Understanding The Universe?
I wanted to share this essay I found written by James A. Putnam with you called “Understanding The Universe”. I just read it a week ago and again last night and it made me realize that maybe we’ve gotten our priorities screwed up a little.
It’s an Essay on learning the universal origin of intelligence. It discusses the relevance and irrelevance of theoretical physics for learning the nature of the universe.
“Wow cool!” is what I said when I first read it the description. “Holy Crap!” is what I said after I read it. Because it just kind of clicked in my heart ya know? It “rang a bell”.
So anyways if you know a little about physics from high school or college or books or whatever it’s a very good read and it might open your eyes a little. It did mine. Don’t worry though it’s not too deep. 
This is free info BTW, nobody is trying to sell a book here. I just though you guys would like to read this it’s very profound.
Here is an excerpt:
“The cause for the origin and operation of the universe is to be found in the reason for the existence of intelligence. This is the case first because that is what empirical evidence tells us. Our awareness and comprehension of the universe is completely dictated by our intelligent interpretation of information. The information travels to us. It is interpreted locally. It is always a report of the past. It is information about something that has already occurred. We do not see what is happening at a distance. Our reception of information is not experienced over distance. We only know about distance because we receive information that our intelligence interprets and uses to form a visualization of distance.”
This is awesome! I think he’s saying that we’ve been looking in the wrong place for the answer to the big question of “what is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?”
We asked the wrong question. I guess we should have asked “what is the reason for the existence of intelligence?”
instead of
“I wonder how small the smallest particle is?” or “What makes an electron spin continuously without any apparent source of energy?”
We’re looking in the wrong place. We should be looking inside ourselves.
Here is some more from the paper…
“It is continuity, order and unity that should lead us to answers about the nature of the universe. One problem we encounter is that we are no longer able to become knowledgeable in all fields of study. Specialization has become necessary for us to learn everything we need to know. Unfortunately specialization is not conducive to maintaining continuity. The work of physicists does not explain chemical properties. The work of chemists does not explain life or intelligence. The best answers are known only after the problem is in full view. We do not have the problem in full view. We have pieces of the problem divided up among persons having widely diverse expertise. Each area of study could be in error and we would find it hard to recognize this.”
This has been a problem for decades. It’s getting really really bad now with all the specialist disciplines. It’s the same with doctors. Don’t get me wrong they do their jobs well but I think people should be given the flexibility to diversify and delve into other disciplines of interest to them and not be confined to just one. It takes them too long to combine their efforts to create something extraordinary. Whereas people who are diversified seem to be more flexible creatively. Like the electrical contractor who knew a little about computers and sensors so he built the first smart house. It’s becoming the house of the future. You watch.
I could comment all day long on this Essay but I won’t. You should read it. It made me realize how much more important it is to interact with people in a positive way than it is to go seeking the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. The universe works the same as it always has. And it always will. But people? People change and people change things. We’re all here to learn how to work with each other to change things in a positive way. And I think that’s what it’s all about.
Holy crap thanks for the link, very different way of looking at things, the universe keeps expanding with our knowledge, there is so much we don’t understand.
So you could say that we’ve been really dumb despite intelligence.
But does the universe understand us?
I am trying to sell a book, but definitely for love and not money. You can tell because my blog is real and not just a marketing device for the book.
Bob: Yea that’s right. I don’t know why but what you just said reminded me of something I once read about us being the result of the universe becoming aware of itself. We’re on the outer rim, the cutting edge of creation so to speak and we are part of the latest and greatest manifestation in the expansion of the universe. Physical 3D reality and organic beings. Which is in effect “a result of the universe becoming aware of itself” I can’t remember where I read that. Probably on the internet somewhere.
Paul: I think the Universe understands us better than we understand ourselves if you know what I mean. I went to your site. I think it’s very cool. I don’t really understand what the book is about from the front page though. Could you elaborate a little bit here in a comment? Ooooh I found this though and I really like this statement from your site. “Wherever we are along our paths, here is a new and contemporary approach to help clarify the perennial call to re-center our identities first from egoism to love; then from love to a larger reality.” That very last sentence says it all. It’s what most people just don’t get about our purpose here and in life and I agree wholeheartedly. Do me a favor and come back when the book is released and let us know how we can get our ‘discounted’ (hint hint) copy.