“I propose that there is reason to see the whole universe
as alive, self-organizing endless fractal levels of living
complexity as reflexive systems learning to play with possibilities
in the intelligent co-creation of complex evolving systems.
I propose that it is possible to create a scientific model
of a living universe, and that such a model is not only scientifically
justified but can lead to the wisdom required to build a better
human life on and for our planet Earth as the ancient Greeks
intuited it should.
Toward that end, I propose:
- The scientific definition of reality should be the collective
human experience of self, world, and universe as inner
and outer worlds perceived from individually unique perspectives.
(We have no other legitimate basis for creating cosmic
models.)
- Consciousness (awareness) shall be axiomatic for the simple
and obvious reason that no human experience can happen outside
it.
- Formal experiments have as their purpose the creation of
publicly shareable models of reality that permit common understanding
and prediction.
- Autopoiesis (continuous self-creation) shall be
adopted as the core definition of life. Since galaxies, stars,
planets, organisms, cells, molecules, atoms, and sub-atomic
particles all fit this definition, this implies that life
is the fundamental process of the cosmos, a self-creating
living whole with self-creating living components in co-creative
interaction.
- Nature shall be conceived in fractal levels of holons in
holarchy, holons defined as relatively self-contained
living entities and holarchy defining their embeddedness
and co-creative interdependence on energy, matter, and information
exchange.
Beginning with these few assumptions and definitions as a
conceptual framework for an Integral Science, we can reassess
the past findings of science based on previous models, discover
past errors and redesign experiments as necessary. We can also
look for new patterns of regularity - and then comes the parentheses
about laws because of its implication
of a lawgiver.
The idea of defining reality in terms of human experience
may seem strange to any Western scientist accustomed to firm
belief in a firm firmament that includes our Earth and humanity
but exists separately from human experience of it. Yet the
whole edifice of a separate, objective world has been built
on a belief in objectivity that has been discredited by philosophers
of science and increasingly by scientists themselves (see below).
If the claim of basing science on reason—on experiment
(a word derived from experience) and rational argument—is
to be upheld, then we cannot postulate a world that is
not within human experience as long as we have no way to be
outside human experience."
Sahtouris, Elisabet. A
Tentative Model of a Living Universe, Part 1
