IV. A Cosmic Code: A Universal Genetic System

In the 1980’s and 1990’s we are witnesses to a new paradigmatic shift in science. Theorists in many fields are moving away from linear, reductionist, simple cause-effect models toward confronting the challenges of complex adaptive systems. Such systems are found in fields as diverse as astrophysics and economics, cerebral neurobiochemistry and cognitive psychology. Harold Morowitz, Jerome Singer

As noted in Part II, An Anthropocosmic Code, at the heart of religious wisdom is a structural scale by which to relate earth and heaven, human and Divine. The same image recurs at each stage because everything arises from and epitomizes a singular, gender complementary source. The great project, then as now, is to realize that the world is distinguished and revealed by this innate property, that it comes with a code. A familiar icon is Yin and Yang, whose feminine and masculine principles animate a numinous creation.

This portal became lost and forgotten to the mechanical phase of science, which reduced nature to a bottom level arbiter. But within a humankind compass, the recognition of a multi-level, iterative progression is being achieved once again, this time with the temporal expanse of an evolutionary genesis. What can move our current multiverse from unfathomable mystery to salutary understanding is to rediscover it is made to be knowable by this feature. Its latest version is facilitated via Rosetta-like translations, by the sciences of nonlinear, self-organizing complexity. These various theoretical and empirical advances are tabulated next, whose arcane terms are also in the Glossary. When gathered altogether, a “universality” can be distilled whereby an independent activity known as a “complex adaptive system” appears in manifest evidence from quarks to genes, persons, civilizations and galaxies.

Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics. A theory of energy and information flow, usage, bifurcation and dissipation for open living systems. (Ilya Prigogine, et al)

Fractal Geometry. Nature is characterized by the same shapes and topologies with fractional dimensions at every scale. (Benoit Mandelbrot)

Complex Adaptive Systems. Many agents (neurons, people) in constant local interaction, guided by a few algorithmic rules or agreed norms give rise to an emergent fluid order. (John Holland, Murray Gell-Mann)

Self-Organization. As these systems proceed without centralized direction or set program, they arrange themselves into a nested scale of whole entities. (Stuart Kauffman, et al)

Universality. The same self-organized complex adaptive dynamics and network structures are found throughout nature from cosmos to civilization. (Eugene Stanley, Mark Buchanan)

Modularity. The tendency of complex systems in evolution and development to form modular, symbiotic components and processes from genes to societies. (Herbert Simon, Gunter Wagner)

Autopoiesis. A property of these bounded systems is that maintain themselves by referring to their own internal description. (Humberto Maturana, Francisco Varela)

Self-Organized Criticality. Whereby complex dynamic systems tend to become poised at the edge of order and chaos. (Per Bak)

Scale-Free Networks. Elemental nodes or hubs interconnected in similar ways across hierarchical levels from cellular metabolism to ecosystems and the Internet. (Albert-Laszlo Barabasi, Duncan Watts)

Synergetics. A more physically based theory of a universal self-organization. (Herman Haken, Scott Kelso)

Artificial Life. Digital computer simulation of molecular, genetic, organic, social and economic societies and their evolution. (Chris Langton, Chris Adami, et al)

Cellular Automata. A computational process based on simple, algorithmic rules which generates a repetitive self-assembly and complex emergent order. (Stephen Wolfram, Andrew Ilachinski)

Hierarchy Theory. Evolving organisms and ecosystems consistently deploy into a scalar sequence and arrangement. (Stan Salthe, Niles Eldredge)

Neural Networks. The brain is distinguished by multi-connected networks of neurons, synapses and axons in constant flux due to weighted inputs and experience. Also applied as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to many other areas. (John Hopfield, Stephen Grossberg, et al)

Connectionism. A cognitive science theory of how neurons compute and handle cerebral information, variously known as parallel distributed processing or ANN. (David Rumelhart, et al)

Synchronicity. Phenomena from electrons and fireflies to planetary orbits synchronize in unison, which gives rise to a spontaneous order. (Steven Strogatz)

Synergy. Cooperative combinations bring selective advantages for organisms, which goes on to spawn an increasing complexity. (Peter Corning)

Living Systems Theory. An earlier insight whence some twenty metabolic, anatomical, cognitive and social features repeat in threaded-out layers from cells to global civilization. (James G. Miller)

General Systems Theory. The pioneer witness of a dynamic natural and social realms most characterized by holistic interconnections. (Ludwig von Bertalanffy, Ervin Laszlo)

As a preview, a good illustration is science itself. For example, research on the origin of life defines an exploratory niche or landscape to be inhabited and adapted to. At the outset, separate investigators study aspects such as early atmospheres or biomolecules. As these efforts increase in number, individual argument and dispute eventually proceeds toward the advantages of relational collaboration. Experiment, theory and published papers are guided by standard protocol. The subject field is filled as researchers check what colleagues have done or are doing when embarking on projects. Regional and international meetings expand the interchange. Finally an integral working explanation is stated. But the whole accomplishment occurs and organizes itself without a managed direction.

In the old insensate, material universe, life is a contingent tangent and natural selection the only formative influence. But as these many contributions attest, something far more is going on. Prior to selective forces, the independent dynamic, complementary system noted above is in persistent, creative effect. As explored next in Part V, A Quickening Evolution, a central progression or axis is defined by its sequential nested scale of molecules, bacteria, cells, organisms and societies, which is the typical structure of an emergent, self-organized, cognitive system. An organic universe thus seems to come with a genetic-like program.

A pertinent observation is that few generic components or attributes distinguish the ubiquitous system. Whether bacterial assemblies, financial investors or a scientific endeavor as we just saw, many autonomous entities interact through constant communication with and in response to their neighbors and the environment, guided by common rules and norms, from which arises a ‘higher’ whole of organization. A reciprocal interplay of free agents and local interactions, nodes and links in network terms, can be indentified in each case. In this guise they can be seen to form complements of particulate and holistic, discrete and systematic, dot and connect phases. And all this proceeds unbeknownst to those members who are creating it.

As this activity goes through its cycle or spiral of self-emergence, a standard sequence is also traced. In its initial stages, units or elements (microbes, neurons, organisms, researchers) propagate and compete. As densities increase, a modular specialization and division of labor occurs. Constant dialogue occurs whether by chemicals, electric potentials, behaviors or language. Over time cooperation succeeds over competition. Specific modules aid their survival by merging into bounded ‘cellular’ units. At a threshold of viable coherence, a new level or sphere of relative individuality is achieved. A good example is the formation of nucleated eukaryotic cells by the symbiotic union of diverse prokaryotic microbes.

An attempt or leap might now be made to align this phenomena with human qualities. Its mode of many independent actors seems to exemplify a masculine principle, while relational interaction is more feminine in kind. Surely this is exploratory, please refer to sections such as Part VI, The Bicameral Brain and Gender Complementarity for additional references. The realm of tacit information or canons can take on a genetic aspect. Most notably, a consequence of such a finding would be to identify a cosmic feminine principle equivalent and complementary to the masculine, a repair we so desparately need.

To continue a translation into human terms, it is suggested that the generative, self-organizing round matches the archetypal trajectory of psychic individuation, a theme engaged in Part VI, Integral Persons and Macrohistory as Psychic Individuation. Disparate components, such as facets of personality, initially vie and compete as they struggle toward a mutually beneficial accord. Gender phases of anima and animus separate, conflict and ultimately integrate. At a sufficient coherency, a unique person achieves their own self-recognition and acceptance. In medieval times, an adult man stood as exemplar, today by our humankind vista, ones entire life course may serve as its dynamic image, an important difference and expansion.

View the 101 Bibliographic Entries