Introduction, Overview, and Conclusion for “Schwab-Writings”
Why these essays were written, their key messages and their possible applications
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Abstract
Many of us have a basic curiosity about the world we live in and search for meaning or a direction. Schwab-Writings presents a possible understanding and interpretation of our existence from three different perspectives, as well as an indication for a direction of our lives based on a certain level of insight within the fractal structure of all knowledge – where, on one side, further insight can always lead to a deeper level of more detailed structures of existence and, on the other side, can lead to an ever higher vision of the ultimate formative essence of existence. This presentation ends with some personal conclusions:
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The
perspective of “Science and Evolution”:
What is the factual understanding of the origin and evolution of the existence we live in?
– Cosmic origin, cosmogony, cosmic evolution, and the evolution of Earth and Moon
– The origin and natural evolution of life, the human mind, societies, and cultures
– Extraterrestrial life?
– What does the future hold? The expected end of mankind and the whole universe
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The
perspective of “Brain and Mind”, the most important human
characteristic:
How did the human mind originate and evolve? The important functions of the human mind:
– Origin and evolution of the mind
– Mental creativity
– Moral behavior and ethics
– Stability or variability of individual personality, multiplicity of expressions
– Appreciation of aesthetics, art, and culture
– A special issue related to the modern human mind: Battle fatigue, or PTSD
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The
perspective of “Philosophy and Theology”:
Is there a transcendental, spiritual essence of existence? What can we believe? How can we find direction and what shall we do in life?
– What is the meaning, purpose, and, mainly, direction for our lives?
– How can we consolidate science, specifically astrophysics, and religion?
– What is “religion” – what should it be?
– Is there any
truth in the “Intelligent Design Theory”?
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Finally: A “Personal Conclusion” at the end.
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Unrelated to the above, these writings offer some articles concerning “History and Politics”:
A biography of the “Great Henry Villard”, some unique material on “the Paris Peace Conference of 1919”, an article on “Islam, the Muslim World and the West”, and an essay on the “Spontaneous, Historic Origin of Cultures and Civilizations”.
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Furthermore, in a separate section, a number of ”Short Stories” are presented, reflecting not only the joys and comedies of life, but the many sorrows and tragedies as well – all in an attempt to more fully experience life and, mainly, to empathize with the people we meet in life.
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Unexpectedly, the two websites, “Schwab-Writings” and “Schwab-Stories”, are being visited by about 6,000 visitors per month, from 138 countries so far. Thus, the material presented on these websites became the author’s contribution to the worldwide exchange of ideas on the internet, thereby supplementing personal contact and action in the world, and constituting a “legacy”.
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A Personal Introduction
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The writing of these essays began during my years of working in
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Later – in the middle of thirty-five years of intense down-to-earth
work in industry, in technological innovation, manufacturing, marketing,
finance, personnel, and international management – the circumstances of my
personal life permitted me to take a sabbatical year (1969-1970) for reading,
meeting a diversity of people, thinking, traveling, and writing an essay
originally titled, “What Is Your Life?”
This essay was rewritten in 2001 under the title, “Understanding
Existence”, and is now issued as the essay, “Understanding Existence: Meaning of Life, Purpose, Direction”, to
be found in the section of writings, “Philosophy and Theology”.
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Subsequent travel allowed me to visit a number of distant places on
this globe and to become acquainted with various cultures. As time permitted, and driven by curiosity, I
began research into various areas of knowledge and understanding which
previously had appeared intriguing, inadequately explained, or mysterious to
me. This research consisted of many
years of auditing specific courses and seminars at
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Additional, important perspectives on life and existence in this world
were provided by volunteering in then still “socialist” East Germany, just
after the “wall” came down, by involvement in civic environmental projects, and
– most significantly – by personally working over many years with handicapped
youths, inner-city low-income families, criminals in jail, and a number of
other suffering or lonely individuals.
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My personal life found fulfillment in the companionship with an
exceptional wife – caring, intelligent, active in intellectual and artistic
pursuits, and in civic and charitable causes in her own way – and in the
raising of four sons in this modern world, all of whom I love and greatly
respect for their personal values and accomplishments – sometimes in adversity,
sometimes with success – in what now is their own course through life. Communication with a large circle of close
relatives and good friends has added considerably (!) to the fullness and meaning
of life.
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Some artistic activities – the writing of short stories, poetry, painting, sketching, sculpture, and music – opened my understanding for this uniquely enjoyable and human dimension, a gift of nature.
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I call the various above-described academic and personal research
efforts “long-distance travels of the
mind”. In pursuing those interests,
I experienced a form of fulfillment of life in mental growth, possibly even in
stimulation for personality development, but definitely in gaining some mental
clarification. Thereby, I may have been
able to offer some occasional
contributions to those respective areas of knowledge. They may possibly find application in the
progress of knowledge – or, hopefully, serve as help or guidance to
others.
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What does this new mental clarification relate to? Many of us go through phases of searching in
our lives – searches for our identity, searches for a path through life, even
for an understanding of existence.
Adolescents just out of high school may search for a meaning of their
lives or a profession to follow.
Students out of college may search for a career course and purpose for
their lives. In mid-life crises, some
search for a correction in their course.
Upon retiring, many search for meaning in their remaining years. All may search for betterment of their lives,
but, more deeply, for an understanding of existence and its scientifically
intelligible or its transcendental and spiritual foundation.
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The essays present where I stand – at this time in an evolving life and
in an evolving world.
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The Basic Approach
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The essays of Schwab-Writings result from the following basic questions: What is this universe that I find myself living in? Who, or what, am I in this universe? What is the essence of human life? Is there a transcendental foundation to existence? What do we really live for? How shall we spend our lives?
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A systematic approach could well start with a search for an understanding of the world we live in. Our universe and all of nature are in the midst of dynamic development that is controlled by a set of natural laws or programs and principles. Consequently, such an order should allow us to understand this development – the evolution of the cosmic structure and of nature – what happened in this world and why it happened. But there are also vast areas of randomness and of quantum mechanical uncertainty, rendering the future of the world non-deterministic. Finally, there is the question of the unavoidable ultimate end of the universe.
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In following the evolution of the world, we learn to see ourselves as organisms of nature – but organisms with the human mind of enormous capacity for thought and emotions. That is what makes us “human”, what gives our lives their potential. In a systematic approach to understanding ourselves in this world, we should look at the most important human capabilities of the mind. What are they? How did they evolve, and how do they function? What are their potentials and limitations?
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Creative thought brought us to the height of our civilizations. Ethical thought and judgment can make life emotionally tolerable for all of us – and more successful – and our societies more efficient. Individual personality provides uniqueness, value, and individual potential to each of us, whether in the development of intelligence, decision-making, leadership, empathy, or interpersonal skills. Finally – and not aligned with the other capabilities – we are capable of joy over beauty in nature and artifacts, we can appreciate aesthetics and art, as well as all that is commonly called the “cultural” aspect of our society.
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Beyond our individual essence, we are members of society – whether as members of our family, the village we may live in, our city, our nation, or, lately, the global structure of mankind. Through mutual influence on each other, societies on all levels are being formed by the individuals they comprise; but, actually, they also form their members – as in the definition and validity of values, the development of capabilities, and the consequent strength of those societies. Thus, rituals, values, fashions, and goals are defined, social, commercial and political structures formed – in short, “cultures” are defined and individuals are formed by them – in a dynamic process where the functioning of society is often controlled by small, somewhat distributed, but in communication and strategy formulation well-connected subgroups of individuals, occasionally driven by a single individual, functioning somewhat like the nerves and a super-brain with various nuclei. What does the future hold for mankind?
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There is one more essential element to most human lives and searches of the mind: the question why and what the entire universe exists for, as well as what course it pursues. This leads to the question of religious beliefs in spiritual or transcendental forces, of rules, of goals, of “meaning” – and why there is so much suffering. On the other hand, there is scientific knowledge about the universe and its course. Can we, or can we not, bring the perspectives of science and religion together? What can we modern people believe – for example, in the controversy between “intelligent divine design” and natural evolution? What can we justify as a position to stand for? What can we see as the meaning or purpose of our life – if there is any? More importantly, which course or direction in life shall we follow – with initiative and responsibility? After all, one has to ask how religious beliefs are possible, how they originate, and how they are being formed in the human mind. What is religion, or what should it be?
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The following paragraphs present an overview of the research effort and the resulting essays presented in “Schwab-Writings”.
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Section 1: “Science and
Evolution”
What is
existence? What is the world we find
ourselves in?
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Only about 45 years ago, one of the NASA space projects provided the first, beautiful pictures of Earth as seen from outer space. Astronomical telescopes had already provided excellent pictures of distant galaxies. Now, we could visualize how our own “Milky Way” galaxy would look – including the tiny spot representing our sun as one of several billions of other spots, somewhere in the outer area of one of its spiraling arms, with the still smaller NASA-photographed blue planet “Earth” whirling around it. How did this formation in space occur?
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Recent progress in astronomy and astrophysics has shown us how the universe originated at one point some 13.7 billion years ago and has been expanding in all directions ever since. What happened in time and space that, out of a burst of energy some 13.7 billion years ago, finally we humans, with all our exceptional talents, came to live on this tiny planet where we now are?
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An essay in the first section of the writings is titled: “Evolution: Understanding Our Physical and Mental Existence; Cosmic Evolution – Natural Evolution – Evolution of the Human Mind – Evolution of Civilizations – Extraterrestrial Evolutions – the Future of Mankind and the Universe – the End of the Universe. What were the important aspects and steps of evolution? What remains unanswered? What could be the consequent meaning or purpose of our life?”
It is also available in the form of eight essays on individual issues,
describing and discussing this evolution in some detail (in the fractal
structure of science), with emphasis on the basic nature of the universe and
the important phenomena or factors that determined the course of events:
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The abstract – one can rightly say ”transcendental”
– beginnings of existence
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The abstract nature of all existence
– consisting merely of fields in empty space
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The “granulation” of energy and
action, the diversity of primary particles and forces
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The appearance of the “combinatorial
principle”, whereby the combination of smaller components is possible and,
controlled by forces and the laws of nature (the expression of the “formative essence of existence”),
leads to the formation of larger components with totally new dimensions of
their own significance, as when using a quantity of diverse parts to build a
cathedral. Once a granulated structure
of existence was established, this combinatorial principle provided the
foundation of evolution – and even of mental progress.
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The duality of the order of natural laws
and randomness in the universe, including
quantum mechanical uncertainty
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The “basic principle of evolution”
indicating that evolution does not converge on a goal following a plan but
instead diverges to increasing complexity according to starting and
boundary conditions at the beginning of every step of evolution – but often
restrained by limitations and, thereby, while prospering with opportunities,
apparently “converging” to opportunities – this evolution being modified
by probabilistic or random events – leading to a non-deterministic and
open-ended evolution of the universe and nature (including our mental concepts
and structures)
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Cosmology, the appearance and evolution
of cosmic structures
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Geophysics, the formation and evolution
of Earth, the Moon (its importance for, and ongoing influence on, Earth and
life), the resulting crust, oceans, and relative stability of the atmosphere
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Molecular biology, how the origin of life
can be understood, the appearance and structures of life – the dynamic world
of DNA, RNA, proteins, ATP, and more
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Natural evolution – cells, diverse
organisms – the atmosphere changes, life begins to feed on life --
consequently mobility and neural networks appear – the “Tree of Life”.
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The question of possible or “believed”
ongoing, “intelligent design” by a transcendental force, God, leading to the question of “God’s”
interference with, or neglect of, human history and personal destiny – and
the contradictory or cruel consequences of such a concept, if accepted
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Development interrupted by large
catastrophes, redirecting evolution – more expected?
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Evolution leading to the human mind with capability for consciousness
and thought.
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The origin and evolution of societies
(based on “ethical” behavior and structured coherence), civilizations,
and cultures – with all of their specific characteristics – now leading to
“globalization” – and beyond (?).
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What “extraterrestrial intelligent life”
could there be in the universe? What
could the consequences be of the discovery of such extraterrestrial
intelligence for us?
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The expected end of the universe in a
collapse, in Black Holes, or in nothing but dispersing radiation.
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Section
2: “Brain – Mind”:
The Human
Mind: An analysis of the most important
human mental characteristics
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What specific, important capabilities or characteristics set us apart from other living beings and allow us to cope with our existence, even to the extent of living a “fulfilled” life?
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A group of essays in this second section of the writings, “Brain – Mind”, place special emphasis on understanding the functioning of the human mind and on four human capabilities:
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The Evolution and Function of the Human Mind
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Mental creativity, the questions of thought,
consciousness, and intuition (two essays)
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Ethical thought, values, or judgment
(two essays)
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Individual “personality” or “character” – stability,
variability, and, most importantly, multiplicity of expression (one essay)
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Appreciation of aesthetics and beauty in
nature, art, or culture, the effect of focusing, emphasis on striking effects (one
essay)
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The important additional capability of the human mind for religion – also the questions of “meaning” and theology – are discussed separately in the section, “Philosophy and Theology”.
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There is no doubt that other human capabilities can be defined and their importance demonstrated – for example, intelligence (related to, but not identical with, creativity), genius, linguistic or mathematical capabilities, boredom or adventurous curiosity, striving for wealth and power, strategizing, leadership or cooperation skills, and the social abilities that give rise to civilizations and their many functions in politics or commerce. Several of those, but not all, are related to “personality”, as described in the corresponding essay.
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As a matter of fact, the development beyond human individuality to human organizations, organized behavior, societies, civilization, and cultures appears as another step in evolution, following the combinatorial principle – with the consequent appearance of new phenomena as these new dimensions of existence appeared. The discussion of these phenomena – the behavior of the masses, the development of “national character” (corresponding to the personality of the individual), politics, militarism, commerce, ideological or religious groups and their dynamics, and large industrial organizations – deserves another series of essays – but life is short.
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Following are some comments, with the emphasis on the key observations in the various essays of the section entitled “Brain – Mind”:
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On
mental creativity:
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Mental creativity is so important because it resulted in mental, material, and medical progress for mankind and the building of civilizations. Mental creativity can be subdivided into the following categories:
- recognition of existing problems; asking the right questions
- devising solutions; defining experiments
- pattern recognition; the recognition of relevance in observations
- formulation of new mental concepts; the building of new systems of thought
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Two essays are presented in this section of analyzing the creative capabilities of the human brain and mind: “Brain – Mind: Creative Thought”; and “Mental Creativity”. The first is more detailed in its development of a theory with which to understand mental creativity; the second concentrates on the neurophysiology and cognitive psychology that constitute the basis of mental creativity.
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Included in these essays are:
- an explanation of consciousness of oneself and the world (different from momentary “awareness”) as derived from, and commensurate with, the amount, duration, and addressability of memory, not only for past perceptions but also for past thought
- a theory on how the sequencing of thought phases is accomplished – how thought is directed in the brain – following the strongest synaptic connection or new perception
- how mental focus is accomplished and serves thought sequence selectivity
- how “intuitive ideas” are derived from subconscious thought
- how creativity occurs when new connections are made between elements of memory, including those of own thought and those of perceptions, resulting in the combinatorial formation of new concepts or “inventive ideas”
- how it can be proven that most – if not all – historic inventions or mental progress occurred in a combinatorial way – from the invention of the wheel to Einstein’s formulation of the theory of relativity, to the discovery of the DNA structure
- how creativity can be improved based upon the above findings
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Special emphasis is laid on the observation that the immense capabilities of the human brain are the result of the combination of two different, and interwoven, signaling capabilities working in parallel in the brain – the synaptically based “digital” signaling and the intensity of nerval firing-rate providing “analog” signaling – each with its own significance in the thought process.
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There are two additional factors of creativity: the quantity, diversity, durability, and diverse addressability of memory elements; and, mainly, the importance of psychological disposition for curiosity or initiation and acceptance (also communication) of innovative thought. This psychological disposition includes a balance between the elements of curiosity, self-confidence, need, seeking of reward, and other incentives, on one side, and the desire for stability, fear, insecurity, tendency toward risk avoidance, on the other.
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On
ethical thought and judgment
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Two essays regarding this aspect of the human brain and mind are presented: “Ethics: Ethical or Moral Thought and Decision Making”; and “The Brain, the Mind, and Ethics”.
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The first essay is a more detailed overview of “ethics” in terms of evolutionary biology, history, neurophysiology, psychology, philosophy, religion, modern standards, and education. The second essay concentrates on the anchor of ethical thought in the neurophysiology of the brain, psychological influences, the influence of the cultural setting, and own thought.
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Ethical behavior (in the most general terms, behavior for the benefit of the “other” or the group) and, somewhat related, the acceptance of commands (within a “pecking order”) are the foundations of social behavior and have evolved in nature as they facilitated procreation, the handling of complex tasks for some animal species by permitting them to live and act in packs, and by letting such groups act more efficiently. Consequently, evolution led to genetic encoding of certain amounts of ethical behavior – basically in three types: (1) caring for offspring or for clan members (decreasing with genetic distance), (2) reciprocity of behavior with certain other individuals (but also with revenge-seeking), and (3) self-sacrifice for the group or clan – and acceptance of the will of higher-ranking individuals. But it is also known that learning or the cultural setting facilitate, influence, and largely expand ethical behavior, thought, and judgment.
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Humanity’s cultural growth through history leads to the inclusion of ever larger circles of other humans – now globally and, intergenerationally, to the not-yet born – and recently also including animals – into personal ethical thoughts and behavior and, possibly, to the acceptance of global standards.
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The two essays discuss the three principal ethical doctrines:
- The prevailing interest of the community, maximizing benefits for the most – generally utilitarian and close to the principle of result ethics (by cost-benefit analysis)
- The prevailing interest of the individual, the protection and support of the individual at public expense – generally idealistic and close to process ethics
- The balancing of the interests of the least privileged with the interests of the more privileged – ethical thought based on social considerations – consideration of failures of free markets – issues of “equity” and “social justice”
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The rise and fall of civilizations are correlated with the formation and maintenance of ethical standards or “values” – specifically, in government, public service, law abidance, business, and family life. Ethical judgment and behavior – in our multidimensional culture – require a focus on ethical demands, a focus that can be strengthened by some psychological factors.
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No other focus can lead to such extremes – to the most heroic personal sacrifice for the general benefit – or to great personal intolerance and general destructiveness, as in obsessions related to moral, religious, or political convictions.
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Quite often (and in most leading religious organizations), “moral” questions of an individual culture’s traditions and taboos (mostly those related to sexual behavior and dress codes) are confused with “ethical” questions of unselfishness and assistance to others, the needy, and the group – with the promotion of true ethical behavior too often being neglected – also in matters of environmental protection.
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Natural demands, nature-given ethical
emotions, cultural learning, and the need for internal efficiencies of
societies may necessarily lead to the same ethical rules and values as
religiously promulgated laws – leading to the question of which originated from
the other, and which should prevail in cases of conflict.
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On
human personality
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One essay on this topic is presented: “Brain – Mind: Human Personality’s Stability, Variability, and Multiplicity”. This essay presents an analysis of what constitutes the human “personality” – ultimately, a faculty of the human mind – in terms of neurophysiology, biochemistry, and psychology – with special emphasis on stability, variability, and, mainly, the important multiplicity of personality expression.
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The essay shows that neurophysiologic factors, largely genetically determined, are the most stable, changing somewhat with aging and more so in traumatic situations (such as brain tumors, surgery, and accidents).
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The biochemical factors, while also genetically predisposed and changing during certain critical phases of maturing or aging, are more readily influenced through the consumption of biochemically active substances (coffee, alcohol, drugs) or life-styles (for example, exercising) – with mostly (but not always) a limited duration of their effects.
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The psychological factors – reflecting external influences and cultural setting – seldom last much beyond the presence of their input. But significant events can have important, lasting effects (traumatic events, visions, encounters, insights). Peer support, congregations, or the support of organizational or military units facilitate the maintenance of psychologically acquired characteristics.
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Most important is the fact that the specific expression of human personality can change instantly and substantially under the impact of the conditions in certain situations – leading to the recognition that each individual possesses a repertoire or a multiplicity of possible personality expressions. This leads to the conclusion that many situations in life – from problems in school to marital problems, career problems, and social adjustment – could be influenced through the setting of proper conditions for desired personality expression.
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On appreciation of beauty in nature, art, and culture
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One essay on this topic is presented: “Aesthetics, Art, and Culture”. This essay analyzes the concepts of aesthetics, art, and culture – as “fuzzy” as they may be, and their value assessments changing in time and with culture.
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What are the limits of aesthetics and art – in exotic effects, ideological expression, kitsch, merely technical products, or reproductions?
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As discussed in the essay, there may be