"The universe is not a giant living thing. It canât taste an apple or look at nature in awe. To truly understand its own infinite self, it has to break itself down. Into galaxies, oceans, and into you. Into me. And everyone else. That means the universe is experiencing itself through you. âThe cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself,â astronomer and planetary scientist Carl Sagan once said. Your job is to be more irreducibly, surprisingly yourself. âYou are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop,â mystic poet Rumi said."
It reminds me of what have been a series of profoundly influential quotes for me.
A sort of framework that it is possible to breath and even live within . . .
It is that irresistible urge . . .
A a working cover and a little compendium of a few paragraphs of a book I have in production:
"there is at least one . . . problem in which all [thinkers] are interested. It is the problem of cosmology: the problem of understanding the worldâincluding ourselves, and our knowledge, as part of the world.â
âPopper K (1959) The Logic of Scientific Discovery. London: Hutchinson & Co., Ltd. p. 15.
One then might ask, what is the course, how does one proceed? The reply:
"This is no journey for feet, they bring us only from land to land; nor need you think of coach or ship to carry you away; all this order of things you must set aside and refuse to see: you must close your eyes and call instead upon another vision which is to be waked within you, a vision, the birth-right of all, which few turn to use."
âPlotinus (1956) Plotinus: The Enneads. 2nd ed. (rev. BS Page, trans. S MacKenna). London, UK: Faber and Faber. First Ennead, I, § 6 p. 63.
"This then remains: Remember to retire into this little territory of thy own, and above all do not distract or strain thyself, but be free, and look at things as a man [or woman, but above all] as a human being, as a citizen, as a mortal. But among the things readiest to thy hand to which thou shalt turn, let there be these, which are two. One is that things do not touch the soul, for they are external and remain immovable; but our perturbations come only from the opinion which is within. The other is that all these things, which thou seest, change immediately and will no longer be; and constantly bear in mind how many of these changes thou hast already witnessed. The universe is transformation life is opinion."
âAurelius M (1910) Meditations Of Marcus Aurelius. (trans. G Long). London, UK: Blackie & Son Ltd. Book 4.3. pp. 32â34.
Such things are our collective measure and concern. But it matters not if you do not perceive it now. Ultimately, either you will or you will not and it matters little either way. For even now, could you understand which you would choose given that final glimpse in this moment. So pause to consider, how do such things come to human attention and why? What is the meaning of the sentiments? What their origin and how created? What their evolution, their purpose, their goal, their perpetuity, their implication, if any they have at all?
In exploring these questions, goaded by Popperâs dictum (quoted above), three considerations provide a context for further exploration. The first concerns the remarkable creation, organization and structural evolution of matter that has occurred on this planet, currently culminated in all biological processes:
"The planet, furnace of molten rocks and metals, now yielding thoughts and 'values'! Magic furnace. Beside its alchemy and transmutations the most impassioned dreams of Hermes Trismegistus and all his fellowship dwindle to paltry nothing."
âSherrington CS (1940) Man On His Nature. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 321.
The second consideration suggests we already know much of what is needed to resolve our concerns:
"The problems are solved, not by coming up with new discoveries, but by assembling what we have long been familiar with."
âWittgenstein L (2009) Philosophical Investigations. (4th edn. trans GEM Anscombe, PMS Hacker and J Schulte) Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. § 109. p. 52e.
The third consideration reminds us that our interpretations and world view are based on the beliefs concerning what we choose to know:
"At stake are central key concepts that directly involve fundamental convictions regarding the nature of manâs inner being, physical reality, the meaning of existence, and related matters of ultimate concern. . . . perspectives in this area profoundly shape human value systems and societal decision-making and hence human destiny."
âSperry RW (1980) Mind-brain interaction: Mentalism, yes: dualism: no. Neuroscience. 5: 195â206. p. 197.
Whatever answer is found, we will do our best to remain unperturbed in the face of this Sisyphean labour. For how else is there better to spend time than in tasks that either others seem not ever to have noticed or inspire accomplishment of what is believed impossible?
And so, at last to the beginning . . .
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