MUST be ("The almost frightening simplicity and wholeness of
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the relationships which nature suddenly opens up before us." Werner
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Heisenberg).
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The 1st law of thermodynamics describes the nature of energy as follows:
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Energy cannot be created nor destroyed; it can only be changed.
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The change of energy into matter, and vice versa, is one example. The change
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of heat into motion (steam engines and automobiles) is another. The change of
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gravitational energy into electromagnetic energy (hydro stations) is yet
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another.
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As the first law clearly states, and as proven by these and myriad other
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examples, CHANGE is inherent in the nature of energy. We now have the ultimate
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origin of all CHANGE.
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Since the 1st law also states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed -
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also known as the law of "the conservation of energy" - the STABILITY of
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energy in total and as such, is infinite. There is no way around this; the
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first law is absolute in this regard (also see the invariance of individual
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wavelengths, of quantization, the eternal motion of energy waves. Therefore
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then, and as the 1st law clearly states, STABILITY is inherent in the nature
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of energy. We have now come upon the ultimate origin of all STABILITY.
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Due to their common origin in the fundamental unity of energy, CHANGE &
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STABILITY are the polar complements - like positive and negative charge, or
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north and south polarity - of a fundamental unity. Consequently CHANGE &
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STABILITY are eternally and inextricably interlocked, co-exist simultaneously,
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are relative to each other, are superposed one upon an other, and are, except
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for quantum transitions, inversely proportional.
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Here we have obtained the unification of CHANGE and STABILITY - and thus, the
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fundamental Universal Dynamics of CHANGE & STABILITY. The unification and
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interlocked interaction of CHANGE and STABILITY yields this infinitely
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powerful little theorem:
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"Infinite CHANGE Within STABLE Parameters"
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We encounter essentially the same theorem in Chaos theory, which is most
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commonly expressed as (Davies, Penrose, many others) -
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"An Infinite Series of Points (CHANGE) Within a Finite (STABLE) Domain"
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And when re-worded as
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"Infinite Potential within Finite Parameters"
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this little theorem also contains the essence and the foundation of the
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concept of the wave function in quantum mechanics.
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With the unification of CHANGE & STABILITY, we have also obtained the
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unification of Chaos and Order - only the words differ - and solved the
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baffling paradox of the simultaneous co-existence of these antipolar
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phenomena.
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Nevertheless, we retain the terms CHANGE & STABILITY since they refer us back,
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explicitly and directly, to the first law of thermodynamics at every turn.
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(Apparently, we have also obtained the unification of Infinity and Finity as
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the polar complements of a fundamental unity - which boggles my mind no end).
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Snowflakes are perhaps the most familiar examples of Infinite CHANGE within
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STABLE Parameters. Each snowflake is individually unique, yet conforms
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invariably to the form common to all snowflakes. And while there is not one
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snowflake on the earth exactly like any other - nor in the entire universe -
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nor ever was and never will be, each snowflake is invariably true to the form
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common to all. The same holds true of stars, of galaxies, of planets, moons,
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trees, cats and dogs, every leaf on every tree, every blade of grass, and even
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individual bacteria behave, as Lewis Thomas observed, "as if they have names".
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The same holds true for our selves, of course. Each one of us is individually
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unique, yet we are all true to the typical human form common to all of us.
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Here then, we have the origin and dynamics of individuality, the infinity of
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CHANGE within STABLE parameters, the essence of a CHAOS that never repeats
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itself, and as such, the origin and fundamental driving force of the infinite
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diversity - within STABLE parameters - of all creation.
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The dynamics of CHANGE & STABILITY are quantum in nature and constitute a vast
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domain in their own right (and far too extensive to describe here), complete
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with its own rich and intricate formalism and structure, along with a wealth
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of profound and immensely powerful new insights.
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Among a myriad other insight, some of the major consequences inherent in
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CHANGE & STABILITY Dynamics are; the as yet missing half of the complete
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equation of quantum theory (a purely causative quantum theory similar to
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Bohm's theory); a quantum cosmos; a direct avenue to the unification of the
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four forces; a vast new dimension to E=mc(2); the profoundly important
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function of black holes; as well as the foundation for what may well be called
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"The Equation Of All Creation".
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The complementary bi-polar nature of CHANGE & STABILITY Dynamics also strongly
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suggest similar higher level polarities among time, space, energy and matter.
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Since these dynamics will occupy us until the end of time, and except for the
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simple basics far exceed my capacity, we shall not go further into the
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intricacies of CHANGE & STABILITY Dynamics here, other than to state:
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The universal Dynamics of CHANGE & STABILITY generate and govern all physical,
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chemical, biological, instinctual, social, psychological, economic,
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technological, political and cognitive systems.
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In regard to cognitive systems: our cognitive consciousness is generated and
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governed by whether a neuron - or a complex of neurons - fires (CHANGE) or not
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(STABILITY). Likewise, our cumulative body of learned knowledge is generated
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and governed by new knowledge (CHANGE) and long established knowledge
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(STABILITY). The extremes of these bi-polar generating and governing forces
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are most familiar to us as heresy and dogma.
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Similarly, the ability to learn is generated and governed by cognitive CHANGE,
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whereas memory is generated and governed by cognitive STABILITY. Incidentally,
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the 0 and 1 foundation of our computer language is also generated by the
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CHANGE & STABILITY dynamics of whether a transistor - or array of transistors
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- fires or not.
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The interaction of the bi-polar dynamics of CHANGE & STABILITY generates
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Progressive Complexity. Matter, for instance, is a far more complex thing than
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the ultimate simplicity of pure energy (is there an even simpler ur-energy, or
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proto-energy, than the bi-polar energy we know? The Dynamics of Progressive
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Complexity appear to imply this). The transformation of energy into matter
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constitutes a cardinal and canonical quantum leap of Progressive Complexity.
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Similarly, the serial fusion of elementary hydrogen into progressively more
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complex elements in stars is another clear instance of the Universal Dynamics
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of Progressive Complexity at work. Indeed, and in this light, every star in
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the universe is a blazing factory of Progressive Complexities (our own sun is
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fusing simple hydrogen into more complex helium right now - the source of our
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'sunshine' - which in turn drives the Progressive Complexity of the evolution
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of Life on the Earth).
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The creation of the far higher complexity of matter from the ultimate
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simplicity of energy shortly after the big bang birth of our universe not only
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provided the physical foundation of our universe, but constitutes indisputable
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proof that Progressive Complexity is inherent in the nature of energy.
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Consequently, Progressive Complexity is fundamental to the nature and
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structure of our universe.
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The full implication are myriad, immensely powerful, and stunning. One of the
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most far-reaching implications is that, rather than 'chaotic', our universe is
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constructively dynamic and embodies a plan and a purpose. Growth, for instance
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- from the seminal simplicity of a single fertile ovum to the immense
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complexity of a fully developed organism - is indisputably a constructively
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dynamic process which is accompanied, at every stage, by a geometric increase
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in Progressive Complexity.
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Similarly, the 'growth' of a proto-star from the elementary simplicity of a
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hydrogen cloud to the far higher complexity of a new-born star, complete with
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its retinue of planets and moons (we consider planet formation universal
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rather than a unique local accident), is also and clearly a constructively
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dynamic process accompanied by a commensurate increase in Progressive
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Complexity. Moreover, every increase in Complexity is accompanied by an
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obligatory and commensurate increase in Order.
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The creation and maintenance of the staggering physiological, metabolic,
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neural and cognitive Complexity of a fully developed human being, for
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instance, demands a degree of Order which can only be described as awesome.
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Growth, hitherto purely an empirical phenomenon, here becomes, as we shall
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see, the direct product of - as generated and governed by - the fundamental
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dynamics of Progressive Complexity of our universe. The growth of a chicken
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from an egg, or the growth of a tree from a seed, is often considered to be a
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teleological process - a process which embodies a plan and a purpose. Since
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nothing in this universe exists without cause, we consider the existence of
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these teleological processes to be the direct expression of the fundamental
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Constructively Dynamic forces, and therefore, teleological nature, of our
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universe.
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The evolution and existence of our kind and selves in such a universe - and as
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the direct product of its fundamental dynamics of Progressive Complexity -
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also endows our existence with a supreme plan and purpose and, therefore, with
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profound meaning. The full implications - regarding the true nature of
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our universe, as well as of our selves - are indeed stunning.
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Lest this be construed as another example of extreme anthropocentricity by
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some, the universal nature of these dynamics makes the existence of our kind
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far from unique in this universe. The existence of similarly highly evolved
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races numbering in the billions, is a given. After all, universal dynamics
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apply throughout the universe. Still, and although these billions of highly
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sentient races differ vastly in form, function and appearance in accord with
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local conditions, we will share the nature of our consciousness with all of
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them.
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One of the first implications of a progressively more complex universe is that
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its fundamental dynamics of Progressive Complexity also contain what may well
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be called "The Equation of All Creation".
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For a vivid illustration of how the Dynamics of CHANGE & STABILITY generate
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Progressive Complexity, we now turn to the enchanting beauty and infinite
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COMPLEXITY of the images of the Mandelbrot set. Like our universe, there is
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only one Mandelbrot set, but it is infinite. (Since this format does not
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support graphics, and if not familiar with 'Fractals' or the Mandelbrot set,
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please refer to the many publications, such as "Chaos" by James Glick, which
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feature the 'fractal' images of the Mandelbrot set, most of which are strongly
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reminiscent of many complex living organisms).
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The intricate and infinite Complexity of the Mandelbrot set is the product of
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a very simple algorithm which, in its most basic form, is written like this:
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Z(2) + C = Z1
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(Z squared, plus C equals Z one). Here, Z stands for any complex number which
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is squared, and C stands for any complex number which remains constant
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throughout and is added to the product of Z squared. The result of this simple
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calculation is termed Z one. In the next round, Z one is substituted for Z, is
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then squared as before, the constant C is added again, to yield the product Z
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two. Written down, the iterative procedure looks like this:
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Z (2) + C = Z1
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Z1 (2) + C = Z2
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Z2 (2) + C = Z3
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Z3 (2) + C = Z4
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Z4 (2) + C = Z5
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Since this format does not support sub and superscript this sublimely simple
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iteration goes like this in words:
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Z squared plus C equals Z one
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Z one squared plus C equals Z two
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Z two squared plus C equals Z three
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Z three squared plus C equals Z four
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Z four squared plus C equals Z five
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and so forth and so forth, ad inifinitum.
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When the result of each iteration - Z one; Z two; Z three - and so forth, and
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so forth - is plotted as a point on a co-ordinate grid, the infinite
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complexity and enchanting beauty of the Mandelbrot set's images emerges, point
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by point, on the grid, or as commonly done today, on the computer screen. The
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preceding image was made in this manner (although the actual Mandelbrot
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algorithm is a bit more complex than this, its basic form is exactly as stated
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here).
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The key to the origin and dynamics of PROGRESSIVE COMPLEXITY is very simple.
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As is clearly apparent in this simple algorithmic iteration, Z is a
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continuously CHANGING factor, whereas the factor C remains constant, and hence
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STABLE, throughout. In this manner the dynamics of CHANGE & STABILITY
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generate and govern PROGRESSIVE COMPLEXITY.
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The gestation and growth of biological organisms - from the seminal simplicity
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of a single fertile cell to the immense Complexity of a fully developed adult
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- is the most intimately familiar example of the creation of Progressive
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Complexity by the dynamics of CHANGE & STABILITY.
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Each stage in the gestation of an organism -
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one cell divides into two;
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two into four;
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four divide into eight;
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eight make 16;
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16 make 32;
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32 make 64;
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and so forth;
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and so forth - marks an instance of CHANGE, as well as a geometric increase in
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Complexity. The element of STABILITY in the growth process arises out of the
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fact that each daughter cell is a perfect copy and identical 'clone' of its
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maternal cell. At least initially, each daughter cell is an invariant, or a
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STABLE copy of its maternal cell.
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At the level of biological gestation and Growth, we are dealing with an
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immensely higher level of Progressive Complexity than the CHANGE of energy
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into the higher Complexity of elementary particles, or than the progressive
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fusion of hydrogen into the Progressive Complexity of the elements in stars.
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And while the PROGRESSIVE COMPLEXITY of the evolution of Life has introduced
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profound genetically driven CHANGE into the gestation and Growth of immensely
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Complex organisms, the DNA of each cell - no matter whether any cell develops
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into skin, eye, brain, blood or one of a myriad other cells - remains
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identical to the maternal DNA of the original fertile ovum, and thus, embodies
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the genetic and morphological STABILITY of the organism. Basic cell structure,
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mitochondria (with their own genetic and morphological STABILITY factors),
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Golgi aparati, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticula, lysosomes, nucleoli,
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centrioles, microtubules etc., down to the various chemical, molecular and
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atomic STABILITIES, are other examples of the manifold and intricate web of
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biological STABILITY factors. Also see the 4 billion year-long morphological
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STABILITY of bacteria - despite the massive CHANGES to an aerobic atmosphere
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and the intervention of dozens of ice ages.
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The universal Dynamics of Progressive Complexity from energy to our kind and
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selves are best illustrated by this simple diagram:
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Homo sapiens
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Humankind
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Homo afarensis
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Primates
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Animals
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Protozoa
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Bi-morphic Plants
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Plants
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Algae
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Eukaryotes
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Single-celled Organisms
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Prokaryotes
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Proteins
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Chemical Compounds
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Water
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Uranium
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Elements
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Hydrogen
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Neutrons
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Atomic Particles
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Neutrinos
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Quarks
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Sub-atomic Particles
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Photons
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E N E R G Y
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STRATA of Progressive Complexity
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Although this is a very simple and familiar diagram (see a very similar
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diagram in the textbook "Biology", The Unity And Diversity Of Life; Third
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Edition, Starr & Staggart, Wadsworth Publishing Co. 1984, page6) it contains
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many profound insights. The first and most obvious is the fact that the
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structure and evolution of the universe and life alike is a pure matter of
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Progressive Complexity. And we now know how this works. Besides a radical and
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fundamental revision of our traditional perceptions regarding the nature of
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our universe, this insight demystifies the emergence of Life and makes is a
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pure matter of Progressive Complexity - as well a universal phenomenon. As
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Carl Sagan put it: "Life is as common in the universe as sand on a
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beach." Another insight is that the Progressive Complexity of the evolution of
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the universe and of Life is an unbroken continuum from energy to our kind and
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selves. To whit, our personal substance is composed of the elements of the
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universe, and we are animated - body and mind - by the energy of the universe.
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This insight has several powerful consequences. First and foremost, we are
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creatures of the universe - and far more so than we are creatures of the
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Earth. Since this insight will radically and fundamentally revise our
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perception of our selves from earthy creatures to bona fide cosmic beings, a
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little more detail is in order here.
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For most people the big bang birth of our universe is, if of any interest at
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all, an extremely remote and purely esoteric concept which has no bearing
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whatsoever on their reality. They could not be any more wrong. To whit; at the
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atomic level our personal substance is composed of protons, electrons and
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neutrinos (neutrons are also made up of protons and electrons, plus
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neutrinos). And protons and electrons condensed out of the pure energy of the
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big bang birth of our universe within split nano-seconds of the big bang. We
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are, in fact, the living, walking, talking, loving, laughing and crying
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embodiment of the big bang energy of our universe.
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There is no way around this; Moreover, the alpha, beta and delta waves of our
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brains are the driving force of every thought, word and deed as long as we
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live. And this, our life energy, is the direct product of the big bang birth
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|
of our universe. The other elements which make up our personal substance were
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created in stars - now long dead and gone - and also from the big bang
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hydrogen of the universe.
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We are indeed - first, foremost and fundamentally - cosmic beings. So is your
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wife, your husband, your children, your family, friends and neighbours, indeed
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the whole teeming shebang of our kind, including what you may perceive as your
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enemies. And lest we begin to jubilate overmuch over our new-found cosmic
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identity, the same holds true of cabbages, among all other things. However,
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there is an important difference; cabbages do not know anything about all
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this.
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The unbroken continuum from the primeval energy of our universe to our kind
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and selves yields another profound insight - an insight which contains the
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pivotal difference whether we destroy our planetary biosphere, or not.
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As any child who has ever played with blocks full well knows, if it removes
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one block from a tower of blocks, all the blocks above that block come
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tumbling down. Going back to our diagram of the Progressive Complexity from
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|
energy to our kind, and let's say it were possible to eliminate the section
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comprising Atomic Particles - all the other levels above Atomic Particles
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|
would disappear. This is simple, straightforward and inexorable logic.
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Well, as it turns out, we are doing exactly the same thing. We are eliminating
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the plant life of the continents at an alarming rate, and on all fronts. The
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inescapable consequence will be that our planetary biosphere will collapse,
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|
and will do so within our time. However, there is still an, albeit rapidly
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|
shrinking, window of opportunity while the dynamics now well underway can
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|
still be reversed. But we do not have much time left. For a more detailed
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|
description of the manifold factors involved see "A Vibrant Biosphere", also
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|
by this writer.
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Returning once more to our diagram of Progressive Complexity, we also find
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|
that there are major STRATA of COMPLEXITY within the hierarchy of Progressive
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|
Complexity from energy to our kind. These STRATA of COMPLEXITY arise directly
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|
from, and are closely akin to the STRATA of STABILITY inherent in the Dynamics
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|
of CHANGE & STABILITY which we have skipped in the context of this format.
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Significantly, and true to form, each STRATUM of PROGRESSIVE COMPLEXITY
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|
contains its own SUB-STRATA of PROGRESSIVE COMPLEXITY. For instance, the
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|
major STRATUM of the Elements encompasses the Progressive Complexity from
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|
hydrogen (the simplest element) to uranium (the most complex of the natural
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|
elements) - each with their own typical and intrinsic STRATUM of STABILITY.
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|
Indeed, "The Periodic Table of the Elements" is a beautifully formal and
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|
precisely quantified map of the Progressive Complexity of the elements, as
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|
well as of their various, typical and intrinsic STRATA of STABILITY.
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Similarly, the STRATUM of Plants encompasses the Progressive Complexity from
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|
the most primitive single cells (algae) to the most complex members of the
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|
Plant kingdom (sexually differentiated trees and shrubs, such as the Holly
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|
tree and Skimmia).
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So far then, we have uncovered an unbroken continuum and absolutely coherent
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|
formal structure - both internally (the dynamics) and externally (the Cosmos)
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|
- of the creative and governing forces of the Cosmos and of Life alike, as
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they arise out of the fundamental nature of energy and its intrinsic dynamics
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|
of CHANGE & STABILITY and PROGRESSIVE COMPLEXITY.
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We have also come to understand that the PROGRESSIVE COMPLEXITY of physical
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and biological Growth is a constructively dynamic process, and hence, that we
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are a product of, and owe our existence to a Constructively Dynamic universe.
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Due to the universal nature of these fundamental dynamics, we have also
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|
obtained the fundamental creative and governing forces of our biosphere. Given
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|
the understanding of these forces and dynamics, we are now able to address and
|
|
rectify the rapid deterioration of our planetary biosphere effectively and in
|
|
short order - we can now engage the immense power of these forces in our
|
|
favour - if we can muster the collective will to do so. Within the context of
|
|
these fundamental universal forces, it now turns out that our current and
|
|
escalating health crisis, our poison-drenched and unsustainable agriculture,
|
|
and the rapid deterioration of our planetary biosphere are all the direct
|
|
result of our ignorance and REDUCTION of the Progressive Complexity of our
|
|
existence, agriculture and biosphere. Given these fundamental creative forces
|
|
of our universe, these crises can be easily and quickly corrected; see "A
|
|
Stable and Vibrant Biosphere", also "An Abundant and Poison-free agriculture",
|
|
and "Supreme Health", all by this author.
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|
Along the way, we have also obtained a completely new process for the
|
|
evolution of Life; a universal process which generates and governs the
|
|
evolution of the universe and Life alike and is articulated by the universal
|
|
dynamics of CHANGE & STABILITY and PROGRESSIVE COMPLEXITY. Other than common
|
|
descent - and this now includes the universal elements we are made of and the
|
|
universal energy which animates us body and mind - nothing is left of
|
|
Darwinian or Neo-Darwinian notions. (see "A Formal and Universal Process of
|
|
Evolution", by this author).
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|
|
|
Since our universe is fundamentally bi-polar in nature (the ultimate origin of
|
|
gender, by the way) the constructive dynamics of our universe are balanced,
|
|
with exquisite precision, by the reductive dynamics of our universe - by the
|
|
dynamics of Progressive Simplicity, or Decay, and death. In this context,
|
|
the phenomenon of birth, and thus of Life, becomes the polar expression of the
|
|
fundamental complementary polarities of our universe, and the reigning
|
|
scientific dogma of entropy - the dissipation of energy - can now be
|
|
understood as just one half of the whole equation of the creative dynamics of
|
|
our universe.
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|
|
|
Indeed, Paul Davies recognised the obvious when he stated: "So there exists
|
|
something like a law of increasing complexity." ("The Cosmic Blueprint", 1988,
|
|
page 21).
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|
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|
Indeed, Prigogine has mused that, "all that dissipated energy (the exclusive
|
|
focus in current science) must be good for something." As indeed it is. One
|
|
example, and close to home, is the immense amount of energy which is
|
|
dissipated by our sun in the process of fusing the elementary simplicity of
|
|
hydrogen into the higher Complexity of helium.
|
|
|
|
We know this dissipated energy as sunshine, and while by far most of it is
|
|
dissipated into space, the fraction which arrives here on the Earth is the
|
|
generating and driving force of all Life on Earth, of our planetary biosphere,
|
|
and of the PROGRESSIVE COMPLEXITY of the evolution of Life. Thus, our sun is
|
|
the driving engine of a double-whammy creation of PROGRESSIVE COMPLEXITIES -
|
|
the Progressive Complexity of the elements in the sun, and the Progressive
|
|
Complexity of Life on the Earth.
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|
|
|
On an immensely larger scale, the dissipated energy and matter in galaxies is
|
|
condensed into new stars and planets in an eternal cycle of dissipation and
|
|
concentration; and on a higher order of magnitude, black holes complement
|
|
these bi-polar creative dynamics of our universe by concentrating the matter
|
|
and energy of galaxies - down to the last lonely photon - and then dissipating
|
|
it again in highly concentrated and extremely potent form. The dynamics of
|
|
black holes and their function - literally 'cosmic vacuum cleaners' and re-
|
|
cyclers - arise out of the Dynamics of CHANGE & STABILITY which we have
|
|
omitted here for brevity. In this light, the big bang birth of our universe
|
|
may well be the product of "The Mother of all Black Holes", to use a
|
|
paraphrase of a recently popular oxymoron.
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|
|
|
We have now come to the point of laying to rest the most serious challenge to
|
|
all of the foregoing; the 2nd law of thermodynamics as it stands today.
|
|
Although the 2nd law has been re-worded many times (entropy always increases
|
|
is the favoured form today), its previous form and fundamental concept stated
|
|
that any activity (work) in this universe is accompanied by the dissipation of
|
|
some energy - hence, entropy always increases.
|
|
|
|
This is true. My cup of tea does grow colder the longer it sits undrunk
|
|
besides me, and just by living, never mind working, I dissipate a lot of
|
|
energy into the environment. There is no way around this, the second law is
|
|
absolute in this regard, and governs the universe as a whole. This means that,
|
|
if only eventually, the universe must run down to a uniform tepid state where
|
|
nothing can happen ever again, due to the lack of any energy differential.
|
|
This is called the 'heat-death' of the universe. Essentially then, the
|
|
marvellous and near-infinite Complexities of the universe - things like
|
|
galaxies and our selves, among a small infinity of other intricate
|
|
Complexities - are counter to the 2nd law and are, at best, temporary and
|
|
'astronomically unlikely accidents' in a chaotic universe. This is the
|
|
reigning dogma of today's science.
|
|
|
|
Since the 1st law has proven so infinitely fecund, we now return to the 1st
|
|
law of thermodynamics to see what it may contain in this regard. As we have
|
|
seen, it contains, and explicitly so, the complementary polarity of CHANGE &
|
|
STABILITY. And encouraged to the point of certainty by a myriad other
|
|
fundamental and well known complementary polarities of our universe, we now
|
|
accept the concept of complementary polarity as a fundamental principle of our
|
|
universe.
|
|
|
|
With the universal principle of Complementary Polarity firmly in hand, we now
|
|
approach the 2nd law to see what we may find. The second law states that, 'any
|
|
work is accompanied by the dissipation of some energy'. Extending the
|
|
principle of Complementarity Polarity to the 2nd law, the most obvious
|
|
conclusion is that there should also be something which concentrates energy.
|
|
|
|
And, indeed, there is. Gravity concentrates energy and matter into such things
|
|
as stars, planets and black holes. There is also another force which
|
|
concentrates energy and matter; opposite charge of the particles also
|
|
concentrates energy and matter. And although some energy is dissipated in
|
|
this process - as the emission of a photon when an electron is attracted to a
|
|
closer orbital to the nucleus - the net effect is a spacial concentration of
|
|
the combined energy and mass of the electron and proton. The same holds true
|
|
within the domains of the weak and strong forces. It now turns out that the
|
|
traditional 2nd law, while absolutely correct as far as it went, was just too
|
|
short; to short by half, in fact.
|
|
|
|
We can now attempt the first approximation of the complete, or new and
|
|
improved, version of the 2nd law of thermodynamics.
|
|
|
|
In the form of gravity, mass and opposite charge, energy seeks its
|
|
highest available state and attracts and concentrates energy and
|
|
matter.
|
|
|
|
In all other forms, energy seeks its lowest available state and
|
|
emits and dissipates energy and matter.
|
|
|
|
The attractive and emissive forces inherent in the bi-polar
|
|
nature of energy co-exist simultaneously, are relative to each
|
|
other, are inversely proportional and are simultaneously superposed
|
|
upon each other.
|
|
|
|
And while this wording will undoubtedly be changed and refined several times
|
|
over, the attractive and emissive forces inherent in the nature of energy are
|
|
as indisputable as stars, planets, moons, galaxies, black holes, atomic and
|
|
molecular structure, the earth under our feet and the fact that we do not
|
|
float away gracefully into the universe at large.
|
|
|
|
Stars in particular, are brilliantly beautiful examples of the attractive and
|
|
emissive polar complements of energy at work. (The emissive and attractive
|
|
forces of energy have been formalised by a 17th or 18th century mathematician,
|
|
but my reference has disappeared).
|
|
|
|
With this, we now obtain a universe which is eternally dynamic and capable of
|
|
creating infinite cycles of Progressive Complexities, including Life and
|
|
highly evolved cognitive consciousness, according to a supreme plan and
|
|
purpose articulated by fundamental forces which operate with exquisite
|
|
precision, selectivity and Order on all scales from the cosmic to the sub-
|
|
nuclear.
|
|
|
|
As the direct product of such a universe, our existence is endowed with an
|
|
equally supreme plan and purpose. This brief synopsis is only a minuscule
|
|
glimpse of the mind-boggling splendour of the nature of our universe, and the
|
|
true and natural context of our existence as the direct offspring of the
|
|
creative forces of such a universe.
|
|
|
|
We close with this conceptual diagram of how everything that we are, do and
|
|
know arises out of the complementary polarities of the creative forces of our
|
|
universe - with the caution that the polarities shown here are inseparable,
|
|
and far from the clear-cut separation as indicated here.
|
|
|
|
ENERGY
|
|
Change Stability
|
|
Chaos Order
|
|
Emissive Attractive
|
|
Aggressive Receptive
|
|
Innovation Memory
|
|
Growth Maturity
|
|
Juvenile Adult
|
|
Male Female
|
|
Insemination Reproduction
|
|
Exclusive Inclusive
|
|
Selfishness Altruism
|
|
Individualism Sociality
|
|
Right Wing Left Wing
|
|
Capitalism Socialism
|
|
Revolution Tradition
|
|
Progressive Orthodox
|
|
Heresy Dogma
|
|
|
|
(Copyright) Peter H. Weis, Vancouver, May 1995
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