1 Plus Infinity - a Complex UniverseCondition of Existence

 My personal knowledge base is limited and this is hampered by a poor functional ability to recall information to the conscious mind! However, in my own opinion my intelligence level remains reasonable and I believe that it has enabled me to formulate understanding and opinions, based on life experience and exposure, that are at least worthy of some consideration.

The first paragraph appears straight forward and simple but in reality there are aspects of it that need further consideration. To talk of a knowledge base as being limited requires definition of what knowledge is and how it is known. Knowledge may be thought of as being information available from two sources – the Physical Universe and the Phenomenal Universe, both separate in their own way but both at the same time, and as a result of evolution, interrelated.

In reality, during a specified time period we are all exposed to similar amounts of external sensory stimulation and in many respects stimulation is knowledge, however variety has an influence here. This stimulation may take the form of reading, observing, talking, listening, education or any number of other forms but what is critical and what varies is the degree to which we utilise the external stimulation internally, in our brains. The brain as a sensory organ can sense its own state and modify that state as a result of that internal sensory stimulation, effectively it can think and by thinking it creates its own understanding of the knowledge that it has acquired. Understanding of knowledge that, through the communications skills that have developed as a result of brain evolution, can be distributed in forms of further external stimulation. In the same way our individual exposure to such stimulations increases our knowledge base. Broadly speaking it follows that we are fundamentally all exposed to a similar amount of external stimulation during the same time period, whatever form that stimulation may take, but what is critical is the degree to which we utilise our brains to make sense of the stimulation we receive. Here education is key because it stimulates, or as least should, our ability to utilise and maximise the External stimulation will cause cell stimulation in the brain that results in a degree of modification to the physical brain state but internal stimulation can greatly modify that state based on its own sensory awareness of its state. If the brain’s sensory awareness of its own state is utilised the speed of evolutionary change to the state of the brain is potentially exponential.

I am also of the opinion that no items in existence are independent of their surroundings, their Condition of Existence, indeed all things, states, are totally and mutually interdependent; what varies is the degree on mutual interdependence. Thus it is possible to know a great deal of ‘knowledge’ without having a great deal of understanding of its significance. Understanding requires thought and unfortunately time to think is very much at a premium in the modern world. I feel that my exposure to life has resulted in a state of mind that has been enhanced by its exposure to knowledge, situations etc. even if that exposure cannot be readily brought to mind (remembered); the result is a feeling of greater understanding of a variety of the elements of existence; of course it is possible to think you understand something but be wrong. However, recognising that my understanding may be wrong, there comes a point at which it becomes necessary to test ones understanding; I believe I have reached this point and now need to more formally structure my ideas and thinking and present them for others to assess. I would like to think that some of my ideas are genuinely new but this is probably vanity or arrogance and I know that my limited reading and exposure to academic life very probably has meant that I am just unaware of what others have clearly stated before me, if this is the case I apologise.

I was educated at Kingsland Grange Preparatory school in Shropshire and at Sutton Valence School, in Kent, where I managed to achieve a reasonable selection of ‘O’ levels and three ‘A’ levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry though only at mediocre grades!! I then went to Birmingham University to study Mineral Engineering but lacked any real interest in the subjects, got drunk, was not a great success with women and failed my finals; but did have some philosophical discussions – enough said! Subsequently, I was fortunate enough to get a job with Shell UK, in the early days of the North Sea oil industry, as a well site petroleum engineer and that set me on course for a career in the drilling industry, which has served me pretty well. It was during time off while working at BP’s oil production facility at Wytch Farm in Dorset that I first started to take a deeper interest in evolution.

I’m happily married with two daughters, a son and three grandchildren all great and all relatively patient with me – they have to be!! My thanks go to all of them and to my long suffering wife for their support and much valued ideas and opinions; even if I can’t persuade them I’m right!!