From: David MOREY (us@divadeus.freeserve.co.uk)
Date: Sat Jan 17 2004 - 13:09:13 GMT
Hi
Here's a posting about levels from the
Arthur M Young chat group, I think there
are clear links with Pirsig if anyone is
interested:
David M
(For the archive and for study-discuss;posted in several newsgroups)
Paradigms for trans-disciplinary study: a breakthrough
With the formulation by Arthur M. Young of his theory of process
(TOP) a breakthrough has been reached in our understanding of how to
apply analogy to natural process. Arthur has formulated a seven-stage
reflexive process that occurs on four levels of reality. See
www.arthuryoung.com
Briefly, the levels remind me of the old Kabbalistic Four Worlds,
BUT, Arthur has formulated four levels in a scientific manner, thus
(very, very briefly in my paraphrase and interpretation):
First level: potential and signal level. Relatively undifferentiated
stage 1 and fully developed stage 7 occur on this level. Stage 7 is a
coordinating, synthetic, embracing, level. "Archetypical". An impuls
or signal works on a unit of matter (e.g, cell) or cosmologically
awakens a center to manifest life. In photosynthesis, there is the
light-quantum or photon that acts as a trigger for a process of
condensation (formation of sugars/starch, fourth level, fourth stage,
fifth substage (polymers)). Causa finalis of Aristoteles. Stage 7, in
my interpretation, can emanate signals (e.g., hormones or other
substances/signals) that feedback to stage 1 or trigger a new
process. To be researched in depth.
Second level: Here polarisation occurs, resulting in a kind of
binding. In order for matter to develop, it must be differentiated,
i.e. differences in character, properties, etc. must become manifest.
This can only be done by and through a polarisation/separation/charge
manifestation process, often involving electrons and protons
(chemically speaking). Most interestingly, on this level associations
(bindings, ionic and value-driven) occur (second stage) and networks
(sixth stage, binding in complex structures) as evidenced in the
formation of cell-clusters, islands (all second stage), etc., in
embryogenesis, bone-formation, thought-development, neural network
(sixth stage) and many other processes. It is also the level where
movement occurs.
In photosynthesis, there is electron-transport and the generation of
a proton-motive force, the result of the polarization of a membrane
and resulting transport of protons. Causa efficiens (Aristoteles). In
mythology: the separation of the firmaments (heaven and earth).
Third level: Here the establishment of a centre occurs (third stage
of Young). It entails also the organization of matter. Energy plays
an important role here as a cofactor in organization. The third
stage is a formative stage par excellence. The blueprint for
structures is being unfolded here, to continue later to the combined
(molecular) fourth stage, on the fourth level: the combination and
control stage. The third level contains the fifth stage: growth,
organization, chain-formation, throwing off centers (seeds) that is
exemplified by plants (but there are many examples of organization
for all kinds of beings). In photosynthesis there is ATP formation
(synthesis), storage of energy in ATP-bonds, probably occuring on
this level. Causa formalis (Aristoteles).
For human consciousness: ego formation as paradigmatic for the third
stage, while in the fifth stage one will have to transcend personal
ego (more about that in a separate article) - the personality will
become transformed into individuality (Self-realization, in stages).
Fourth level: Here we find combinations (of combinations) as
exemplified by organs (built of tissues) and molecules. From simple
molecules such as CO2, H2O all the way up to complex molecules as
polymers (5th substage), proteins (6th substage) and DNA/RNA (7th
substage) according to Arthur Young. On this level the turning point
is reached: matter finds its grossest, visible, expression in
molecules and the upward arc will bring plants, animals and humans as
highly organized beings in the evolutionary process. Photosynthesis:
carbon fixation where starch/sugar is synthesized (a big energy/food
reservoir).
Causa materialis (Aristoteles).
Note that photosynthesis and photorespiration share a basic
underlying 'mechanism'. This sharing of mechanism (means) may turn
out to be elucidative for cooperation between the downward arc and
upward phase of the seven stage arc.
There is much more to this paradigm, such as constraining factors
relating to space and time, but I refer you to Arthur M. Young's
book "The Reflexive Universe".
Also, I posit that material structure and consciousness/energy work
tightly together (as indeed is visible on all the four levels), but I
will post some separate examples elucidating some aspects of the
model later on in this group and/or the Arthur Young e-group (Yahoo).
Martin Euser
www.euser.net
martin@euser.fol.nl
http://groups.yahoo.com/
http://www.arthuryoung.com/
http://www.rahul.net/raithel/AMYoung/
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