The Subtleties of Coordination

Duration: 35 mins 15 secs

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Description:	This lecture looks for a basis for physics able to avoid difficulties associated with present approaches. Consideration of the workings of language leads to a picture of reality involving an evolving collection of active 'expert systems', strongly constrained by the requirement of minimal disruption.


Created:	2020-03-03 18:39
Collection:	Brian Josephson's lecture collection
Publisher:	University of Cambridge
Copyright:	Professor Brian Josephson
Language:	eng (English)
Keywords:	quantum reality; mind; coordination; design; paranormal; language;


Abstract:	Studies of computer simulation of language functioning suggest that this is the product of an evolving assembly of ‘expert systems’, the details of which are the consequence of a number of factors, including a balance between productive cooperation and disruption of the kind discussed by Kelso(1), and S. Kauffman’s ‘adjacent possible’(2), the fact that assemblies of this kind exist being what makes language possible. Mechanisms of this kind potentially account also for the existence of thought and the mental realm, this being the consequence of the symbolic as opposed to the indexical use of signs related, as discussed by Deacon(3), to expertise in using signs to refer to contexts other than the current one. What is involved in the above might be characterised as a ‘self-synthesised information system’, precisely what Wheeler(4) suggested is the mechanism underlying the existence of the universe with its specific laws of nature. The present approach goes beyond Wheeler in that it argues that precise modelling is possible, in part based on experimental evidence. Accordingly, this approach can provide a basis for a new understanding of nature free from difficulties consequent upon treating quantum theory as fundamental, such its unavoidably statistical nature, the difficulty in reconciling gravity with the other forces of nature, and the problem of understanding observation and the many-worlds issue. In the proposed perspective, statistics does not play an essential role, observation emerges naturally, with a multitude of options featuring in the mental realm, and there need be no one set of equations that can be written down that would provide a 'theory of everything'. While Wheeler talked of ‘it from bit’, the proposed investigations would have more the character of ‘it from coordinated nonlinear dynamics’, and there are already indications that nonlinear dynamics can have consequences paralleling those of quantum theory(5). It may also be the case, as proposed by Yardley(6) that some very basic movement (‘circling’) can be the basis of all the complexity together with regular behaviour that we observe. Finally, the way that the picture developed here makes thought a fundamental aspect of nature may transform the way science views controversial ideas such as the existence of the paranormal, and the hypothesis of intelligent design(7). References: (1) Scott Kelso, Coordination Dynamics, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301949127_Coordination_Dynamics (2) Stuart A Kauffman, The Adjacent Possible, https://www.edge.org/conversation/stuart_a_kauffman-the-adjacent-possible (3) Terrance W Deacon: The Symbolic Species: The Co-evolution of Language and the Brain, ISBN: 9780393317541 (4) Dirk K F Meijer, The Universe as a Cyclic Organized Information System: John Wheeler’s World Revisited, http://doi.org/10.14704/nq.2015.13.1.798 (5) Robert Brady and Ross Anderson, Why bouncing droplets are a pretty good model of quantum mechanics, arXiv:1401.4356 (6) Ilexa Yardley, The Circular Theory (7) New World Encyclopedia, 'Intelligent Design', https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Intelligent_design The slides are available separately at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339723770_The_subtleties_of_coordination

Abstract:

Studies of computer simulation of language functioning suggest that this is the product of an evolving assembly of ‘expert systems’, the details of which are the consequence of a number of factors, including a balance between productive cooperation and disruption of the kind discussed by Kelso(1), and S. Kauffman’s ‘adjacent possible’(2), the fact that assemblies of this kind exist being what makes language possible. Mechanisms of this kind potentially account also for the existence of thought and the mental realm, this being the consequence of the symbolic as opposed to the indexical use of signs related, as discussed by Deacon(3), to expertise in using signs to refer to contexts other than the current one.

What is involved in the above might be characterised as a ‘self-synthesised information system’, precisely what Wheeler(4) suggested is the mechanism underlying the existence of the universe with its specific laws of nature. The present approach goes beyond Wheeler in that it argues that precise modelling is possible, in part based on experimental evidence. Accordingly, this approach can provide a basis for a new understanding of nature free from difficulties consequent upon treating quantum theory as fundamental, such its unavoidably statistical nature, the difficulty in reconciling gravity with the other forces of nature, and the problem of understanding observation and the many-worlds issue. In the proposed perspective, statistics does not play an essential role, observation emerges naturally, with a multitude of options featuring in the mental realm, and there need be no one set of equations that can be written down that would provide a 'theory of everything'.

While Wheeler talked of ‘it from bit’, the proposed investigations would have more the character of ‘it from coordinated nonlinear dynamics’, and there are already indications that nonlinear dynamics can have consequences paralleling those of quantum theory(5). It may also be the case, as proposed by Yardley(6) that some very basic movement (‘circling’) can be the basis of all the complexity together with regular behaviour that we observe.

Finally, the way that the picture developed here makes thought a fundamental aspect of nature may transform the way science views controversial ideas such as the existence of the paranormal, and the hypothesis of intelligent design(7).

References:

(1) Scott Kelso, Coordination Dynamics, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301949127_Coordination_Dynamics
(2) Stuart A Kauffman, The Adjacent Possible, https://www.edge.org/conversation/stuart_a_kauffman-the-adjacent-possible
(3) Terrance W Deacon: The Symbolic Species: The Co-evolution of Language and the Brain, ISBN: 9780393317541
(4) Dirk K F Meijer, The Universe as a Cyclic Organized Information System: John Wheeler’s World Revisited, http://doi.org/10.14704/nq.2015.13.1.798
(5) Robert Brady and Ross Anderson, Why bouncing droplets are a pretty good model of quantum mechanics, arXiv:1401.4356
(6) Ilexa Yardley, The Circular Theory
(7) New World Encyclopedia, 'Intelligent Design', https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Intelligent_design

The slides are available separately at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339723770_The_subtleties_of_coordination

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