Essay Abstract

The unique function life forms contribute to the universe is the creative production and reproduction of information, in ever emergent dimensions. Given this, we can explore the purpose of life, evolution, humankind, and where we are going in the future, and discover that the answer is every where and every when. No steering is necessary, we're already on auto-pilot. And the first place were headed is a planet that is as fully connected and collaborative as the individual cells are in a human body.

Author Bio

Turil Cronburg is a teacher, artist, and philosopher focusing on exploring and sharing the patterns of development in life, as a way to support high quality decision-making at all levels. She is currently looking to create a global non-profit organization that supports groups of forward-thinking humans in starting community resource exchanges that serve as hubs freely connecting individuals with the diverse elements they need to achieve their dreams. She hopes to start out with a single life~work space for her and her collaborators and family somewhere in New England, and grow exponentially from there into the universe!

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Dear Ms. Cronburg,

I must congratulate you for your having written one of the most beautiful optimistic essays I believe I have ever read.

Alas, only reality is procreated, all information is abstract. All information has to be created, and its utility is subjectively manipulative, and collectively malignant. By that I mean that nature provides for all needs. Nature cannot be improved upon. Information requires technology and all technology is destructive of nature.

I would love to have a hot cup of tea. Please though, no teabags; a little milk, no sugar.

With best regards,

Joe Fisher

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Turil,

I believe that if all had your power of positive thinking,our world would be much better, but we aren't all built and/or nurtured that way. Perhaps cultural perspectives also affect our judgments.

Your "atom and Adam" are good extended metaphors for large and tiny and your "everywhere and everywhen" are symbolic and catchy, but I'm afraid that "autopilot," perhaps like MH370 may prove, can only take us so far without conscious and/or inspired human intervention.

I hope I am wrong but current conditions are not encouraging.

Jim

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Hi Turil,

I enjoyed reading your essay. A small remark now.

At the beginning of your talk you present four conceptual pictures of increasingly complex ways in which humans "give off" information, which I try to summarize as:

1. reproduction using genes;

2. emotional procreations;

3. objective thought producing memes;

4. (potential) collective mating of terrestrials.

I really enjoy your brilliant prose, and your ability to present facts that are often part of our usual daily experience under unusual perspectives - to present them under a new light.

What I found a bit distracting, however (at least for my taste), is the need you feel to force these four "things" into a dimensionality progression, from 1D to 4D.

I find this mapping rather arbitrary. The complexity of each of the four "things" that you describe is so high that, when asked to attribute some sort of dimensionality to each of them, people would likely come up with divergent opinions (I myself would not even try.)

Anyway, perhaps your intention was not to draw a rigorous mapping, but to structure your text in some appealing way (and you did it!).

More comments later (hopefully).

Tommaso

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Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

First, I have to say, I wasn't always optimistic. Not in the least. But having researched patterns of growth for nearly a decade now, in addition to being a teacher, who saw the ways human children naturally grow, I've come to the conclusion that there must be something in the laws of nature/physics that makes things flow in a certain way, expanding into more and more "dimensions" (in the sense of directions that things can move). It's similar to what Constructal Law postulates, I think, only I see things in a much more generalized view than Bejan does.

And I can understand that it doesn't seem like our higher conscious minds, with their ability to take on multiple perspectives (dimensions) at a time, are independent pilots, but from everything I've seen in genetics and how the human brain functions, we're hard wired (on auto-pilot) to want to increase our connections with others, and share information (tell stories) about what we discover in the universe.

And Tommaso, I know those dimensions seem arbitrary, but they are very precise, in my experience. The kinds of ways individuals can use information (awareness) are very specific, as they relate to perspective taking (first person, second person, third person, etc.), which is what the "dimensions" of thinking/communication are that I'm talking about. For a mathematical/visual breakdown of those different combinations of thinking at each level of general dimension, you can see a diagram here: https://sites.google.com/site/thewiseturtle/home/consciousaw
arenessgrowth.gif (hint, this is binary growth)

Yes, things are definitely more complex when you look at things from a very detailed level, just as a map of the planet doesn't show you all the tiny details of the geography, but the overall view is accurate for getting an understanding of the basic structure and function of things. The basic patterns are real, and seemingly universal, be it the kinds of consciousness or the ways that healthy systems grow, as far as the evidence I've found indicates.

Oh, and Joe, how about some lemon balm tea? Fresh made from the plant that's been growing on my windowsill all winter?

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Dear Professor Turil Sweden Cronburg,

I thank you a lot for your encouraging words and, as I see in the paper you wrote, the discovering of how we deeply coincide in many points. I greatly enjoyed reading you, particularly expressed in the diagrams you beautifully presented. However, if you allow me to make a few comments about your ideas, I would like to know how can we pretend to use experience, consciousness, space, time, etc., as we don’t even know the real meaning of all that. I understand quite well that, by centuries we have been forced to accept all those concepts as provisory hypotheses, otherwise we would never progressed a bit in science… Nevertheless, I think, we should keep in mind that all the basic conceptual structure of science, including evolution as a model o time developing systems, has to be questioned again and again. In fact, I consider that what we actually call “experience” inevitably is a past reality, an already done structure, good or bad, beautiful or ugly, constructing or disastrous, whatever, but always known in a posteriori manner. Present, instead, cannot be seen or even experienced as such, since in the case of conscious experience, this always happens in a sort of estrangement of oneself, whilst the rest of atoms, not Adams, seem to me as simply being there without a notion of experience. I keep thinking that, even though I ignore what consciousness is.

Another heavy term you employ in your exposure is purpose; I would have rather utilized the term intention, but it doesn’t matter. Indeed what I suppose is really important to tell you is that I don’t think we get things clearer by assuming the equation purpose = function. You probably know that one of the main disjunctive topics is the question for what was first, structure or function: does structure make function or is it the other way around? I am sure that as far as we stay on that twofold situation we will never be able to get off the hook. I propose to add a third element, namely, fluctuations triggering and modulating reality. Now yes, we break through the undecidable binomial; instead of the old dialectic one-dimensional relationship structure ↔ function, we get a threefold relationship, not strictly dialectic, an equilateral triangle with structure, function and fluctuations, each one of three on each corner.

This relationship cannot be purely dialectic because there wouldn’t be any possible evolution of such a closed system. Not only does each one of the three moments depend on the other two, but also each one of them has to be opened to new possible conditions. That is why fluctuations play a crucial role in evolutionary perspectives. Don’t you think so? I know all that is present between the lines of your text but, perhaps, it would have been very useful to do it explicitly. No doubt, all the factors you mention for a fully functioning Earth are relevant and, in a certain sense, they all are urgent to meet.

I didn’t fully developed the idea of epistemic polyglotism because of the lack of space we counted on for the contest; however, and I am very glad to confirm that you did understand the point, in order to answer a foundational question like how should humanity steer the future, only illustrious ideas like yours and mine can effectively contribute to get a glimpse of an answer. I widely develop the subject of polyglotism in a book I just registered in Mexico, it is written in Spanish, titled “La conciencia de la ciencia: un juego complejo” [The consciousness of science: a complex play (game)]. May be I will think of a translation into English and French.

Finally, I would like to tell that, yes, I would like a hot cup of tea!

Yours,

Alexandre de Pomposo

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Thanks for your feedback Alexandre. (Note, I'm not a professor. I've been a teacher in many different venues, but never been a professor.)

Here's your cup of tea!

Dear Turil!

At first, welcome you here as an another women in this essay contest arena :)

I enjoyed your essay, and also the longer conversations posted here by everyone.

Your point of you very similar as I proposed a renewed model in my essay, seeing the Man's biological complexity as a Universal natural working model for our further development as a societal organization, and understanding all possible information gathering about - the original nature - and the connection with our nature. Basically what I also proposed is for making optimal decision points what kind of deep knowledge and technological improvements are important for us steering ourselves, the Nature, and also our nature.

I liked your - you're an atom or an Adam :) what is also meets with my view. I glanced over your blog too. You exert and maintain wast amount of information with which you have been dealing with, and those also can meet with my path goes on its way.

You had gone here some steps further explaining a model offering how to use all of those gathered information.

As Joe Fisher says the 'Reality Once'(basically agreeing with him, but I call that the original Reality as an undisturbed one Nature) is not complicated truly, only the all possible information gathering and arrangement and using it for a possible sustainable human development can be complicated. However!

The Man has a higher cognitive function in-built - I mean never created capability - which propels him to understand, scrutinize, his environment - inner/outer both ones! It also should not be ignored! The Man want to know! Surely there were and possibly there will be civilizations (natural organizations of universal arrangements or orders of beings) who never used hard technological inventions overtaking their own nature, used their knowledge wisely. (We should have heard about them as fairydom or ethereal kingdom). Also possibly there were civilizations and there will be who need to equilibrate between the (also Joe says well - using abstractions about a reality interpretation - which is the capability of the mind rendering the sensually gathered information putting them in either apprehensible terms or not using several kind of languages) incorporating between dimensions. (Some parts of them should be meant material some parts anyhow named. See my tiny picture too in my essay)

As John says ...if we know everything all around us...it really should take lot of processing power to handle. But, whether we know with full awareness all about it or not - even our natural (not genetically modified) human organism can handle all around us. This is why the original optimal sharing between the voluntary and autonomic nervous system can maintain a healthy organism.

Yes, the conscious processing power to know even more what the nature can handle optimally as in-built, can be increased with technological achievements and improvements.

It is not the question addressed to the physics only whether the Universe is finite or infinite or expanding or contracting even in many cycles ending in a Big-Bang, or singularity causing either transhuman or something else. Unfortunately the last danger is bigger. Completely losing our humanness!

The (finite/infinite) questions is addressed to the human purport: What is worth to do with our wast knowledge we want to know and should know, due to all is ready for us all over us? Whether where when is the optimal balance for us as an UNIVERSAL BEING, as a cosmical vast civilisation, as a Planet or chain of planets any how termed by us? Whether what is worth to transmit further for an inheritance for a further review or refinement?

My question was in my essay - Whether was/is/will there be a kind of thought experiment a.k.a Creation project - for answering these very complicate questions for our best purpose not against us?

Best of all, for you

(I sense, we should make some conversations further. If you feel similar, I also have availability in my essay.)

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Hello Turil,

I wanted to tell you that I greatly enjoyed your essay. You seem a bit more optimistic than I, but sometimes simply getting enough people to believe something is possible is the greatest challenge. I'm glad you focused on the metaphor of play and its role in learning, which you know I also highlight. I enjoyed the light-hearted tone, and I approve of your message, but I hope you are not just being naive about some things - because the success of your endeavor hinges on certain dark and terrible things not happening.

On the other hand; most people are not aware that combating evil does not create the good, and that this is something that must be given attention too. Your essay seems more directed at expressing that angle in a joyful way. I think I grasp that humans are meant to be - by our creating and exploring - the means by which Earth comes to fertilize other planets with life, but that we earthlings must be good suitors, to get the job. Does that sum up you intent, with the title of your essay?

I should also mention that I greatly enjoy the work of Arthur Young, and have created adaptations thereof. I'll have more to say later.

All the Best,

Jonathan

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Excellent essay, Turil! I think I will sit down and shut up now.

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I would like for them to be entertained, maybe amused, and then to think "maybe he had something worthwhile to say after all." If they see that as something that brightens their day, and makes them feel they're not alone, and that others share their hopes and fears -- and their dreams -- then all the better. If they were moved to improve their own lives, and the lives of others, as a result of my writing, then I would have succeeded beyond my wildest ambition.

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Hello Turil, I was charmed. I went on to read much of your blog. Later I wondered why your essay should have this effect on me. The image that eventually came to mind was that of me (the reader) contemplating a piece of art in a gallery.

With that image in mind, I intend to re-read your essay - a little more critically this time - and try to say something more helpful. Before I start, is there any aspect of the essay that you yourself have doubts about, or feel was inadequately discussed in this forum? - Mike

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A fascinating concept, including some humorous writing that I enjoyed. Conceptualizing planets or biospheres as reproductory entities is quite inspirational, though its difficult to be sure that a biosphere is a refined product of evolution (able to act to self-preserve). Perhaps humanity's deliberate decision to be the brains of the biosphere could result in the ability for Earth to become something greater as you propose!

I also wonder if a planet/biosphere's mode of reproduction is sexual? Are the forces that cause sexual reproduction in regular species present for planets?

In any case, thanks for an off-beat and very interesting essay!

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Hi Turil,

your essay is very enjoyable to read and the snippets of humour help it along. Talking about information makes it relevant to foundational questions.

Quote "Obviously, just like the weather, and the next generation's taste in music, are unpredictable at any sort of detailed level, so too are the details of our own global future."Well said.

I also really like this Quote " We humans need to first have an exceptionally healthy, functioning body (including the brain) that is nurtured by it's environment and supported in fully expressing itself, in positive or at least neutral ways, so that it can then go on to procreate information with other individuals in whatever ways seem appropriate, given the available resources and circumstances."I think a lot of societies ills stem from poor nutrition and lack of a healthy social life. The idea that we should all play at what we love is good and overlaps with the main idea of Johnathan Dickau's essay.

A very optimistic outlook. If we can get there I don't know, but offering a cup of tea is a good start. Good luck, Georgina

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Hi Turil,

Your essay was a great read. I am still spinning a bit, but the germ of novel is appearing that goes into all the passion and heartbreak of the earth looking for its mate.

Looks like you have a new book.. Dragonfly

Wishing you all the best,

another geeky bicyclist,

Don Limuti

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Turil,

The time grows short, so I am revisiting and rating. You say in your response, "First, I have to say, I wasn't always optimistic. Not in the least. But having researched patterns of growth for nearly a decade now, in addition to being a teacher, who saw the ways human children naturally grow, I've come to the conclusion that there must be something in the laws of nature/physics that makes things flow in a certain way, expanding into more and more "dimensions" (in the sense of directions that things can move)"

I have taught, done aerospace and business. Teacher usually tends to make you more hopeful, perhaps. My solution in my essay relates to the capacity of the brain, as Einstein mentioned, to transcend.

Have you had a chance to read my essay?

Jim

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Turil,

Anyone for tea?

Thanks for any enjoyable experience built around the same fundamental truth I try to expose in mine but exploring aspects that really couldn't be more different. I find in a way that to be the most convincing proof of the absolute connectivity and harmonious oneness of everything. We also both include a touch of humour with our original approaches.

If your groups look like reaching 'old' England look me up. I already have a small community support network giving professional input to enable non commercial projects. I't's proven very productive, for example producing youth sport facilities and event.

I hope you may enjoy reading my slightly allegorical tale as much as I enjoyed reading yours. I've taken a positive and direct route in showing that current science, a disparate and disconnected jumble of ill fitting puzzle pieces, is in fact all one harmonious whole. Removing the spookyness from QM and unifying with relativity is the 'leap'. See the 'classroom experiment' in the end notes; how to teach 10 year olds how nature really works!

But well done for yours. Clearly worth top mark on any scale. Very best wishes.

More tea?

Peter

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Hi Turil,

Thanks for your essay. I enjoyed the style of writing and the colourful metaphors. I think I agree with some of the ideas that I took from reading your essay. That encouraging the learning and self-fulfilment of individual people should be a primary focus of how steer he future. Information, in its many physical and abstract forms, is important. When we start considering life a manifestation of information, we might even say that creation of information is possibly what we should value most and our purpose.

I do think that taking a "hands-off" approach to how humanity steers the future is probably quite risky. There are a lot of incentives in our current society that are looking like they are going to steer humanity off a cliff. I also think that, given the number of people that there are, there is a scarcity of resources. This is something that needs to be dealt with through an effective and just economic system.

I'm also interested in your ideas for a non-profit organisation. I've been interested in trying to start up something of a learning exchange. Would you mind sharing some more of your thoughts on this idea?

Cheers,

Toby

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Hi Turil,

Thanks for your essay. I enjoyed the style of writing and the colourful metaphors. I think I agree with some of the ideas that I took from reading your essay. That encouraging the learning and self-fulfilment of individual people should be a primary focus of how steer the future. Information, in its many physical and abstract forms, is important. When we start considering life a manifestation of information, we might even say that creation of information is possibly what we should value most and our purpose.

I do think that taking a "hands-off" approach to how humanity steers the future is probably quite risky. There are a lot of incentives in our current society that are looking like they are going to steer humanity off of a cliff. I also think that, given the number of people that there are, there is a scarcity of resources. This is something that needs to be dealt with through an effective and just economic system.

I'm also interested in your ideas for a non-profit organisation. I've been interested in trying to start up something of a learning exchange. Would you mind sharing some more of your thoughts on this idea?

Cheers,

Toby

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