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Below is the mission statement of the book I'm writing. Some of the notes for the book can be found in the Double Take blog.The Living Science
and the Generic Code
The mission of this book is to convey a simple but wide ranging message. Firstly, every aspect of our reality can be understood in terms of a unifying language. Secondly, the structure of this language is identical to that of the genetic code, applying equally to the inorganic as to the organic. This code provides the underlying foundations for physics, mathematics, biology, cosmology, and even has moral and theological dimensions. Last of all, the kind of thinking required to comprehend the principles involved is diametrically opposed to the crystalline, atomistic, spiritualess, rationalism which is so prevalent in the present day sciences. Using the two hemisphere architecture of the brain as a metaphor, these traditional sciences and mathematics are described as “left side” sciences. What is needed is a holistic, unifying “right side’” scientific take on reality. Starting off in an anecdotal style, the purpose is to accustom the reader to a world which might appear quite strange at times. There, knowledge is not something to be given or handed over. In fact it is quite hard to grasp as there are no attributes to speak of. A continuing tension between the left side and right side takes on reality is maintained throughout the length of the book. Reality has to be constructed from scratch. Happily we start to learn the unifying language that makes this possible; possible for any reality. This language, this generic code, is not entirely unknown as it appears to have the same structure as the genetic code. In this context, the overall thrust of the book becomes a radical take on the question, “What is life?” Here is the draft of the preface.Draft Preface
Ironically, the new science and philosophy that will dominate the twenty first century may not be based on spectacular breakthroughs in the present day sciences. Instead, as I argue in this book, the scientific and cultural revolution before us will be a revolution in the true sense, involving a return to past ideas. Ancient ideas dating from pre-Socratic times, such as the four element theory, the mysterious role of the masculine and the feminine and, the active and passive principles, and in particular, the Stoic logic of Chrysippus, are dragged screaming across the millennia into the present age. Ancient ideas are reinterpreted from a modern viewpoint. A new synthesis emerges and the beginnings of the new unifying science are developed. Central stage to this science is a generic algebra capable of proscribing, describing any entity whatsoever, the generic organism. The algebra is based on a four-letter alphabet and has been around literally from the very beginning of time. In the biological arena, it appears as the genetic code. At the cosmological level, it becomes the generic code. An important aspect of this code is that it is based on a quite unusual construct, at least for modern times. It is based on gender. Across the pages of this work, one starts to see the nature of this new science. It will be called generic science. Understanding this science requires learning to think differently than the moderns. Instead of "left hemisphere" dominated thinking, one must relearn to think like the ancients and allow right hemisphere dominant thinking to spring to the fore. The ultimate aim is to develop a right side science as an alternative and compliment to the traditional left side sciences. In writing this book, I have consistently endeavoured to maintain a right side point of view. This means that I must even take a different perspective on ideas. Rather than having an idea, I must become the idea. Rather than having a body, I must be the body. The very title of the book illustrates this perspective. The book is not about the science of life, it is about the living organism that espouses science in every aspect of its being. It is a living science. As one great Australian Prime Minister once infamously said, "Life wasn't meant to be easy". The book starts with this dilemma of life. I, the author, find myself in a hopeless situation. I am confronted with the Kantian question. How can I construct a fundamental science based on pure reason alone? This is not just a question of interest to ontologists and epistemologists. It is also of central concern to even the smallest microbe that aspires to make its way in this world. This microbe is just as obsessed as I am concerning the big question confronting us all. How can I be? I am not the first to tackle the question but how can I make inroads where all others have failed? What do I have to be to live through this? My story starts from this morass. From there, even I was surprised by the eventual path taken. The project took on a much more noble and ambitious dimension than I ever envisaged. I hope you enjoy accompanying me on this voyage. Book Preview Bio Early publications about Syllogistic Machine freesitemapgenerator
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July 13, 2011 12:19 am
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