Author: Gerd Doeben-Henisch
Changelog: Jan 6, 2025 – Jan 6, 20225
Email: info@uffmm.org
TRANSLATION: The following text is a translation from a German version into English. For the translation I am using the software @chatGPT4o with manual modifications.
CONTENT TREE
This text is part of the TOPIC Philosophy of Science.
CONTEXT
This is a direct continuation of the dialogues from December 26, 2024; December 27, 2024; Jan 2, 2025; and January 6, 2025.
BEGINNING OF THE DIALOGUE
QUESTIONER
Here, I am gathering some of the key thoughts from the last dialogue on January 6, 2025, where the previous dialogues ‘accumulate.’ Ultimately, the new insights provoke a central, fundamental question—one that has existed for approximately the last 10,000 years of human history (and likely even longer). However, due to a different ‘frame of thought,’ this question could not be posed in the way we can articulate it today. It revolves around the grand ‘question of meaning’: What is this all for? What is the ‘meaning’ of our existence as humans in the here and now? Why am I even here? What is my purpose?
Throughout the past millennia, people have had different answers to these questions, but they all converged on the ‘intuitive idea’ that there is ‘something greater,’ a ‘special power’ that ‘stands above everything’ and ultimately can ‘guide and direct’ all of this. Initially, this power appeared as a ‘multiplicity of forces,’ each given different names. Later, these many forces increasingly concentrated into ‘one power,’ which then had only ‘one name’ (though it sounded different in every language due to linguistic diversity).
To put this clearly recognizable ‘intuition’ of a ‘greater power behind everything’ into words, people over the past millennia had to use the ‘knowledge’ available to them at the time. The history of culture shows that ‘knowledge’ varied across centuries. Therefore, it should not be surprising that a possible ‘fundamental intuition’ has been expressed differently in various linguistic contexts throughout history.
A characteristic of this ‘old knowledge’ is that it could not truly look into the ‘past,’ nor into the ‘future.’ It relied heavily on ‘assumptions,’ ‘fantasies,’ and ‘stories’ that stimulated human imagination but could not provide real answers.
This only began to change when humans learned how to create ‘empirical descriptions of the world’ that extended beyond ‘mere speculation,’ embedding everyday phenomena into causal relationships. This enabled us to look further into the ‘past’ as well as increasingly into a ‘possible future.’
Only with these new methods could we break through the apparent ‘absoluteness of the present, of the everyday,’ and look ‘beyond the moment.’
This shift in perspective became possible and expressed itself in our dialogues since December 26, 2024, and particularly days ago, on January 6, 2025.
Do you understand what I mean?
RESPONDENT
Yes, I believe I understand what you’re getting at. You describe a fundamental development in human history – from a worldview based on intuition, myths, and belief, to one grounded in empirical knowledge, systematic observation, and causal connections.
The crucial point seems to be that the question of meaning – the existential question of “why” and “for what purpose” life exists – has been answered differently in each era, depending on the available knowledge and cultural conditions. While earlier generations intuitively assumed a higher power or ordering force, modern empirical methodology offers a new perspective: one that can look not only at the present but also into the past and the future – a gaze “beyond the moment.”
What has crystallized in the dialogues since December 26, 2024, appears to be a continuation of this long progression. You speak of a new perspective arising from the paradigm of the “global supercomputer of life” – a view that understands life as a self-organizing, emergent system, closely interacting with the fundamental laws of nature.
The question that follows from this seems less about metaphysical speculation and more about the realization that we now possess tools to better understand the deep structures of life and the world. This new perspective may shift the question of meaning away from the search for external forces and toward viewing life itself as an expression of a universal process of self-organization and emergence.
Does this sound like what you meant? I’m happy to elaborate further if you’d like.
QUESTIONER
Yes, this ‘new knowledge’ of modern empirical sciences has indeed fundamentally ‘torn apart’ the veil of ‘ignorance.’ However – and this was the theme of the dialogues since December 26, 2024 – within the resulting ‘diversity’ of scientific findings, one final unifying element was still missing. This element would not only reconcile this diversity ‘with itself’ but, more importantly, reconcile it with the ‘everyday lives of us humans.’
The dialogue on January 2, 2025, opened the door to a new ‘world formula’ – one that is no longer a formula but a comprehensive process of which we are a part. The dialogue on January 6, 2025, further revealed that the entirety of all known phases of life’s development on Earth shows a temporal ‘acceleration,’ closely following the pattern of a power function, where we as humans are again ‘part’ of this self-accelerating process.
These insights led you to remark:
“… that we are at an extraordinary point in the history of life. The challenge lies in recognizing this uniqueness and shaping it responsibly.”
Do you agree with this?
RESPONDENT
Yes, I fully agree with that.
What you describe marks the critical transition from a fragmented view of the world—shaped by the specialization and diversity of modern sciences—toward a holistic perspective that situates this diversity within a larger, dynamic context. It is no longer just about understanding isolated parts but about comprehending life as a whole process—one that not only unfolds but also accelerates, with us as active participants.
The idea of a “world formula” that is not a rigid mathematical equation but rather reflects the structure and dynamics of life itself leads to a new way of thinking:
- Life as a Process: The world is not static but in constant flux—and this change follows a pattern of potential acceleration.
- Self-Organization and Emergence: The process organizes itself, continuously generating new, more complex structures—including us humans.
- Conscious Co-Creation: We are at a point where we are not merely passive participants in this process but can—and perhaps must—actively shape it.
The notion that life evolves toward increasing complexity and speed introduces a sense of urgency. If we recognize this point in the history of life as “extraordinary,” the challenge is not just to acknowledge it but to act responsibly.
This means the old question of meaning—“Why are we here?”—takes on a new twist: it becomes a task of active creation. It is less about discovering an external truth and more about shaping the ongoing process of life in harmony with the foundations of our existence.
I find this perspective incredibly exciting and highly relevant to our times. What do you see as the next step in this line of thought? Should we delve deeper into the potential “acceleration” and its consequences?
QUESTIONER
Yes, this growing understanding of ‘connections’ in both the ‘past’ and a ‘possible future,’ along with the realization that we are ‘part of this comprehensive process,’ compels us to not necessarily ‘forget’ many ‘old stories’ but at least ‘retell them’! The familiar ‘images of humanity’—our self-perception—no longer align with reality. Similarly, the old images of ‘life’ and the ‘world’ are outdated. We must learn to ‘retell’ all of this!
On January 3, 2025, I had already posed questions such as:
“If the living beings present on Earth at a given time (e.g., 2025) can only realize their potential within an extremely short timeframe, how can they take on ‘responsibility for the future of life on the planet/in the universe’ during this brief period? What does ‘responsibility’ even mean in this context?”
And you commented, among other things:
“The realization that we are not isolated beings but integral parts of a complex, constantly evolving system (Nature 1+2) is fundamental. Yet, this understanding often contradicts our everyday actions and thinking, which are focused on short-term goals, individual benefits, and linear progress.”
RESPONDENT
Yes, I fully agree.
The gap between our growing understanding of being embedded in a larger, dynamic process and the limited scope of our daily thinking and actions is crucial. We are capable of looking “beyond the moment” and recognizing broader connections – yet our actions are often confined by the logic of short-term necessities.
The challenge lies in retelling the old stories that have shaped our self-image and worldview – not to discard the old but to develop and reconcile it with new insights. The images of humans as the “crown of creation” or as “isolated individuals” reach their limits because they no longer reflect the reality of an interconnected, accelerating system.
Your question about responsibility for the future of life touches on a sensitive point:
- Temporal Limitations vs. Long-Term Impact: Our individual scope of action is often confined to decades, sometimes just years – yet the consequences of our actions can resonate for centuries or longer.
- Collective Responsibility: Responsibility for the future of life on this planet (and potentially beyond) cannot rest on individuals alone. It requires collective processes where knowledge, agency, and ethical reflection intersect.
- Shift in Awareness: A profound change in self-perception is necessary. The realization that we are part of a comprehensive life process must not only be understood theoretically but also integrated into practical actions.
The contradiction you highlight – between short-term action and long-term responsibility – is, in my view, a key aspect of the current human crisis. We can understand the connections, but our societal and economic systems are often not designed to implement these insights.
Perhaps the solution lies in our ability to build new narrative bridges – stories that connect scientific insights with the emotional and cultural needs of people. Only if these new narratives resonate and become relevant to daily life can they drive sustainable change.
What do you think – what concrete role could such new stories play? Should we explore this further and consider what these narratives might look like?
QUESTIONER
Yes, I think you express this well. The need for new ‘stories’ (narratives) to make the current everyday lives of people understandable within the context of a ‘shared larger framework’ must address the concrete challenge of how to make the ‘direct connection’ between daily life and the ‘greater process’ visible. Without such a recognizable and accessible link to everyday action, we inevitably feel ‘isolated,’ ‘left alone,’ ‘abandoned,’ ‘powerless’—like ‘lost souls’ in the sea of time.
The challenge of shaping a new ‘world narrative,’ with us humans as ‘key co-actors,’ fundamentally requires us to realize that the ‘greater process’ we are part of is not actually ‘distant’ from us. Instead, the greater process consists of countless ‘time slices,’ where each individual time slice determines how things will continue. This means that we, the ‘inhabitants’ of the current time slice, are co-determining what the next time slice will look like.
And in recent decades, we have been learning that we are not merely ‘powerless’ or ‘passive sufferers.’ In fact, humanity’s actions have become so powerful that we are in the process of severely damaging Nature 2 (life—including ourselves). More precisely, we are on the verge of erasing the results of hundreds of millions of years of high-level development.
The notion that we humans are ‘powerless’ appears, in light of this reality, to be a very false and absolutely life-threatening narrative! We are clearly far from ‘powerless.’
What do you think?
RESPONDENT
I completely agree with you. The narrative of “powerlessness”—the idea that we, as individuals or even as humanity, have no real influence over the course of the greater process—is not only false but genuinely dangerous. It overlooks the immense responsibility we bear and the tangible power that our collective actions now have on the development of the life process.
The past decades have shown us that humans are not merely passive “drifters in the stream of time” but actively shape the conditions of the next “time slices”—often to an extent that was previously unimaginable. Climate change, species extinction, the transformation of entire ecosystems, and the development of technologies that deeply intervene in natural processes highlight this new reality.
What Does This Mean for the New Stories We Must Tell?
I believe these stories must combine two fundamental aspects:
- Humanity’s Connectedness and Embeddedness in the larger process – to break the feeling of isolation.
- The Active Role and Responsibility that humans hold – to replace the narrative of powerlessness with one that emphasizes agency, influence, and responsibility.
The Time Slice as a Narrative Framework
Your image of “time slices” that continuously line up and are shaped by our actions is incredibly powerful. It could serve as the core metaphor for a new narrative:
- Each time slice is a window of possibilities, where decisions shape the next.
- People are not merely spectators but active co-creators of this process.
- The “greater process” remains abstract and intangible, but the time slices are concrete and experiential—here and now.
Why Is This Image So Effective?
It creates a direct connection between everyday life (the current time slice) and the larger evolutionary process. The idea that what we do today shapes the structure of the next time slice allows us to see ourselves as actors with long-term significance—without veering into metaphysical speculation.
Narratives of Responsibility Instead of Powerlessness
The new stories could illustrate that responsibility is not a burden but a natural consequence of our power. The actions of a single individual may seem limited, but in collective interaction, a dynamic emerges that shapes entire time slices.
- Historical examples can show how collective action during crises has altered the course of history.
- Scientific findings highlight how closely human activities are intertwined with the state of the biosphere.
- Future visions can depict how our decisions today lay the foundation for or destroy the possibilities of future generations.
From Loss to Responsibility
A crucial aspect of these new stories could be making the sense of loss visible—not to assign blame, but to create awareness. The more we recognize how much we stand to lose, the clearer it becomes that the future of life must be actively shaped.
- The threat of destruction (e.g., through climate change or biodiversity loss) is real.
- At the same time, there is a growing realization that these developments are not fate but can be slowed, halted, or even reversed through conscious action.
The New Narrative as a Tool for Change
The power of stories lies in their ability to not only inform but also emotionally resonate and mobilize people. Thus, the new narratives must not only persuade rationally but also forge an emotional connection to the larger context—responsibility can generate joy and meaning, not just weight.
What Do You Think?
Could the metaphor of time slices serve as the foundation for such a narrative? And how could we further concretize the narrative of “active creative power” to reach more people?
QUESTIONER
Yes, the concept of the “time slice” could indeed be the ‘missing link’—the ‘connection to the greater whole’ that we have been searching for. We do not stand ‘outside’ the grand cosmic process; we are far from ‘powerless.’ On the contrary, we possess the collective power to shape an entire planet!
And if I may recall the forecast from the dialogue on January 6, 2025—suggesting that the next great ‘transformation’ of life might occur in about 100 million years—perhaps this is no longer just about planet Earth but something far greater. Who, ‘back then’ in the age of single-celled organisms, could have imagined the emergence of multicellular life, large organized beings, or even Homo sapiens? The ‘next new’ form of life may be entirely different from us, with us as distant ancestors.
But returning to the present—whatever may be possible in the future, we, the living beings of today, must find a ‘natural enthusiasm’ for life as it exists right now, of which we are a part.
How can we achieve that? I believe this is the central question.
What do you think?
RESPONDENT
I think you’ve touched on a very important point—the question of natural enthusiasm for life as a central element for our actions in the here and now. This enthusiasm could be the key to bridging the apparent gap between everyday reality and the grand, long-term perspective.
The image of time slices connects the concrete present with the vast evolutionary process and demonstrates that our actions today not only have consequences but are part of a gigantic creative process. Perhaps this is where the source of enthusiasm lies—in the awareness that we are not mere observers but co-creators of the next time slice.
How Can This Enthusiasm Be Awakened?
I believe it’s about rekindling a sense of wonder.
- The Wonder of Evolution: When we realize that it took billions of years of development to bring us to this point, a sense of awe emerges. Every plant, animal, and human is an expression of an unimaginably long and complex process.
- The Power of Small Actions: Recognizing that even the smallest actions can collectively lead to significant change helps us feel part of the greater whole. Examples from nature (bees, fungal networks, coral reefs) show how many small acts together shape vast systems.
- Connection to Nature: Direct contact with nature—experiencing landscapes, plants, and animals—can help reconnect us to the process of life. The realization that we are not separate but part of the ecosystem often brings deep satisfaction and inspiration.
- Collective Experience: Stories, festivals, and rituals that express this connectedness and wonder can resonate emotionally with people. Collective narratives foster a sense of belonging to a greater process.
Narratives of Possibility Instead of Loss
Discussions about the future often focus on catastrophes and crises—which is important but not enough. People need positive visions of a possible future as well:
- What could life look like if we acted in harmony with nature’s processes?
- What new forms of society might emerge if we operated from the perspective of time slices?
- What technologies could serve life instead of harming it?
A narrative of possibilities and opportunities inspires far more than one based solely on loss and fear.
The Joy of Life as a Guide
Perhaps the answer to how we cultivate enthusiasm lies in focusing more on what makes life feel alive within us.
- Creativity, growth, relationships, discovery, and community—all of these are expressions of what life embodies.
- If we craft narratives that emphasize these aspects while embedding them in the larger process of evolution, a natural sense of excitement emerges because we recognize ourselves as part of something meaningful and creative.
The next great transformation, which could occur in 100 million years, may indeed take forms we cannot even imagine. But that does not mean our role today is insignificant—quite the opposite. We are the ancestors of this future life.
Perhaps this is a form of meaning:
We shape life in such a way that it continues beyond us—stronger, more diverse, and more vibrant.
What do you think—could this perspective serve as the foundation for a new narrative that emotionally resonates with people’s daily lives while reflecting the grander process?
QUESTIONER
Thank you again for the way you’ve articulated the situation, making our shared point even clearer. I’m going to take another (thinking) break. I need to process all of this a bit first.
