From: David Morey (us@divadeus.freeserve.co.uk)
Date: Sat Sep 18 2004 - 11:33:24 BST
Hi all
In a book about the approach to
philosophy and science of the British philosopher
and mathematics lecturer Geoffrey Read called
The Coherent Universe, the relationship between
patterns and causality are discussed in an interesting
way that I suggest closely relate to and expand upon
those of Pirsig. Read suggests two ways in which patterns
are causally related. Firstly patterns interact with each
other due to spacial proximity. This he calls proximate
causality and is the sort of external, 3d time-space
causality that we are all familiar with. Patterns are clearly
organised into numerous local associations, each pattern
represents a local organisation that at a certain level
has split itself off from all other patterns so as to maintain
its own internal integrity. When these localised expressions
of what are clearly universal patterns interact with each other
they may conflict or be brought under the coherent influence
of a less localised pattern. But it seems obvious to Read that
there is a form of non-spacial causality that influences all
current patterns. This causality occurs between patterns that are
not spacially related but related in terms of similarity of pattern.
This he calls sympathic causality, where similar patterns in the past
influence and bring about the internal organisational capacity
of current patterns. It is the interaction of proximate and sympathic
causality that brings about the complex properties of all
experience. Human experience is made possible by both
the dynamic influence of an ever changing arrangement of patterns in the
space-time framework, plus the ever present influence of
all past patterns. Clearly experience is only possible via the
interaction of these two aspects of SQ. We have complex experience
because we are able to re-cognise patterns in the so-called external world
because we have the pattern already loggged in the sympathic internal
world. This distinction with respect to 2 different ways SQ patterns
interact accounts for why we have both an internal and external world
within the larger whole of all experience. It is this interaction between
present and past patterns that account for the duration essential to
understand both intelligrnce & experience, as Scott has pointed out.
Once again I recommend reading The Coherent Universe available
at amazon.co.uk i.e. UK only.
regards
David Morey
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