The Meaning Code

Brad and Karen dive deeper into the implications of "measuring up" and the balance between mercy and judgment.For the full YouTube, see here: https://youtu.be/qkDWTKNMI2cWe discuss the aspect of comparison, relationships between binaries, Iain McGilchrist's work on the two brain hemispheres, the role of the observer, etc. Link to Part 1 follows the timestamps.Timestamps00:00:00 Intro00:01:15 Navigating between two binaries, example: justice and mercy00:02:50 Migraines that shut down the left hemisphere, comprehending and apprehending00:08:30 Training horses, the blessing of anomaly, learning to listen with the right hemisphere00:10:00 Left hemisphere gives us speech, so a truth, once spoken, becomes a lie. 00:11:20 Finding practical meaning in this little corner00:12:37 Comparing wavelengths, frequencies is what we do, a kind of measurement, at multiple levels and over time.00:14:30 The observer changing what is observed. The feedback loop.00:16:30 Hiking in the Maui Rainforest is contact with reality.00:20:30 Thoughts on the measurement problem and its practical implications 00:23:00 We are also being observed, always. We shape the arena, the arena shapes us.00:31:00 The incarnation of Christ in us, the triad of Love (intention, communication and action)00:40:30 Having a question and balancing that with living real life00:50:28 Was Eve trying to become the Observer? Things have to measure up to my expectations. Unravels the web of Love.00:59:20 Action as the missing piece01:06:30 The perils of providing good content01:14:15 We are comparing frequencies or wavelengths related to context in art 01:23:00 Agape and action01:24:20 LovingMeasurement Problem, Part 1 The Ideal is a Judge: Gauge Blocks and the Requirement to Measure up. https://youtu.be/iT43zHL2Xp8

Jonathan Pageau joins for a conversation with Dr. Wolfgang Smith and Dr. Richard Smith about icons, symbolism and our connection to the Divine. Links to books and articles mentioned will follow the timestamps.Timestamps00:00 Opening chitchat01:20 Intro05:30 Wolfgang Smith’s Tripartite Cosmos icon12:00 Jonathan’s question about the icon20:15 Examples of 3 dimensional versions28:50 Jonathan’s icons42:40 Wolfgang responds to question about the aeviternal realm45:20 Jean Borella quote as an opening to the question of the symbolism of the Cross53:20 The connection to the Divine is what fill it with Reality, bringing up into Glory1:05:30 Without an identity, you can’t measure anything. Identity is a gift.1:15:30 The cup, the apple, identity and coherence over time an Wolfram’s Theory1:19:30 Obstacle is the gift1:27:50 The introduction of perspective in sacred art1:31:20 Wolfgang is encouraged meeting JonathanWolfgang's books (selected out of a long list)The Vertical AscentThe Quantum EnigmaCosmos and TranscendenceAncient Wisdom and Modern MisconceptionsThe new physics by Stephen Wolfram: https://wolframphysics.org

Perry Marshall, author of Evolution 2.0 and founder of the $10 million price for the origin of a spontaneously arising communication system joins Glen and Karen to discuss the fundamental nature of information, choice and the observer. Links to videos mentioned will follow timestamps. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:45 Origin of Life v. Origin of Species 05:14 Is something missing in the Intelligent Design argument? 07:35 Where does the idea come from in the first place? Information must become physical. 11:00 How many divine interventions are there supposed to be? 16:00 The limitations of the God of the Gaps argument. Information shows up. There has to be a mechanism, a chunk of hardware. This problem is not addressed by Intelligent Design 18:30 Does Code = Information? Many definitions of information. Shannon, for example. 22:00 Definition of code is symbolic information exchanged between a sender and a receiver, Between an encoder and a decoder, and it’s a digital communication system 27:25 Science v. Religion is a proxy battle for something deeper, perhaps what it means to be human. 33:30 Does Maxwell’s demon actually exist? 41:00 John Torday, A systems approach to physiologic evolution https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcp.25820 45:00 Information capacity is a capacity for choice. Freedom to select a one or a zero. 53:00 Maxwell’s demon lives on symbolic info, not bits and bytes. It’s what the 1’s and 0's represent symbolically. What is the sender looking at and the receiver sending onto? A bigger more holistic landscape than science can look at. 1:00:22 Free choice in quantum mechanics. The observer has free choice in what experiment to do. 1:05:45 Time acts on the rocks. The rocks do not act on time. We act on time 1:11:14 If you want to push choice down to the level of Quantum physics, you have to acknowledge that there are multiple pathways into the future which are all consistent with the past history of the universe, so you can’t have perfect determinism. Choice breaks that. 1:15:25 Following the question of the observer is a fruitful path. Glen’s suggestion: perhaps replace consciousness with agency. Consciousness is how WE experience agency, so it takes US out of the theoretical pathway. Reluctance to recast definitions into formal, mathematical statements hinders progress in the search for Origin of Life. 1:17:00 Stuart Kaufman and Set Theory 1:24:00 Heuristics leads to an outcome that is good enough. Inductive reasoning is a powerful skill set. The Meaning Code videos related to The Physics of Life: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoARw9zo4EUZhxqfaqYU5yjy0-Tr8RlB4 The Observer: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoARw9zo4EUZTm9ZRgC9OQINsbC1BxsPy Perry Marshall and Stephen Meyer on Unbelievable https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RHUEXn2upI&t=1s Perry Marshall, Denis Noble and Lee Cronin on Unbelievable https://youtu.be/Njuso5A2jts The Prize website: https://evo2.org The book: Evolution 2.0: Breaking the Deadlock Between Darwin and Design by Perry Marshall

Karen and Glen get together for an informal review of items that have recently caught their attention relative to Stephen Wolfram's Theory of Fundamental Physics. If anyone wants to do a comment with timestamps, I will be forever grateful. At the end, Glen mentions John Walton and his reading of the first few chapters of Genesis. We talked about how great it would be to see a conversation between Jordan Peterson and John Walton, and after I started uploading this video, I saw that the Youtube Channel called Deep Talks had uploaded a video today of clips from those two, so here's the link to that: Jordan Peterson v John Walton on Deep Talks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiSGdDc3bQY&t=2s The art video from Chris Petkau that we mentioned: https://youtu.be/pYgUwolDuPs And Glen once again mentioned Nima Arkani Hamed's Morality of Fundamental Physics video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiSGdDc3bQY&t=2s Here's Wolfram on Lex Fridman # 124. Interesting things happen starting at 1:33:30 and again at 3:16:00 going all the way to 3:40:00 or thereabouts..

In Part 3 of this discussion regarding the role of the observer, Glen weaves together ideas of robust computing (demon horde sort) and distributed intelligence. He makes the claim that it could be mathematically verified whether or not computation is fundamental, and that if it turns out to be so, then language is also fundamental, since computation and language are inextricably intertwined. We also learn that handedness (chirality) is hierarchical. links follow timestamps Timestamps 0:00 Intro 0:15 Recapping the end of Part 2 2:00 Central Planning v. Distributed Intelligence 3:00 Responding to viewer’s comments 4:45 PBS Spacetime on the participatory universe 8:32 John Wheeler’s biggest question: Whose bit? 12:20 Implications of observers and the quantum mechanical universe 16:20 A vision of Wholeness 18:30 A challenge for mathematicians 20:35 If there is a point where entanglement does not affect the next layer up, that would solve the Wigner’s Friends paradox and would also illustrate that computation is fundamental. 24:00 Robodog as a way to explore learning systems and language in robotics 28:00 An exploration of group intelligence and the conversation as adaptable 31:30 Handedness is essential and implies Hierarchy 33:30 The language called Forth 38:20 Context Free Grammar, indexed grammars, natural language processing 41:35 The layers of Grammar 47:30 Field workers will probably never be replaced by robots, not a menial task, very complex 51:35 If computation is fundamental, we need a covenant between Truth and Language 53:40 Trust Networks and Cesar Hidalgo 57:50 Decisions at the level of the input output are more effective than centrally planned ones. 1:02:00 Questions about Darwin 1:07:20 It depends on what question you want answered 1:07:45 Questions about Space and Time, the reality of Possibilities and Options 1:11:15 Computational irreducibility is more intuitive if you talk about languages Finite State Machines on Reason to Believe https://youtu.be/6FOJWxdTvms “The "Meta" Hard Problem of Consciousness and Quantum Babbling with Levin, Friston, and Fields,” https://youtu.be/J6eJ44Jq_pw "Cracking The Nutshell," https://www.youtube.com/c/CrackingTheNutshell "Do Electrons Have Free Will? The Conway-Kochen Free Will Theorem - Closing the Free Will Loophole,' https://youtu.be/7ZqUEAACfyk PBS Space-Time, “Does the Universe Create Itself?” https://youtu.be/I8p1yqnuk8Y?t=600 "Robust-first computing: Demon Horde Sort (short version)," https://youtu.be/lbgzXndaNKk "Forth the Hackers Language," https://hackaday.com/2017/01/27/forth-the-hackers-language/

If you want to watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/ZUOiF0tljiwSevilla King of A Quality Existence joins the Meaning Code to discuss recent appearances by Jonathan and Matthieu Pageau. We look at Mercy and Judgment, gathering in and cutting away. Judgment as a type of discernment, measurement, paring down, producing fittedness. Mercy as a gathering together, care, attention, choosing. Both together are Agape and Sacrifice, opportunity cost, bringing reality into existence. Matthieu Pageau with Tammy Peterson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Om4NKrOCF4 Jonathan Pageau on Love and Attention at the Consciousness and Conscience Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGQVs4ewHFw&t=647s

For Youtube version: https://youtu.be/G8cAwts0ZZgMargaret Allen tells her story of being raised in an aggressively atheist household and yet learning of the better way, and opens her heart about the process of writing her book. Lot of resources available on Margaret's website, https://margaretallen.org Be sure to look at the page of Declarations. A great encouragement! Gracious Living: Creating a Culture of Honor, Love and Compassion https://www.amazon.com/Gracious-Living-Creating-Culture-Compassion/dp/1952025087/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3THKU7MET6BVL&keywords=Margaret+Allen&qid=1661454384&sprefix=margaret+allen%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-2

Brad Bilski, a designer of testing equipment, joins The Meaning Code for a discussion of the measurement problem and the need for a covenant between language and truth.Timestamps00:00 Intro (reading from Paul Feyerabend's 1975 book, Against Method04:00 Can facts exist outside of a narrative? A response to John Vervaeke11:25 Gauge block: "We call it a Master." ANSI19:45 Calibrations differ; error exists29:45 Rooted in Christ31:30 Copenhagen interpretation? Or Many Worlds?40:30 The sliding scale from mercy to justice52:15 The dystopian world that arrives if we destroy our ideals1:00:35 Subjective and objective and the issue of measurement. The limits of our perception1:10:00 The anomaly is a gift1:17:30 The focal point creates the meaning. The part must measure up to the Master.

A meeting of two great minds moving from considerations of choice and agency to free will and wisdom. Books and authors mentioned follow timestamps.Timestamps00:00 Intro03:30 Decision making and competent behavior do not imply high level cognition 05:20 The value of higher levels is context-dependent06:30 Be careful not to all into patterns that lead to collectivism07:07 Composite agents harness their parts toward an action they wouldn't normally be doing on their own. The scaling of cognition.09:30 A. Juarrero's notion of constraint. Causes are events, happenings. Constraints are conditions and orderings of probability. Bottom up causation, top down constraints. Aristotle's impact on Juarrero: participating the tree structure. Hierarchies presume a single ontological relation. We have to get beyond simple models mapping onto each other. Two kinds of constraints: Selective (reduce probabilities) and Enabling (increase probabilities) counterbalance each other.14:03 Emergence without emanation is epiphenomenalism: an ontological oxymoron, a monster. We are crypto privileging the level at which we do science.16:22 We need to acknowledge the importance of the higher levels, but there is not a simple mapping.18:00 A symphony of choices over time. Constraints as a way to generate creativity. Selection is a way to ignore stuff in order to prevent combinatorial explosion. 21:00 Acknowledging continuity - the problem with extending agency all th way down. Deep identities hypothesis23:45 Self-constraints are related to behavior shaping24:30 Choice, agency, decision making as a continuum. What is a decision? It is a decision to the extent that you need to consider a radius of events in space and time to figure out what just happened.31:45 Not just explained by local forces. Distiinction between causation and causal relevance. What caused the sinking of the Titanic?33:00 If we allow choice to map onto the causal event.... We need a sensitivity to causal relevance34:52 the idea of will goes alll the way down to primitive agents37:02 I am an agent that does things, using the same coarse graining on myself. The need to tell stories, to build internal models.38:25 The basic physics of being an object. Active inference is also for cells and molecular networks. The critical thing is the difference that makes a difference. 40:05 What does attention look like in the molecular pathway in a cell?41:20 Will, active inferencing, free energy all bound up together.45:13 When you zoom in to any event, there are only 2 choices. Determinism or true quantum randomness. If you zoom in... no big shocker! If you zoom in, all you see is physics. Free action (free will) is stretched over long periods of time.47:30 Free will is exercised over years in small increments50:00 Free will only applies to extended beings. From here, they go into a discussion of wisdom.Books mentioned by John:Shaun Gallagher: Enactivist InterventionBrian Cantwell Smith: On the Origin of ObjectsAlice Juarrero: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26272797/ (paper on constraints)

Drew is a music teacher at the International School in Tunis in Northern Africa. With a Master's in Ethnomusicology, Drew is able to consider music as an art form within and across cultures, considering the harmonious interplay of patterns and the musicality of intelligibility. We hear Drew's life story and then consider various aspects of music as communication, music as an aesthetic form and music as communitas and worship.Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:13 Drew's Story 14:20 Arriving in North Africa, Master's in Ethnomusicology 15:45 What drew him to The Meaning Code? 18:30 Using music as a bridge to meaning 20:25 Correspondence between color theory and music theory 27:00 Sound colored by overtones 33:58 Is birdsong strictly just communication or is it an aesthetic experience for the birds as well as for humans? 42:00 Visual arts and music as two different dimensions 47:00 Music, timelessness, unity and multiplicity 54:30 Atomization of modern society and musical silos 58:45 Deeper into the Weeds conversation of Peterson, Vervaeke and Pageau The musicality of intelligibility. "Music is the most representational of art forms." Jordan Peterson 1:02:31 Or, is music the most abstract? 1:07:45 Unity in music, plus multiplicity, diversity, variety 1:09:00 Scale is essential 1:10:45 Pageau, "Consciousness is a pattern perceiving patterns." 1:21:15 What songs does Drew use when leading worship? 1:23:00 Outro Mentions: Stefan Alexander, The Jazz of Physics Robin Sylvan: The Traces of the Spirit Victor Turner: The Ritual Process Songs: Christ is Enough There is No Other Name Give me Faith 10,000 Reasons Oceans

00:00 Intro 03:19 The difference between physical and corporeal, the solution to the quantum enigma 07:25 The corporeal enters into the measurement problem through the measuring device 08:50 John describes relevance realization, the 4 P’s of knowing, emanation and emergence 13:45 Reality is structured with things emerging (returning to the One) and emanating (coming from the One 15:50 If the corporeal is not real, we love conformity to Reality 17:05 We are both Platonists! 18:15 Studying Plato through the lens of the ancient thinkers 25:00 Why is James Gibson’s work important? How has it affected your work? 27:30 Wolfgang seeks to understand John’s ontology 32:00 Gibson and affordances - undermines nominalism. There are real relations 34:30 Opening the door to a new ontology 37:45 The vertical dimension cannot be excluded from the project of working out intelligibility 39:45 James Gibson’s reputation in the academic community is stellar among cognitive scientists but not among cognitive psychologists 44:00 Gibson’s breakthrough has still not penetrated into the physics world 51:00 Spinoza’s Religion 55:00 The undoing of nominalism and representationalism is epochal and we need to celebrate it. 1:01:30 The 1804 edition of Plato’s works with commentary by Thomas Taylor opens up a new way of understanding the ancient books. The Ptolemaic cosmology. 1:06:00 A quote from Cosmos and Transcendence 1:07:00 John discovering the Western wisdom tradition (convergence with Wolfgang) 1:20:15 Abandoning the view that all faiths look to the same source (Vedanta in the Light of Christian Wisdom) 1:28:50 John suggests we do this again! Background material on Wolfgang Smith and John Vervaeke A previous conversation with Wolfgang Smith Solving the Quantum: a Vertical Ascent: https://youtu.be/8NWHGX53agc Wolfgang Smith (A sampling of his many books) Vedanta in Light of Christian Wisdom Physics: a Science in Quest of an Ontology Vertical Ascent Ancient Wisdom and Modern Misconceptions Cosmos and Transcendence: Breaking through the Barrier of Scientistic Belief The Quantum Enigma: Finding the Hidden Key Theistic Evolution: The Teilhardian Heresy Science and Myth: A Response to Stephen Hawking's The Grand Design and many others And a movie made about his life: The End of Quantum Reality, available on Amazon An earlier discussion with physicist friend Glen on Wolfgang Smith's ideas about vertical causation as well as a bit about Stephen Wolfram. Toy Story as Metaphor for Quantum Measurement Problem: https://youtu.be/dFqGjvocYPw John Vervaeke The full series of Awakening from The Meaning Crisis w John Vervaeke: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh3f0P5qjrSdb5eC1ZfZwWJ John Vervaeke's 4 P's of Knowing https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuit-ucfcXN8QDPMc6DXbTHq

In Part 3 of this discussion regarding the role of the observer, Glen weaves together ideas of robust computing (demon horde sort) and distributed intelligence. He makes the claim that it could be mathematically verified whether or not computation is fundamental, and that if it turns out to be so, then language is also fundamental, since computation and language are inextricably intertwined. We also learn that handedness (chirality) is hierarchical. links follow timestamps. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 0:15 Recapping the end of Part 2 2:00 Central Planning v. Distributed Intelligence 3:00 Responding to viewer’s comments 4:45 PBS Spacetime on the participatory universe 8:32 John Wheeler’s biggest question: Whose bit? 12:20 Implications of observers and the quantum mechanical universe 16:20 A vision of Wholeness 18:30 A challenge for mathematicians 20:35 If there is a point where entanglement does not affect the next layer up, that would solve the Wigner’s Friends paradox and would also illustrate that computation is fundamental. 24:00 Robodog as a way to explore learning systems and language in robotics 28:00 An exploration of group intelligence and the conversation as adaptable 31:30 Handedness is essential and implies Hierarchy 33:30 The language called Forth 38:20 Context Free Grammar, indexed grammars, natural language processing 41:35 The layers of Grammar 47:30 Field workers will probably never be replaced by robots, not a menial task, very complex 51:35 If computation is fundamental, we need a covenant between Truth and Language 53:40 Trust Networks and Cesar Hidalgo 57:50 Decisions at the level of the input output are more effective than centrally planned ones. 1:02:00 Questions about Darwin 1:07:20 It depends on what question you want answered 1:07:45 Questions about Space and Time, the reality of Possibilities and Options 1:11:15 Computational irreducibility is more intuitive if you talk about languages “The "Meta" Hard Problem of Consciousness and Quantum Babbling with Levin, Friston, and Fields,” https://youtu.be/J6eJ44Jq_pw "Cracking The Nutshell," https://www.youtube.com/c/CrackingTheNutshell "Do Electrons Have Free Will? The Conway-Kochen Free Will Theorem - Closing the Free Will Loophole,' https://youtu.be/7ZqUEAACfyk PBS Space-Time, “Does the Universe Create Itself?” https://youtu.be/I8p1yqnuk8Y?t=600 "Robust-first computing: Demon Horde Sort (short version)," https://youtu.be/lbgzXndaNKk "Forth the Hackers Language," https://hackaday.com/2017/01/27/forth-the-hackers-language/

Is the universe fundamentally computational? What is the observer? What is the role of the observer? A deep dive.Timestamps 0:00.Intro 2:00 Analyzing 2 different delayed choice quantum eraser experiments: Kim, et al and John Wheeler (Gedanken)13:43 We never talk about what the observer is (we need to include the physics of the observer)14:14 Maxwell's demon and the observer (a sequence of choices)25:08 The Free Will Theorem 27:00 Multiple choices that are still consistent with the past history of the universe.41:30 Observation does require a "concept" of consciousness.49:25 Consciousness ends at the smallest composite systems capable of computation, those are the smallest units for which consciousness would apply. A sequence of choices based on a set of rules. Must be causally disconnected from the universe as a whole in order to be an observer.1:00:52 If you take computation as fundamental, you can get an ought from an is, which Sam Harris says is impossible to do.1:08:15 Computation is always a physical system. If you take computation as fundamental, information is downstream or an artifact of that. 1:09:10 If you think in terms of computation, you immediately get languages.1:20:55 A review of computation1:21:34 Exposition of music as a computational system1:31:08 Introducing Dave Ackley of the Demon Horde SortThe challenge. The Role of the Observer, Part 1: https://youtu.be/A5xtyRkp6HE Recommended research: More Glen and others on the Quantum Measurement Problem: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoARw9zo4EUa1nUq32fXuGvtTJFhLhN3d Glen on The Physics of Life: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoARw9zo4EUZhxqfaqYU5yjy0-Tr8RlB4For all the links discussed by Glen, see the YouTube version of this talk:https://youtu.be/xJtw5umXouc

Glen, physicist, mathematician and computer scientist, joins for an exploration of the role of the Observer in Physics. The history of the move from classical to quantum physics. If you want to do some homework before Part 2, links to everything are in the description to the YouTube version of this conversation: https://youtu.be/A5xtyRkp6HE In the world of Alice in Wonderland, the role of the observer is the rabbit hole. If the Observer can't be described quantum mechanically, what is it? The paradoxes of entanglement Before Schrodinger came up with the wave equation, what was he thinking about and looking at that led him to his conclusions? Quantum mechanics - based on principle of least action Gave rise to la Grangian formalism which gave rise to Hamiltonian and then Poisson Brackets. Classical pushed to the limit leads to the quantum. The wave function in a complex plane. Wave equation based on the principle of least action. Entanglement at the classic level needs a base of connection Einstein Podolsky Rosen paradox Schrodinger's cat - entanglement affects the observer Wigner's Friends Paradox The observer can't be a quantum mechanical system Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser Experiment Correlations are products of wave functions Interference is sums of wave functions Pierre Duhem wrote To Save the Phenomena and The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory Teaching should Edify, Explain and Encourage you to go deeper Strong Free Will Theorem (Simon/Kochen) The future affects the past? Free choice should be called causal independence or causal decoupling

For a complete intro of these two guests, see their previous conversation. https://youtu.be/2vYfcotRRjk Timestamps 00:00 Musical Intro Affect is fundamental Unless we can make a conscious machine, we have not solved the hard problem Cognitive systems as predictive of the outside world 02:00 Mark Solms describes his project to create an artificial consciousness 04:15. The quest to find a neural correlate of consciousness (Francis Crick) 05:00 The wrong place to start 06:25 Children born without a cerebral cortex are still responsive and reactive 10:00 The mechanism of homeostasis, the periaqueductal gray, error signals 11:00 The architecture of the artificial consciousness 11:50 Autonomic regulation can be unconscious 12:30 Uncertainty triggers consciousness (ex: blood gases rising to conscious reaction), Uncertainty tells you how well you’re doing 15:00 Minimal conditions - self-organizing system - registers its own Markov blanket state (point of view) 3 needs 17:30 It needs energy, it suffers damage w/in tolerable limits, it needs rest & repair of structural damage - only purpose is to keep going 19:30 It wanders about is environment exploring and experiencing 20:43 An active inference agent, inferring its own state and state of its environment Error signals, updates, improving its model of itself in the world based on its 3 hemeostats Statistical confidence 23:50 Qualitatively distinctive categories 24:30 Calculating its expected free energy - the ability to look ahead 25:00 Equivalent of working memory, able to make decisions about how many steps needed to think ahead. 25:50 Create uncertainty by changing the environment. Its confidence in its policies is tethered to its affect. Environment changes & returns. Seasons. Explore and Exploit 28:20 How do we know when such a system has feelings? 30:20 Non-conscious is how we look at things that are in a different space than we are, but are they really non-conscious? Levels of “selfness” 32:40 Competencies in non-3D, problem spaces, transcriptional spaces, etc. In your virtual world is that level of consciousness as valid as physical organisms exhibit in 3-D space? 36:50 Measuring its own state in a qualitative sense Virtual v. Real agents Substrate v. Mechanism What new problems arise with embodiment? 41:00 Anomaly. Navigating morphospace Stress Changing set point. Rewritten the set point they gauge where to go. Second order monitoring system (metacognition) 43:30 We interact with our own representation of that state and our own internal bodily state The nerve impulses represent the state of a reality 45:30 The thermostat makes no resistance to changing the setpoint, but biological organisms need to resist, to monitor the set point. learning v being trained Has your set point been changed? Has someone else changed it? 47:40 The survival need of resisting change to your set point 50:00 Introduce other agents into the same environment to infer other agents. Isolation is a biologically implausible situation. 51:30. The problem of other minds 55:50 Zebrafish with hedonic condition place preference research See whether what motivates the entity is only a feeling. 57:30 Anxiolytics 58:50 Where does the desire to exist come from? "Affect is the fundamental (elemental) aspect of consciousness." Mark Solms There is an attempt to recast physics "to use the dynamics we use to look @ cognitive systems - a specific kind o predictive interaction with the outside world."

Is the Path Not Taken visible to God?The narrative of the Garden as it relates to potential. Plan A or Plan B?Does everyone want to be healed? Saved?Looking at Jesus’ work in our lives through the story of Judas.George MacDonald, “Our God is a consuming fire, and His fire is His love.”https://www.amazon.ca/Beautiful-Constraint-Transform-Limitations-Advantages/dp/1118899016 Amazon linkhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9057Unspoken Sermons (George MacDonald)Esther O’Reilly’s two talks with Paulhttps://youtu.be/sOT6cP9tEnQhttps://youtu.be/QR_kwzF-9YsShari Suter’s two talks with Paulhttps://youtu.be/NYDJjVbG3mk first conversation with Paulhttps://youtu.be/tfpXAZZq-wI second conversation with PaulKaren’s two talks with Paulhttps://youtu.be/HlMgGkwWUNYhttps://youtu.be/ZC03aNsPHOQ

Dr. Michael Levin and Dr. John Vervaeke discuss findings on cognition, consciousness and placebo. Where is the line? Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:30 “How do you define and differentiate cognition, intelligence, consciousness” 05:40 Mike 08:10 Can there be relevance realization at the cellular level? 14:00 The realization of the gradual development from oocyte to adult mind. Amazing plasticity. William James’ definition of intelligence 19:45 John asks about top-down causation rejecting just a bottom up approach. The whole has a causal power not attributable just to the parts. 21:00 JV Identity going all the way down and emergence going all the way up. How to identify the ontology? 22:00 ML Assume LaPlace’s demon could exist as a thought experiment. Tracking the micro states is an observer only, it cannot act. All the states are the same to you. But we want a worldview that helps you do things. A participatory worldview. 25:45 JV: I’ve been making epistemological arguments around the idea that any proper worldview has to give ontological status to scientists making measurements. 27:00 JV introduces neoplatonism, emanation down and emergence up as a way to integrate science and spirituality in an intellectually rigorous way 28:50 ML: Can't talk about Platonic worldview in the biology circles, only in a forum like this, focused on meaning. 30:00 Logic gates come with a truth table. Where does that come from? 30:55 An index into the world of possibilities. Where does the capacity come from for xenobots to form within 48 hours? 33:00 Evidence for fractal levels of cognition, information exchange… But have you ever looked at the placebo effect, which for a pure reductionist is a very hard thing to explain? 35:30 ML’s study on gene regulatory networks and the placebo effect. 38:30 Albert Mason on psycho dermatology 41:45 KW asks a “woo woo” question. Hilarity ensues. 45:00 JV Rigorous scientific research to verify “experience” 49:30 ML Biochemical and bioelectrical signals and how they could eventuate change across layers 52:00 ML Can we train molecular networks to stimulate healing? Awakening from The Meaning Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh3f0P5qjrSdb5eC1ZfZwWJ 4 P's of Knowing https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuit-ucfcXN8QDPMc6DXbTHq Michael Levin: https://youtu.be/GVOxAOflRho Dr. Levin's work on limb regeneration: https://youtu.be/N9Oli5MPLbY The Levin Lab at Tufts U: https://ase.tufts.edu/biology/labs/levin/research/newdirections.htm Erik Hoel: a great Substack column in addition to his science. See section "b)" on https://www.erikphoel.com/science.html Albert Mason: http://www7.bbk.ac.uk/hiddenpersuaders/blog/albert-mason-medicine-magic-hypnotism/ https://npsi.us.com/uploads/documents/MasonInterviewMRobinson2011.pdf The Vertical Ascent by Wolfgang SmithDr. Wolfgang Smith, Renowned Physicist, on Vertical Causation, Irreducible Wholeness and Meaning https://youtu.be/8NWHGX53agc

I had the privilege to speak with Dr. Wolfgang Smith about his solution to the Quantum Enigma and the tripartite structure of the cosmos. Great resource on Dr. Smith's work: https://philos-sophia.org/ Author of Vertical Ascent, Ancient Wisdom and Modern Misconceptions, Cosmos and Transcendence: Breaking through the Barrier of Scientistic Belief , The Quantum Enigma: Finding the Hidden Key, Theistic Evolution: The Teilhardian Heresy, Science and Myth: A Response to Stephen Hawking's The Grand Design and many others And a movie made about his life: The End of Quantum Reality, available on Amazon.Born in Vienna in 1930, Wolfgang Smith graduated from Cornell University at age 18 with degrees in physics, mathematics, and philosophy. In a few short years he took his master’s degree in physics at Purdue University, climbed the Matterhorn, and published the first theoretical solution to the re-entry problem for space flight. Finding himself irreconcilably at odds with the prevailing Zeitgeist, he decided to forego a professional career in the fields of his primary interest — physics and philosophy — in favor of pure mathematics, and after taking his doctorate at Columbia University, he served as professor of mathematics at M.I.T., U.C.L.A., and Oregon State University until his retirement in 1992.And a movie made about his life: The End of Quantum Reality, available on Amazon An earlier discussion with physicist friend Glen on Wolfgang Smith's ideas about vertical causation as well as a bit about Stephen Wolfram. Toy Story as Metaphor for Quantum Measurement Problem: https://youtu.be/dFqGjvocYPw

There is so much information in pain.The Lord says, "I have engraved you on the palms of my hand."John Stott quote paraphrased, In this world of pain and suffering, I could not believe in a God who had not experienced it for Himself.God is Good and is big enough to make good on His promise.Adam Smith paraphrased, Men want not only to be loved but to be lovely.Brene Brown research on shame.John Vervaeke on its reciprocal narrowing versus the reciprocal opening up of love.Videos discussed:Daniel Schmachtenberger and the War on Sensemaking:https://youtu.be/7LqaotiGWjQA Grief Observed read by the Randos: https://youtu.be/4omMwnttbdkDiscussing Suffering with Shari: https://youtu.be/P3GkzOhWZawKaren’s art: https://karenwongart.com

Mary and I discuss the conversation John Vervaeke and Paul Vanderklay had re: Paul’s argument from personhood for the existence of God. In the process, we covered some aspects of quantum mechanics, philosophy, theology and the nature of reality. Regarding God's completeness and the essence of potential and actuality, we also looked at Jordan Peterson's theories about order and chaos, value, and the thread of interest that is ‘our future drawing us forward’. We finish up rejoicing over God's generosity in making us to share in His love and to have fellowship with one another in this cross-shaped universe.Paul and John's conversation: https://youtu.be/65CcfvXXHugPaul's video about Sevilla and Jonathan discussing the metaphysics of quality: https://youtu.be/Z0Y3XYVA7dgKaren’s art: https://karenwongart.comMary Kochan’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2leFZRD0ZlQDQxpR2Zd8oA/videos

Karen's guest is Dr Michael Clarage who gained his PhD in physics from Brandeis University, studying the biological and statistical behavior of proteins. We discuss the nature of light, the levels of reality, the triples of physics and the electric universe. Links follow the notes: The path of the photon Holograms Complete 3-D maps Particles and their trajectories. The line of time according to Newtonian Physics Principle v. Imposition of Rules. Gravitation. Electric discharge. Herschel filaments. Galactic medium. Energy can be conveyed electrically. As opposed to the paradigm that life is ONLY chemistry. The principle of circulation. The principle of community. Article by Michael Clarage: https://michaelclarage.substack.com/p/all-possibilities-actualized-or-the . Michael Levin on bioelectric signaling in cells: Introductory video of Michael Levin: https://youtu.be/GVOxAOflRho Dr. Levin's work on limb regeneration: https://youtu.be/N9Oli5MPLbY The Levin Lab at Tufts U: https://ase.tufts.edu/biology/labs/le... Dr. Eric Smith's talk on Earth's Battery: Dr. Eric Smith on New Theories on the Origin of Life 17:20 to 21:00 https://youtu.be/0cwvj0XBKlE Earth's Battery discussion on Karen's channel: https://youtu.be/YB53BXXmWqk

Michael and Karen discuss data compression and cybersecurity as a lens to view language, memory, relationship and consciousness, and in the process stumble upon C. S. Lewis, Jordan Peterson's Maps of Meaning, and Owen Barfield.Propaganda 1) as a false dichotomy 2) as a Zip Bomb or a destroyer of worldsThe Mandelbrot Set as a picture of the limits of stability, the border between order and chaos in its infinite complexityWords as containers for meaningOwen Barfield's The History of Words (words have souls)Michael's recent chat with Paul VanderKlay:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9C4VR9CyjM&t=389sKaren's website: https://karenwongart.comKaren's chats with Paul VanderKlay:https://youtu.be/HlMgGkwWUNYhttps://youtu.be/ZC03aNsPHOQ

Homo Sapiens’ unique heroic thesis according to Jordan Peterson: “The nature of experience can be altered for the better by voluntary alteration of action and thought.”Greg Boyd and Open TheismBoethius, The Consolation of PhilosophyMolinism“Reality is that which governs.” Paul VanderKlayYour beliefs are exposed by your behavior. We say one thing and do another, and come up against our own hypocrisy.Mandelbrot sets, Fibonacci series, the approximation of PiKaren’s art: https://karenwongart.com

Interview with Shari SuterRiding the Wave“The upsetting capacity of the anomalous is simultaneously the vital source of interest, meaning and individual strength. Furthermore, the ability to upset ourselves - to undermine and revitalize our own beliefs - is an intrinsic and necessary and “divine” aspect of the human psyche (part of the seminal “Word” itself.) p. 246, Maps of Meaning by Jordan PetersonThe Unspoken Sermons of George MacDonald for download: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9057“As you wish”, Wesley in The Princess BrideHe serves even if we reject.The anomalies (obstacles, experiences of chaos, sufferings) we face are uniquely fitted to us.“Materiality is a medium of communication.” Paul VanderKlaySeeing the essence of reality communicated through every aspect of the created world.Our most creative and productive posture is riding the wave between the known and the unknown.Shari’s first interview on Paul Vanderklay’s channel:https://youtu.be/NYDJjVbG3mkShari’s second interview on Paul Vanderklay’s channel:https://youtu.be/tfpXAZZq-wIKaren’s first interview on Paul Vanderklay’s channel:https://youtu.be/HlMgGkwWUNYKaren’s second interview on Paul Vanderklay’s channel:https://youtu.be/ZC03aNsPHOQKaren’s paintingshttp://karenwongart.com

Links follow description: Adam walked away from social media 14 years ago. That may explain at least part of how he got an undergraduate degree in biochemistry as the first step towards dental school, is now a practicing dentist and is simultaneously working on a Master's degree in Computer Information Technology. We had a fascinating conversation about Jordan Peterson, the Biblical lectures, 'what is computation?', the theories of Stephen Wolfram and the implications of virtual reality. "I'm the guy in the game." Richie's plank experience and what that tells us about ourselves and our connection to reality. What behaviors are we modeling? And what is molding us? Adam introduced me to the work of Jaron Lanier who was an early proponent and developer of virtual reality but has now suggested an alternate path forward. Here are links to what we discussed: Ted Talks won't allow linking to the Jaron Lanier talk, so you might want to listen to it for context.The Intuition of Stephen Wolfram, an episode of Scientific Genius https://youtu.be/TrTwwxBB0QE Biblical Series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL22J3VaeABQD_IZs7y60I3lUrrFTzkpat Love’s Executioner Part 1: https://youtu.be/Q6Ps4fkkdx4 Love’s Executioner Part 2: https://youtu.be/e2orh2NAO2U Lex Fridman Jaron Lanier: https://youtu.be/Fx0G6DHMfXM Lex Fridman Stephen Wolfram: Part 1: https://youtu.be/ez773teNFYA Part 2: https://youtu.be/-t1_ffaFXao Part 3: https://youtu.be/4-SGpEInX_c Michael Clarage: https://youtu.be/DnFvTyG5QZM

Entropy, both in physics and in life, one of the core principles that underly the substructure of all domains of knowledge. Balance as it is represented in science, art, politics and economics, and then back to a discussion of emergence. In previous videos, Alex and I discussed resonance, critical mass, emergence, and the aggregation of color and light.Alex's website: Viewers can visit my website to see a primordial pattern and practice transforming chaos into symbolic meaning: http://cosymbolic.comKaren's website: http://karenwongart.com

The Meaning Code introduces Dr. Michael Levin to Dr. Mark Solms as they do a deep dive into their recent thinking about the nature of consciousness and cognition and where these can be found on the continuum of life, as well as establishing their foundational thinking in their respective fields..

Karen and Alex discuss the intersections between geology, art, and entropy.