Theory of Anything

[Wick]

I was recently touched by a post from Lablewench in Tuck's Theory of Everything Thread. She helped us all to understand that a theory of everything ought to become a theory-of-something-for-everybody. This conclusion seem quite prescient. If the Theory of Everything does not provide bread for the hungry, or water for the thirsty...if it doesn't provide joy to the down-trodden, or compassion to the self-centered...then it is not a theory of everything.

The Theory of Everything needs to change each of us and our circumstances for the better. It will not be found in any pet phrases--and all of us here at Toequest must admit we have pet phrases--which tends to be meaningful for those who utter them, but meanless to everyone else.

The Theory of Everything may unify gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak forces. It may explain away the mysteries of dark matter, dark energy and the Higgs boson. But if that's all the Theory of Everything does then it will not have been a Theory of Everything, but only a Theory of Something. It will answer many questions regarding the stage and set of our lives...but it will answer nothing regarding the WHY of life.

The great theoretical minds of our age are spending all their time trying to understand the background against which our lives unfold. But great stories don't arise from a great setting. Great stories require characters, plot, conflict, etc.

So in this thread, I'd like to open the door to a wider discussion not only of the Theory of Everything, but how past theories--and elusive Theory of Everything--will complete us as people.

[mkirkpatrick]

Thanks Wick for the thread starter,yes indeed a theory of everything that leaves out millions who are starving,and homeless is not worth that much.It is easy to become blinded to the needs of the many by the wants of the few.

When the universal principal of unselfish love and compassion are rightfully restored within the minds and hearts of world leaders then we will have a motion that will restore balance and goodwill to the world,which is much more needed than a TOE.

regards michael.

[labelwench]

We are all, by default, a part of the system we are studying.

To examine the background, while largely ignoring the immediate problems of survival, never mind creature comfort or cautious optimism for a better future, does not seem a logical use of resources and human endeavor.

The Theory Of Everything is the ultimate creation myth, with potential to unite all people in a common goal, continuation.

Continuation may require that we restructure our understanding of everything that relates to our integration with the background from which we arise and to which we return.

In my simple mind, we are all a part of The Theory Of Everyone, past, present and future, whether we fully comprehend our role or not, in this universal production, to continue with Wick's analogy. The question that springs to mind might be, what is the potential of this little drama for a long run?

[Wick]

When Copernicus unified celestial motion (previously thought to have been associated with 8 crystal spheres that wrapped themselves at various boundaries around the earth), one might say that there was no net benefit to mankind at large. Here is the wiki article regarding the crystal spheres:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_spheres

Was Copernicus' insight beneficial to humankind at large?

I think the answer is yes. When Copernicus unified apparent celestial motions with the idea that earthly motion was responsible for most celestial motion he did something initially undetectable to human society.

But, prior to Copernicus we had some strange notions. For instance, in pre-Copernican times, everyone believed that there were only four elements--earth, water, air and fire. All things were thought to derive from these elements. Earth was the heaviest element, and so it was thought to fall toward the center of the universe. Water was next heaviest, then air, then fire. Mixtures of these elements were possible...for instance lava was a mixture of fire and earth. Mud was a mixture of water and earth. Alcohol was a mixture of water, air and fire.

In part because of Copernicus we began to think differently about what makes an element. The result was a new way of looking at chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other valuable substances.

Another misunderstanding that arose from earth-centricity was the concept that our planet was at the center of the universe and was unmoving. This led to a rather ego-centric kind of science. But perhaps more importantly, this concept led to political attitudes (mostly in the western world) that were quite autocratic and repressive in nature. These ideas also led to a centralization of religious power and authority which would culminate in the very inquisitions that placed Copernicus in danger when he dared to say that the earth was not the center point of the universe.

Copernicus not only inspired Galileo to look for the moons of the outer planets and Kepler to discover eliptical orbits, he also inspired men to question and to doubt. This was a great benefit to mankind that led to new political expressions, to enlightenment, to printing technology, to books, to a demystification of scripture, and many other good things.

So sometimes a Theory of Everything (and in his time Copernicus' discovery was a Theory of Everything) can make a difference...but we don't know what a difference it made until later. Perhaps one of the most important contributions of Copernicus was that he created the germ that would eventually inspire Newton.

[Wick]

Interestingly the thing that inspired Copernicus was not glory or money. He was reticent to make his discovery known. He knew there would be a price to pay, and because of this he waited until nearly the end of his life to released his findings. He died very shortly after his work was published. Copernicus was not interested in any kind of personal gain. He was interested in truth. He had a deep desire to set the record straight. So for Copernicus, the search for truth was deeply meaningful and developmental for him as a person. He looked for truth, and thanks to Providence, he found it. Copernicus' journey was more for Copernicus than for anyone else. We are the beneficiaries of his genius, but he was the ultimate beneficiary. Anyone who uncovers truth at great personal cost gains beautiful attributes simply by searching for the truth.

[Drifter]

For the good of mankind
Abraham
Moses
Jesus
Buddha
Krishna
Muhammad
Zoroaster
The Bab
Bahaullah

and many more,
"He Whom God Shall Manifest"

The Messengers of God.
"Progressive Revelation"

Not a theory[concept / Illusion]
The only Reality

[Wick]

I think the Theory of Everything, if it is found, will have a similar impact upon human kind--an impact difficult to detect, but powerfully changing. It will cause us to rediscover the world and our place in it.

[Drifter]

Spiritual Awakening: Two Future Streams of Probability (with the possibility that the second)
http://uniteunderfreedom.com/

[Wick]

Spiritual Awakening: Two Future Streams of Probability (with the possibility that the second)
http://uniteunderfreedom.com/

I am a horrible skeptic...the piece is well written...but it doesn't resonate with me.

I dare not wait, as many do, for the clock of creation to turn in such a way that the world is saved. There is no central sun, in Pisces or anywhere else. All things are relative. This universe is fallen. It was meant to be so.

Instead of weighting for the dawn of a new galactic age, I would rather set to work saving my little part of the world as best I can. There are people close by who are sad and lonely. I can help. I can reach out to them and help them to regain a feeling of connectedness.

We dream for the exaltation of humanity as a whole...but in so doing, we fail to see that humanity as a whole is made up seven billion individuals. Each and every single one is precious. And they are more precious in my eyes individually, than they are as a mass.

Shall we wait for an alignment of stars and planets to heal the human race from the rampant contagion of war, murder, rape, disease, disregard for neighbor and addiction to technological stimulation? I think not.

Tonight I met with three wonderful families who sometimes look to me for spiritual guidance. Each one of them have sorrows that weigh them down. But as I watch them serve in the greater community, I see their capacity to bear their burdens increase, and I see their influence on the world exerting a positive influence.

That's how we save the world. The planets and central suns won't save us. Powerful souls will not save us either. We are here on this earth to save and lift one another--to be a little kinder, a little more giving, a little less self-serving. Maybe even selfless. We will do our best, and I trust Heaven will do the rest.

If the end should come, it will come easier to those who love freely. We should not seek to disconnect from this world we live in, but to connect to it more completely--even to lose ourselves in deep and meaningful service to one another.

By the way Drifter, I was wondering what your post has to do with Theories of Everything, or Theories of Anything and the power such theories have to change the lives of common, regular, everyday people (rather than gurus, prophets and seers) for the better? I don't mean this as a criticism, only as an honest question.

[Wick]

Perhaps in our quest to find the Theory of everything, we strive too much to obtain greatness. There are many who post here who believe that they are on the verge of (or have already succeeded in) besting the greatest scientist of our age, and snatching the crown of victory (the TOE) from their grasp. I think I was like that, too, when I first came here. I came here to push my own agenda. I thought I had the truth. Part of me still believes that. But I have found that each of us is so fixed upon our own sensibilities, our own good ideas, that we are loath to listen to one another.

That's why I have decided to put my TOE aside for a while. Perhaps my TOE was just for me. I'll share it if its wanted, but not at the expense of listening. I find I read more and post less when I don't have an ax to grind.

In the end, it doesn't really matter if the photon is a particle or a wave or both. The thing that matters in the end is that by the grace of some natural miracle, the photon enters my eyes and lets me see, that light holds my disparate particles together, that air is held close to this wonderful earth of ours, and because of that film of ozone and air I can breathe and express myself. Nor does it really matter what causes gravity. Of far greater importance is that all of earth's water doesn't slip up into space, that water follows simple laws, that water bravely takes the course of least resistance (whether that course takes it to the sea or into the sky). Would that humans were as obedient to the laws that govern them!!

Now what was I saying about Newton??