6 days agoMember-onlyA review of the fifth dimension in scienceThe fifth dimension conjecture — an introduction This is the beginning of a new project which may result in a series of posts on Medium. Readers of my now nearly 290 posts on Medium will know that my passion here is to try to integrate what I consider the two primary sources of truth: revelation and science…Fifth Dimension15 min readFifth Dimension15 min read
Sep 20Member-onlyThe leading theory of consciousness was just called “pseudoscience” by 100 neuroscientistsClaims of experimental validation of Integrated Information Theory (IIT) were rejected in a letter signed by 100 neuroscientists. One scientist calling another’s findings “pseudoscience” is almost the ultimate insult. It surpasses even Wolfgang Pauli’s acerbic dismissal of ideas he rejected. He said they were “not even wrong.” But when 100…Consciousness6 min readConsciousness6 min read
Sep 18Member-onlyWhat lies beneath? Fields, particles and “an ocean of energy”A previous post about Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek explored his deep understanding of physics at the elementary particle level. Here we try to visualize what we know of elementary particles — which really aren’t particles at all — and discover the deep mysteries of what lies beneath even them. Will…Frank Wilczek13 min readFrank Wilczek13 min read
Sep 6Member-onlyCan cybernetic immortality replace Christian resurrection?The AI revolution includes the hope of some for immortality by uploading the information that makes humans what they are into powerful machines. Does this new hope for immortality replace the belief of Christians in a physical resurrection? Smart people for a long time have been trying to warn the…Immortality13 min readImmortality13 min read
Aug 30Member-onlySelf-organization as the answer for life, evolution and consciousnessEmergence is a very popular idea used to explain a wide variety of phenomena from why AI systems sometimes return bizarre responses to the processes leading to the formation of life and consciousness. One of the most remarkable phenomena ascribed to emergence is self-organization. …Stuart Kauffman16 min readStuart Kauffman16 min read
Aug 25Member-onlyDoes emergence explain Near Death Experiences?Near Death Experiences challenge the physicalist belief system, but is emergence a possible explanation that can preserve a form of physicalism? Of the many and increasing mysteries of nature, two may be the biggest: how did life begin and how can we explain consciousness? Many seem excited about a possible…Physicalism7 min readPhysicalism7 min read
Aug 16Member-onlyA Nobel physicist goes deep in explaining what lies beneathFrank Wilczek may very well turn out to be one of the most respected and famous scientists of our time. It wouldn’t be surprising if he adds two or three more Nobel prizes to his resume before he passes the baton. He’s not only one of the most innovative thinkers…Frank Wilczek13 min readFrank Wilczek13 min read
Jul 31Member-onlyCan You be Loved by a Cloud?We sense we are loved by a wide variety of different things. People, for sure, but dogs, cats, pet mice and maybe even insects. My granddaughter has a stick like insect for a pet. For sure she loves it, and I imagine she believes it loves her back. …Religion12 min readReligion12 min read
Jul 24Member-onlyHow We Decide What to BelieveWe don’t know if monkeys, dogs or spiders have belief systems, but we know that humans do. Perhaps the transition from ape to human was the development of and awareness of a personal belief system. What we believe to be true about the world we live in, our community, our…Philosophy13 min readPhilosophy13 min read
Jul 13Member-onlyHappy anniversary JWST!NASA published this stunning image taken by the James Webb Space Telescope to celebrate the first year of remarkable achievements. It is of a star forming region. NASA: “The subject is the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, the closest star-forming region to Earth. It is a relatively small, quiet stellar nursery…Jwst3 min readJwst3 min read
