Difference between revisions of "Holotopia: Five insights"

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<div class="page-header" > <h1>Holotopia: Five insights</h1> </div>
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<center><h2>[[Holotopia|<b>H O L O T O P I A &nbsp;&nbsp;  P R O T O T Y P E</b>]]</h2></center><br><br>
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<div class="page-header" > <h1>Five Insights</h1> </div>
  
 
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<div class="col-md-3"><h4>Seeing things whole</h4></div>
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<p>The point, the absolutely <em>main</em> point here, is the change of the way we look at things. We leave our traditional candles aside, and use the flashlight. <em>What do we see</em>?</p>  
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[[File:FiveInsights.JPG]]<br>
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<p>Each of these <em>five insights</em> is a result of applying this this way of looking to a bundle of core issues—and seeing them in a <em>completely</em> new light. We are also building the analogy between our own time and the time of Galilei. So...</p>  
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<small>The Five Insights <em>ideogram</em></small>  
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<blockquote>  
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The <em>holotopia</em> vision is made concrete in terms of five interrelated insights.</blockquote>  
 
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</div> </div>
  
 
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<div class="col-md-3"><h4>The next Renaissance</h4></div>
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>[[Holotopia:Power structure|Power structure]]</h2></div>
 
<div class="col-md-7">
 
<div class="col-md-7">
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<p>The Renaissance liberated our ancestors to seek happiness here and now. The arts blossomed, the daily culture changed beyond recognition. Can we experience something similar now? And if so – HOW?</p>
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<blockquote>  
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<p>What is it that we failed to see in the light of the candle? First of all the <em>inner</em>—our very <em>ability to feel</em>. And then the <em>long-term</em>—how what we do influences our happiness in the long run. You may be glad to hear that those two are really two sides of a single coin!</p>  
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Powered by ingenuity of innovation, the Industrial Revolution radically improved the efficiency of human work. Where could the next revolution of this kind be coming from?
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<p>See the [[Holotopia:Convenience Paradox insight|Convenience Paradox]] insight.</p>
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</blockquote>  
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</div> </div>  
 
</div> </div>  
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<div class="row">
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<div class="col-md-3"><h4>The next Industrial Revolution</h4></div>
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>[[Holotopia:Collective mind|Collective mind]]</h2></div>
 
<div class="col-md-7">
 
<div class="col-md-7">
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<p>Is a <em>radical</em> increase in the effectiveness and efficiency of human work <em>still</em> possible (analogous to what resulted by the Industrial Revoluton)? And if so—how could we fail to see that?</p>
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<blockquote>  
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<p>We focused on making the already small things even smaller. And smarter. And neglected completely those <em>huge</em> and far more important ones: <em>the systems in which we live and work</em>!</p>  
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The printing press revolutionized communication, and enabled the Enlightenment. But the Internet and the interactive digital media constitute a similar revolution. Hasn't the change we are proposing, from 'the candle' to 'the lightbulb', <em>already</em> been completed?
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<p>See the [[Holotopia:Power Structure insight|Power Structure]] insight.</p>
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</blockquote>  
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</div> </div>  
 
</div> </div>  
  
 
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<div class="row">
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<div class="col-md-3"><h4>The next Gutenberg</h4></div>
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>[[Holotopia:Socialized reality|Socialized reality]]</h2></div>
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<div class="col-md-7">
 +
<blockquote>
 +
The Enlightenment was before all a change of <em>epistemology</em>. An ancient praxis was revived, which developed <em>knowledge of knowledge</em>. On that as foundation, a completely <em>new</em> worldview emerged—which led to "a great cultural revival", and to <em>comprehensive</em> change. On what grounds could a similar chain of events begin today?
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</blockquote>
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 +
</div> </div> 
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<div class="row">
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>[[Holotopia:Narrow frame|Narrow frame]]</h2></div>
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<div class="col-md-7">
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<blockquote>Science gave us a completely new way to look at the world. It gave us powers that the people in Galilei's time couldn't dream of. What might be the theme of the <em>next</em> revolution of this kind?
 +
</blockquote>
 +
</div> </div>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<div class="row">
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>[[Holotopia:Convenience paradox|Convenience paradox]]</h2></div>
 
<div class="col-md-7">
 
<div class="col-md-7">
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<p>Some researchers ascribe all of it Gutenberg: It was the revolution in <em>communication</em> that enabled the spreading of knowledge, literacy, education — and all the rest followed. Can you imagine a similar revolution in communication, with similar consequences, happening once again in our time? "But wait a minute," you might say, "hasn't such a revolution just recently happened? <em>What else</em> is there that could still surprise us?"</p>
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<blockquote>
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<p>We look at the <em>algorithm</em>. If you think of the Web as a kind of a gigantic machine, call it a computer, connecting us all—the question is <em>what program is this thing running</em>? Is it efficient? Is it at all <em>working</em>? So yes, the 'hardware' is now in place. And the 'software' is yet to be created...</p>  
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The Renaissance liberated our ancestors from preoccupation with the afterlife, and empowered them to seek happiness here and now. The lifestyle changed, and the culture blossomed. How could the <em>next</em> such change begin?  
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<p>See the [[Holotopia:Collective Mind insight|Collective Mind]] insight.</p>
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</blockquote>
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</div> </div>  
 
</div> </div>  
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<div class="page-header" ><h2>Sixth insight</h2> </div>
  
 
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<div class="row">
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<div class="col-md-3"><h4>The next Enlightenment</h4></div>
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>The five insights form a whole</h2></div>
 
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<div class="col-md-7">
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<p>And now the deep root, the point of it all. What <em>really</em> fueled the big change was a change in the very foundations of things. That was also the reason why Galilei was in house arrest. It was his claim that when the reason contradicts the Scriptures it might still be legitimate to listen to the reason that was the most disruptive and dangerous piece in it all. Everything else followed. Can you imagine <em>that</em> sort of change happening in our time?</p>  
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<p>The way of looking now is to see the foundations of our culture. The hidden judgment what's "true", "good", "right"...</p>  
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<h3>The black arrows point to a vicious cycle</h3>
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<p>See the [[Holotopia:Socialized Reality insight|Socialized Reality]] insight.</p>  
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<p>Follow the black arrows in the Five Insights <em>ideogram</em>, to see that the anomalies they connect together cause or <em>create</em> one another:
 +
<ul>
 +
<li>It is the <em>power structure</em> that created dysfunctional communication</li>
 +
<li>It is the lack of communication that keeps us in <em>socialized reality</em></li>
 +
<li>It is by founding knowledge in "reality" that we ended up with the <em>narrow frame</em></li>
 +
<li>It is by using the <em>narrow frame</em> that we mistook <em>convenience</em> for happiness</li>
 +
<li>It is our pursuit of convenience that makes us create <em>power structures</em></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>The red arrows point to a benign cycle</h3>  
 +
<p>Follow the red arrows to see that we cannot really change one of the insights they connect, without also changing the other.</p>
 +
<ul>
 +
<li>To stand up to the <em>power structures</em>, we must liberate ourselves from the <em>socialized reality</em></li>
 +
<li>Our <em>collective mind</em> cannot be structured to <em>federate</em> knowledge, unless we have a method for doing that</li>
 +
<li>To liberate ourselves from <em>socialized reality</em>, our values need to be different</li>
 +
<li>To broaden the <em>narrow frame</em>, we must see and unravel the <em>power structure</em> that keeps it in place</li>
 +
<li>To step beyond <em>convenience</em>, we need a <em>collective mind</em> that federates knowledge</li>
 +
</ul>  
 
</div> </div>  
 
</div> </div>  
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<div class="row">
 
<div class="row">
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<div class="col-md-3"><h4>The next science</h4></div>
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>The <em>holotopia</em> strategy follows</h2></div>
 
<div class="col-md-7">
 
<div class="col-md-7">
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<p>Science, of course, was the engine of development. Understanding the nature, understanding ourselves and the world, in completely new terms, incomparably more accurate and precise. Is a revolution here too possible—in the very way in which we look at the world?</p>  
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<p>We can now see <em>why</em>
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<p>We look at our very way of looking. We look at our 'eyeglasses'...</p>  
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<blockquote>
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<p>See the [[Holotopia:Narrow Frame|Narrow Frame]] insight.</p>  
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a comprehensive change can be easy, even when smaller and obviously necessary changes may have proven impossible.  
 +
</blockquote>
 +
The strategy that defines the <em>holotopia</em> naturally follows: Instead of struggling with the details, we focus on changing the whole <em>order of things</em> they compose together.</p>  
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<div class="col-md-3"><h4>The insights</h4></div>
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>What is <em>really</em> going on</h2> </div>
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<div class="col-md-6">
 +
 
 +
<p>
 +
One of our <em>prototypes</em> is a book manuscript titled "What's Going On?", and subtitle "A Cultural Revival". The book redefines what constitutes the news—by pointing to a breathtakingly spectacular event taking place in our own time. Slowly!</p>
 +
<p>By knowing what's going on in this way, we know what needs to be done. The "problems" we are experiencing are like cracks in the walls of a house whose foundations are failing. Our situation calls for <em>rebuilding</em>, not fixing.</p>  
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</div>
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<div class="col-md-3">
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[[File:Whats_Going_On.gif]]<br>
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<small>What's Going on <em>ideogram</em></small>  
  
 +
<p>This more informed and more effective strategy has "leverage points" through which it is most easily pursued—exactly as the bus with candle headlights might suggest.</p>
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</div> </div>
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<div class="col-md-3"></div>
 
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[[File:FiveInsights.JPG]]
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<blockquote>  
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<p>Each of these <em>five insights</em> leads to a <em>gestalt</em> change related to a collection of interests or issues; and to a  change of the perception and the handling of those interests or issues. Hence each of them provides a vivid, moving snapshot of the <em>holotopia</em>'s overall Renaissance scenario: Our contemporary condition is seen in a similar light as we might see the mindset of the Middle Ages. Change becomes imperative. </p>
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Let us conclude by pointing to a possibility that is inherent in the proposed transdisciplinary approach to knowledge, as modeled by the <em>holoscope</em>—to restore knowledge to power.
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<p>Each insight is reached by illuminating some whole. Each insight reinforces [[wholeness|<em>wholeness</em>]] as value. Hence each insight independently of others supports the basic premises of [[holotopia|<em>holotopia</em>]] and [[holoscope|<em>holoscope</em>]]. </p>
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</blockquote>  
 
</div> </div>  
 
</div> </div>  
  
 
<div class="row">
 
<div class="row">
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<div class="col-md-3"><h4>Relationships among insights</h4></div>
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>We can see the <em>elephant</em>!</h2></div>
 +
<div class="col-md-7">
 +
 
 +
<p>And here too, all we need to do is <em>continue</em> the evolution of knowledge a step further, by <em>federating</em> knowledge: Post-structuralism permitted us to interpret cultural artifacts freely, by showing false the supposition that they have a definitive meaning, which can be discovered. But if such interpretations may take us further <em>away</em> from giving such artifacts an agency—here we have a way to turn the resulting chaos into a whole <em>new</em> order!</p>
 +
[[File:Elephant.jpg]]<br>
 +
<small>Elephant <em>ideogram</em></small>
 +
<p>As the Elephant <em>ideogram</em> suggests—we can put those pieces back <em>together</em>; we can 'connect the dots', and see the 'elephant' (a whole new <em>order of things</em> that is ready to emerge.</p>
 +
<p>Earlier we may have heard our most visionary thinkers talk about "a tree-trunk", "a fan", or "a water hose"; but they didn't make sense, and we ignored them. Now we can give their visions a whole <em>new</em> meaning—by interpreting them as the legs, the ears and the trunk of the <em>elephant</em>. </p>
 +
<p>And this <em>elephant</em> is, of course, the "way to change course" that Aurelio Peccei was urging us to find.</p> 
  
 +
</div> </div>
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>Holotopia <em>can</em> become reality</h2></div>
 
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<div class="col-md-7">
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<p>At the same time, the causal relationships between these insights show that the corresponding problems create one another. That together they form a vicious cycle. The synergistic relationships between them show that resolving one would imply or require, resolving the next in line. Hence we see that while each of the specific insights calls for a profound change of perception and action in a certain area – that specific change becomes possible, or even easy, only in the context of the comprehensive change. A clear vision of [[holotopia|<em>holotopia</em>]] results. </p> </div> </div>  
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[[File:FiveInsights.JPG]]
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<center><small>The <em>holotopia</em> vision is made concrete in terms of <em>five insights</em>.</small></center>
 +
<p>The <em>holotopia</em> vision is made concrete or <em>federated</em> in terms of [[Holotopia:Five insights|<em>five insights</em>]]. Together, they show why a comprehensive <em>paradigm</em> shift is ready to take place in our time, by exploring specific five insights that are ready to emerge in pivotal areas of interest—as soon as we begin to connect the dots.</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Convenience Paradox <em>insight</em></h3>
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<p>The [[Holotopia:Convenience Paradox|Convenience Paradox]] <em>insight</em> points to a revolution in "pursuit of happiness" and in culture, similar to the Renaissance.</p>
 +
<p>The Renaissance liberated our ancestors from a religious dogma, and empowered them to seek and experience the joy of living here and now. The lifestyle changed, and the arts blossomed. Could a similar advent be in store for us today? </p>
 +
 
 +
<p>We use knowledge to illuminate what has remained obscure: the way our own inner condition and our cultural and natural environments influence the way we feel, and our very ability to feel; and how our handling changes those conditions—in the long run. </p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Power Structure <em>insight</em></h3>
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 +
<p>The [[Holotopia:Power Structure|Power Structure]] <em>insight</em> points to a revolution in innovation, on the scale of the Industrial Revolution, by which human work will be made incomparably more effective and efficient.</p>
 +
<p> We look at what remained ignored: the "systems in which we live and work" (which we'll here call simply systems). Think of those systems as gigantic mechanisms, comprising people and technology. Their purpose is to take everyone's daily work as input, and turn it into socially useful effects.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>If in spite the technology we are still as busy as were—should we not see if our systems might be wasting our time?</p>
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 +
<p>And if the effect of our best efforts turns out to be problems rather than solutions—should we not check whether those systems might be causing us problems?</p>
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 +
 
 +
<h3>Collective Mind insight</h3>
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<p>The [[Holotopia:Collective Mind|Collective Mind]] <em>insight</em> points to a revolution in communication, analogous to the advent of the printing press</p>
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<p>In effect, the network-interconnected interactive digital media have connected us all together in a similar way as the nervous system connects together the cells in an organism. We look at the process which we use, as cells, to process the knowledge together. How does our collective mind work?</p>
 +
<p>Our civilization is like an overgrown organism, so poorly coordinated that it presents a danger to its environment, and to itself. It has recently acquired a nervous system, which could help its organs coordinate their action; but its cells have not yet learned how to use it.</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Socialized Reality <em>insight</em></h3>
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<p> The [[Holotopia:Socialized Reality|Socialized Reality]] <em>insight</em> is about a new foundation on which the truth and the meaning are developed, and a possibility for a quantum leap in awareness, similar to the Enlightenment.</p>
 +
 
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<p>Without thinking, from the traditional culture we've adopted a myth, incomparably more subversive than the myth of creation—the myth that the purpose of knowledge is to show us "the reality" as it truly is.</p>
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 +
<p>I am inserting here freely—because the overall story seems to be taking a new and much more exciting shape. See my comments (also freshly inserted) about <em>the sixth insight</em> below...</p>
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 +
<p>So the creation of a "spectacle of a new kind"—how we've forgotten culture, values, and perhaps most interestingly, how we slipped from the <em>homo sapiens</em> evolutionary path, which the <em>academia</em> stood for, and... But the <em>holotopia</em> is about the good news. So the "spectacle" is a spectacular revival of the age-old human themes—in a down-to-earth, effective, contemporary, yet truly <em>spectacular</em> way!</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>Here we have a key point, which anchors those inflationary words and makes the possibility both palpable and palatable. The point here is to <em>complete</em> the (modernization?) process that was buddying in Galilei's time. The whole thing happened to us, and happened only half-way, or less... Now we <em>make it</em> happen. Completely.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>The story here is, of course, about rebuilding the foundations so that they hold <em>all of</em> culture—instead of holding only science and technology, and <em>damaging</em> the rest.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>The spectacle here is that all those words—such as "science", "culture" and "truth"—still resonate somehow in our collective memory. Albeit in a rather empty and hollow tone. The point here is to give  them a whole <em>new</em> meaning; and power!</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>Now you may read what I wrote earlier, in my usual boring tone. The point—that will be elaborated very carefully in the detailed presentation of this insight—is that the academic evolutionary path has brought us here, in front of this <em>mirror</em>. What an awesome place to be!</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>The insight that we are constructing rather than "discovering" is now so well documented and so widely accepted, that we may consider it the state of the art in science and philosophy. But that's only one half of the story.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>The other half is that the reality construction has been the tool of choice of traditional socialization—which has been the leading source of renegade power.</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Narrow Frame <em>insight</em></h3>
 +
<p>The [[Holotopia:Narrow Frame|Narrow Frame]] <em>insight</em> is about a new way to explore the reality, with similar consequences as the once that science had.</p>
 +
<p>We here look at our 'eyeglasses'; we look at the very way in which we see the world.</p>
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<p>Once we've seen that the scientific concepts and methods are our own creation—we become empowered to create new ways of looking at the world, in order to see more.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>We can <em>create</em> the way we see the world!</p>
 +
</div> </div>  
  
 
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<div class="row">
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<div class="col-md-3"><h4>Links to details</h4></div>
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<div class="col-md-3"><h2>Consequences of driving in the light of candles</h2></div>
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<div class="col-md-7">
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<p>The <em>five insights</em> allow us to see our contemporary condition in a similar light as we see the order of things in Galilei's time, in the twilight between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.</p>
 +
<h3>Values</h3>
 +
<p>The <em>convenience paradox</em> is clearly a result of having no way of seeing the long-term consequences of our action (no <em>foundation</em> for <em>culture</em>), and relying on immediate sensory perception alone. The value we have <em>appear</em> scientific: the <em>convenience</em> because it's similar to the experiment; and egocenterendness</em> because it <em>appears</em> to follow from a more general principle that determines our knowledge about ourselves, the Darwin's theory. </p>  
  
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<div class="col-md-7">
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<h3>Innovation</h3>  
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{|
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<p>We ignore the larger picture, <em>the systems in which we live and work</em>; we adopt them from the past, without thinking; and we focus on optimizing our own careers, our own apartments in an apartment building that is about to fall apart.</p>
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| style="padding: 10px" |  '''Acr'''
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| style="padding: 10px" |  '''Insight'''
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<h3>Communication</h3>
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| style="padding: 10px" |  '''Domain'''
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<p>We ignore the principle of operation of the <em>collective mind</em> we as people now compose, when connected by technology; we adopt broadcasting, knowledge-work professions, traditional books and articles... and implement them in new technology. Isn't this exactly like recreating the candles by using fancy electrical technology? It's the cognitive overload we have, and the lack of alertness it produces, that is now keeping Galilei in house arrest.</p>
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| style="padding: 10px" |  '''Causes'''
+
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  '''Enables'''
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<h3>Foundations</h3>
−
|-
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<p>We adopted the reality myth, which enabled the <em>traditions</em> to evolve and function, and their <em>power structures</em> to keep the people under control. Our contemporary <em>power structures</em> then simply stepped into the place of the old ones. </p>
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| style="padding: 10px" |  '''PS'''
+
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[Power structure insight|Power structure]]
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<h3>Method</h3>
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| style="padding: 10px" |  Innovation, global issues, democracy
+
<p>Adopting "the scientific method" as <em>the</em> general way to truth, even thought it's obviously way too narrow... and it's never been made for that purpose... isn't this exactly like adopting a pair of candles, to serve as hedlights?</p>
−
| style="padding: 10px" |  [[Who made up our mind|PS ➡︎ CM]]
+
</div> </div>  
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[First step to liberation|PS ➯ SR]]
 
−
|-
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  '''CM'''
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[Collective mind insight|Collective mind]]
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  Media, IT, communication, knowledge work
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[Why the homo ludens propsered|CM ➡︎ SR]]
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[The knowledge we need|CM ➯ NF]]
 
−
|-
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  '''SR'''
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[Socialized reality insight|Socialized reality]]
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  Epistemology
 
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| style="padding: 10px" | [[Reification is limitation|SR ➡︎ NF]]
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[Steps toward cultural revival|SR ➯ CP]]
 
−
|-
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  '''NF'''
 
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| style="padding: 10px" | [[Narrow frame insight|Narrow frame]]
 
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| style="padding: 10px" | Worldview
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[Fool's gold|NF ➡︎ CP]]
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[Look who's hiding in the dark|NF ➯ PS]]
 
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|-
 
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| style="padding: 10px" | '''CP'''
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[Convenience paradox insight|Convenience paradox]]
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  Values, culture, pursuit of happiness, religion
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[There is no invisible hand|CP ➡︎ PS]]
 
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| style="padding: 10px" |  [[Regaining sanity|CP ➯ CM]]
 
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|}
 
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</div> </div>
 
  
 
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<div class="col-md-3"><h4>The next Englightenment</h4></div>
+
<div class="col-md-3"><h2>Holotopia as a whole</h2></div>
 
<div class="col-md-7">
 
<div class="col-md-7">
−
[[File:Peccei_Revival.jpg]]
+
<p>While each of the five insights brings forth a spectacular development taking place imperceptibly slowly in our present time, considered together they afford an even <em>more</em> spectacular sight—of a complete new <em>paradigm</em> that is ready to emerge. The point here is to see that the five insights and the changes they are pointing to and demanding are so closely related to each other, that it is easiest and most natural to consider them as one single whole. And that the natural strategy is to change that whole as a whole. </p>
−
<p>The five insights complete the vision of an Englightenment-like change:
+
<p>It is a most revealing exercise, to begin with, to see that the black arrows in the above <em>ideogram</em> can be interpreted as signifying direct consequences. One thing leads to another! Together, they form a vicious cycle—within which the contemporary issues we are witnessing are perpetually recreated. Already <em>this</em> may be sufficient to see the <em>holotopia</em>'s main insight—that comprehensive change can be easy, even when smaller changes appear to be impossible.</p>
−
<ul> <li> The <em>convenience paradox</em> evokes a parallel with the Renaissance, where a radical change of values empowered our ancestors to pursue happiness in <em>this</em> world; and to develop the arts, relationships, ways to be human</li>  
+
 
−
<li>The <em>power structure</em> should remind of the Industrial Revolution, which brought a dramatic improvement of effectiveness and efficiency of human work; and also of the advent of the democracy and other great institutional innovations</li>  
+
<small>  <p>
−
<li>The <em>collective mind</em> is about a development analogous to the invention of the printing press, and the corresponding revolution in knowledge and communication</li>  
+
<ul>  
−
<li>The <em>socialized reality</em> points to a change analogous to the dramatic improvement of the <em>foundations</em> on which truth and meaning are constructed—and then of course all the rest</li>  
+
<li><b>CP –> PS</b> When egocenteredness is our value and guiding principle, we naturally co-create dysfunctional, wasteful and harmful <em>power structures</em>. They <em>do</em> serve a purpose—but not the one they appear to serve. They serve as 'games' or 'turfs' in which our life and career games are played competitively.</li>
−
<li>The <em>narrow frame</em> should remind of the advent of science</li>  
+
<li><b>PS –> CM</b> When our innovation in general is considering the existing systems to be "the reality", and as the constraints within which our repertoire of creative action is confined, then what we do with information and communication follows as a special case. Here we have a smaller vicious cycle—because we need new 'headlights' to see the 'bus', and become aware what needs to be done.</li>
 +
<li><b>CM –> SR</b> Immersed in "information jungle", we have no other recourse but to adapt to the complex reality by becoming the <em>homo ludens</em>—simply learning how to perform in a role. Or in other words—to submit to <em>socialization</em>. It is indeed a breath-taking sight to see just how much this has become the case.</li>  
 +
<li><b>SR –> NF</b> When we are socialized to adopt the worldview we have as <em>the</em> reality, it is only natural to adopt the method that provides us this worldview as <em>the</em> 'headlights'—without taking a closer look whether it <em>can</em> fulfill that purpose.</li>
 +
<li><b>NF –> CP</b> As mentioned, and as Heisenberg also observed, the values we have (convenience, egocenteredness...) follow as the consequence of looking at the world through the <em>narrow frame</em> ('in the light of a pair of candles').</li>
 +
</ul> </p>
 +
</small>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<p>The red arrows point to synergistic relationships. They show why the two insights or issues they connect may be perceived as two sides of a single coin. And why resolving one means resolving also the other. </p>
 +
<small><p>
 +
<ul>
 +
<li><b>CP <—> CM</b> If we should use long-term thinking instead of <em>convenience</em> to orient our pursuits, we would need suitable information—which would need to be <em>federated</em> from the world traditions. Conversely, <em>bootstrapping</em>—which Engelbart correctly diagnosed as <em>the</em> next step—crucially depends on our ability to transcend our narrowly conceived self-interests, and self-organize. </li>  
 +
<li><b>PS <—> SR</b> The <em>power structure</em> insight and the <em>socialized reality</em> insight are really two sides of the coin we've been calling <em>power structure</em>—the emergent 'enemy'. This is of course a key concept in <em>holotopia</em> as a whole. The reason why we <em>do not</em> see <em>the systems in which we live and work</em>, and that <em>they</em> have become our enemy, is that we've been socialized to accept them as reality. That's how the <em>traditional culture</em> functioned—and we've simply adopted that without thinking.</li>
 +
<li><b>CM <—> NF</b> Here too we have two sides of a single coin, which is our knowledge work. To have <em>knowledge federation</em> as a social process, we need a general method for creating knowledge, on all levels of generality. The <em>holoscope</em> is exactly a <em>prototype</em> that includes both (<em>knowledge federation</em> as social process, and <em>polyscopy</em> as method).</li>
 +
<li><b>SR <—> CP</b> <em>Socialized reality</em> includes the "reality" of sense perception. It also limits our conception of information to factual statements, to the 'square' or 'rectangle'—and ignores that our culture, just as any other culture in the past, is a result of complex socialization. Hence instead of knowledge that would guide our way, we have the advertising, which endlessly reconfirms and further misguides our naively conceived priorities.</li>
 +
<li><b>NF <—> PS</b> When we begin to see our <em>systems</em> as human-made things that are supposed to serve certain functions, and make our society <em>whole</em>—most naturally we will look at science in that light, and ask "Can this thing perform the key social role which has been assigned to it?" Conversely, when <em>polyscopy</em> is in place, we can define the <em>power structure</em> as the generic enemy—and see just how much our <em>systems</em> have become <em>power structures</em>. Seeing 'the enemy' is what changes everything—even more so than the case was during the Englightenment. Here we may see why it may not be necessary, or even a good idea, to occupy Wall Street. Instead of confronting what we perceive as power holders, we can now simply <em>co-opt</em> them—in <em>the</em> war that matters, against our shared enemy!</li>  
 
</ul>  
 
</ul>  
−
</p>  
+
</p>
−
<p>So the bottom two should remind of the development that Galilei in house arrest stands for—where the spontaneous evolution of knowledge of knowledge brings forth a new revolutionary, disruptive change; the upper three insights point to the sweeping consequences that such change may now bring along.</p>  
+
</small>  
 
</div> </div>  
 
</div> </div>  
  
  
 
<div class="row">
 
<div class="row">
−
<div class="col-md-3"><h4>Perceiving relationships</h4></div>
+
<div class="col-md-3"><h2>The sixth insight</h2></div>
 
<div class="col-md-7">
 
<div class="col-md-7">
−
[[File:Power Structure.jpg]]
 
−
<p>This most central, "bonus" insight result when we put all the above insights together.</p> 
 
−
<p>Rendered by the <em>power structure</em> <em>keyword</em> and <em>ideogram</em> is that the <em>power structure</em> should best be considered as combining power interests with our ideas and with our own condition. The point is that the power interests can modify both.</p>
 
−
<p>As a [[keyword|<em>keyword</em>]], the [[power structures|<em>power structure</em>]] models the intuitive notions "enemy", and "power holder".</p>
 
  
 +
<h3>Dispelling myths and errors</h3>
 +
<p>Myths and errors (newly added): With each of the <em>five insights</em> we discuss a collection of corresponding myths and errors. And from each such discussion a strong sense of irony results. <em>How is it at all possible</em> that an advanced civilization like ours could be making such completely fundamental, and sweeping, errors? How can we be believing in things that are so <em>obviously</em> myths...? Well, that's exactly the juicy material we are working with.</p>
 
</div> </div>  
 
</div> </div>  
 +
  
  
 
<div class="row">
 
<div class="row">
−
<div class="col-md-3"><h4>Perceiving evolution</h4></div>
+
<div class="col-md-3"></div>
−
<div class="col-md-7">
+
<div class="col-md-6">
−
[[File:Bauman-msg.jpeg]]
+
<p>Our answer to the "How is it at all possible?" question is a slight generalization of the following Einstein's "autobiographical note" (the point here is that a <em>meme</em> that originated in 'modern science' which Einstein represents for us as <em>icon</em>, is spreading through the rest of our culture and society, as it indeed should):
−
<p>The [[power structures|<em>power structure</em>]] model is completed by including insights about the evolution of our institutions or socio-technical systems, or <em>power structures</em>: When guided by <em>egocenteredness</em>, or by "free market" or "free competition", the <em>power structures</em> result naturally. They tend to evolve pathologically, as socio-cultural cancer...</p>  
+
<blockquote>  
−
<p>The enemy is the system – which is us! There is nobody to blame. Re-evolution is the way. </p>  
+
"Now to the field of physics as it presented itself at [the turn of the 20th century, when Einstein entered it]. In spite of great productivity in particulars, dogmatic rigidity prevailed in matters of principle: In the beginning (if there was such a thing), God created Newton’s laws of motion together with the necessary masses and forces. This is all; everything beyond this follows from the development of appropriate mathematical methods by means of deduction."
−
<p>Instead of trusting "the invisible hand" – we consider ourselves liable for systemic wholeness. We use our creative powers NOT as the market demands – but to ensure systemic wholeness.</p>
+
</blockquote>  
−
<p>Corrective action is [[bootstrapping|<em>bootstrapping</em>]]!</p>
+
</p>  
−
</div></div>
+
</div>  
 +
<div class="col-md-3">
 +
[[File:Einstein.jpg]]
 +
</div> </div>  
  
 
<div class="row">
 
<div class="row">
−
<div class="col-md-3"><h4>The bottom line</h4></div>
+
<div class="col-md-3"></div>
−
<div class="col-md-7">
+
<div class="col-md-7"><h3>Society of spectacle revisited</h3>  
−
<p>We may now easily see why white (as, we tentatively assume, the [[holotopia|<em>holotopia</em>]]'s all-inclusive color) is not only the new black – but indeed also the new green! And the new red!</p>  
+
<p>A way to see the whole  thing is, as diagnosed in Toffler's "Future Shock", that we got simply stunned by all the changes that happened to us; and <em>remained</em> in a kind of a spasm or shock—as Nietzsche diagnosed already more than a century ago. Responded to it by just making ourselves busy-busy-busy, trying to cope... </p>  
−
<p>Vibeke didn't like this (private joke of mine), yet she may...</p>  
+
<p>Lacking any frame of reference we could rely on, slid to the <em>homo ludens</em> evolutionary track.</p>  
−
<blockquote><pre>
+
<p>The scene <em>is</em> properly speaking spectacular. It requires hardly any effort at all to turn what's going on—into a <em>real</em> spectacle.</p>  
−
But seek ye first the systemic wholeness,
+
</div> </div>
−
in all matters and on all levels detail;
 
−
and all these things shall be added unto you.
 
−
</pre>
 
−
</blockquote>  
 
−
</div> </div>
 
  
 
<div class="row">
 
<div class="row">
−
<div class="col-md-3"><h4>Or in other words</h4></div>
+
<div class="col-md-3"></div>
 
<div class="col-md-6">
 
<div class="col-md-6">
−
<p>This young man might <em>seem</em> to be a fool. But his archetype is indeed the one of <em>wisdom</em>! By looking at the big picture, at the whole thing, by using the golden rule of <em>wholeness</em> – he succeeds in handling the everyday complexities effortlessly and <em>more</em> effectively!</p> </div>  
+
<h3>What is <em>really</em> going on</h3>
 +
<p>  
 +
While still drafting <em>polyscopy</em>, around 1998, I drafted a book manuscript with title "What's Going On?", and subtitle "A Cultural Renewal" (we may change this to "Revival", to completely agree with Peccei). The point was to re-define what constitutes the news; and the spectacle. What's presented in the book is a most spectacular moment in human history, which we are living through right now, without being a single bit aware of that. (Isn't that why so many of us are able to fully focus on making our apartments nice and cosy, and ignore that the whole house is falling apart?)</p>  
 +
<p>The insight here is that the "problems" we are experiencing are like cracks in the walls of a house whose foundations are failing. Indeed (when we dig a bit under the surface of things and take a look)—there <em>aren't</em> any foundations, really, to speak about. What's there has never been <em>constructed</em>. We are just building on whatever terrain things happened to be placed. Just building further. And higher. </p>  
 +
</div>  
 
<div class="col-md-3">
 
<div class="col-md-3">
−
[[File:Fool.jpg]]
+
[[File:Whats_Going_On.gif]]<br>
−
</div> </div>
+
<small>What's Going on <em>ideogram</em> (the first half)</small>
 +
</div> </div>
 +
 
 +
<div class="row">
 +
<div class="col-md-3"></div>
 +
<div class="col-md-7">
 +
 
 +
<p>But the <em>holotopia</em> is about the good news. We can develop the <em>architecture</em>; we can <em>found</em> insights and other things <em>consciously</em>. This can do to culture (and other things) what architecture did to house construction... The point is to <em>create</em> a <em>suitable</em> foundation for every piece (...). </p>
 +
<p>Isn't that what <em>polyscopy</em> and <em>knowledge federation</em> are really all about?!</p>
 +
</div> </div>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<div class="row">
 +
<div class="col-md-3"><h2>Holotopia as a conversation</h2></div>
 +
<div class="col-md-7">
 +
<p>The <em>holotopia</em> is, however, not about one-way communication. The shift to a new <em>paradigm</em> definitely demands audience participation.</p>
 +
<p>The <em>five insights</em> here present us with a context within which age-old themes and challenges can be explored and understood in a completely new way—<em>in the context of</em> the emerging <em>paradigm</em>, the <em>holotopia</em>. Hence we here, in this context, open the dialogs on fifteen most timely themes—which we label by the <em>five insights</em>, and their ten direct relationships. Since we've already seen the insights, it remains to name the relationships.</p>
 +
<p>The black arrows (starting from <em>convenience paradox</em>):</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Collaboration—the Future of Politics</h3>
 +
 
 +
<p>The [[Collaboration—the Future of Politics]] conversation takes place within the Convenience Paradox <em>insight</em> and the Power Structure <em>insight</em> as context.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>How can the emerging re-evolution ever have enough power to overthrow the powerful? We don't need to do that; we can just simply co-opt them!</p>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<h3>Systemic Innovation—the Future of Democracy</h3>
 +
 
 +
<p>The [[Cybernetics and the Future of Democracy]] conversation has the Power Structure insight and the Collective Mind insight as context.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>Without suitable communication–and–control, <em>nobody</em> is in control, and "democracy" is only a fiction. The Wiener–Jantsch–Reagan <em>thread</em>, detailed in Federation through Conversations, provides us a suitable springboard story. </p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Ludens—A <em>Recent</em> History of Humankind</h3>
 +
 
 +
<p>The [[Ludens—A Recent History of Humankind]] conversation combines the Collective Mind <em>insight</em> and the Socialized Reality <em>insight</em>.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>While we may be biologically equipped to evolve as the <em>homo sapiens</em>, we have in recent decades devolved culturally as the <em>homo ludens</em>, man the (game) player—who shuns knowledge and merely learns his various roles, and plays them out competitively. The Nietzsche–Ehrlich–Giddens <em>thread</em>, detailed in Federation through Conversations, will provide a suitable start.</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Future Science</h3>
 +
 
 +
<p>The [[Future Science]] conversation combines the Socialized Reality <em>insight</em> and the Narrow Frame <em>insight</em>.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>However it might appear today, the original purpose of the <em>academia</em> (which we define as "the institutionalized academic tradition") is <em>not</em> the pursuit of "symbolic power", or academic careers. On the contrary—since its inception, its purpose has been to provide an antidote to the <em>homo ludens</em> devolution, by developing knowledge work and knowledge based on <em>knowledge of knowledge</em>. Could a similar advent be in store for us today? The <em>socialized reality</em> and the <em>narrow frame</em> insights will provide us a suitable context for proactively answering this question. The <em>vignettes</em> about Socrates and Galilei (founding fathers of Academia, and of science) will give us a head start.</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>From Zero to One—The Future of Education</h3>
 +
<p>The [[From Zero to One—The Future of Education]] conversation is in the context of the Narrow Frame <em>insight</em> and the Convenience Paradox <em>insight</em>. </p>
 +
 
 +
<p>Our troubles may well be reduced to a single, very basic error: We've adopted from the traditional culture an approach to education which is on the surface stuffing young people with data; and 'deep down'  <em>socializing</em> them into a  <em>paradigm</em>. Here <em>socialization</em> means replacing the young people's natural curiosity and creativity by boredom and obedience.</p>
 +
<p>I am here once again inserting... references to a possible spectacle... <b>Imagine...</b></p>
 +
<p>Imagine if we all got, somehow, lobotomized... Not in hardware, of course, but in software. Would this not explain some of our stunning paradoxes? Perhaps my best shot at <em>federating</em> this possibility is by sharing my own experience. But a much better job <em>can</em>, of course, be done!</p>
 +
<p>I've described this in my blog in a couple of places, in sufficient detail. So here comes a summary: Not only the creative mind, but also the good old sense making, seems to function as a slow, annealing-like process. The point is that it takes <em>uninterrupted</em> time—quite a bit more of it, than what most of us ever have. So just <em>imagine</em> the consequences.</p>
 +
<p>And now about the education. I first of all had to undo its consequences, painstakingly and never completely. But OK, it works. If I give things enough of this uninterrupted time. What we have as education is a perfect substitute. Or should we say—a <em>murder</em> of this essential human capability. Where to perform, we are compelled to give up this kind of time and reflection completely, and... well.. just <em>perform</em>! </p>
 +
<p>What consequences might this have for contemporary <em>academia</em>? </p>
 +
<p>In the back of my mind, not wanting to interrupt this work, I am writing a blog post titled "In Conversation with Noah". Two years ago he was virtually <em>begging</em> me not to take him to school. It's not that I didn't know what to do—I didn't see anything that I <em>might</em> do. It turned out that I had a kid who had this ability, naturally. Not any more. I was <em>unable</em> to help him! But to a problem that seemed completely hopeless,  a <em>holistic</em> solution creatively emerged—to engage Noah in <em>holotopia</em>. Let's empower him (and of course all those other kids...) to change the system; to make a difference. This is of course not meant to be my private story, but a parable. End of insert</p>
 +
<p>Can we envision, and even begin to implement, an education that develops "the human quality", as Peccei would have it? The combination of (a resolution of) the <em>socialized reality</em>, with (a resolution of) the <em>convenience paradox</em> will provide a fertile context for developing this conversation, and the corresponding line of action. </p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>From One to Infinity—The Future of Happiness</h3>
 +
 
 +
<p>The [[From One to Infinity—The Future of Happiness]] conversation combines the Convenience Paradox <em>insight</em> and the Collective Mind <em>insight</em>. </p>
 +
<p>All we know about happiness is in the interval between zero (complete misery) and one ("normal" happiness); but what about the rest? What about the happiness between one and plus infinity?</p>
 +
<p>This conversation is about the humanity's best kept secret; and about the challenge to reveal it, by <em>federating</em> the experience of those who have explored this realm.</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>How to Put an End to War</h3>
 +
 
 +
<p>The [[How to Put an End to War]] conversation takes place in the context provided by the Power Structure <em>insight</em> and the Socialized Reality <em>insight</em></p>
 +
 
 +
<p>Alfred Nobel had the right idea: Empower the creative people and their ideas, and the humanity's all-sided progress will naturally be secured. But our creativity, when applied to the cause of peace, has largely favored the palliative approaches (resolving specific conflicts and improving specific situations), and ignoring those more interesting <em>curative</em> ones. What would it take to <em>really</em> put an end to war—once and for all? A combination of the <em>power structure</em> insight and the <em>socialized reality</em> insight will help us see <em>why</em> this is realistically possible. The Chomsky–Harari–Graeber <em>thread</em>, discussed in Federation through Conversations, will give us a head start.</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Largest Contribution to Knowledge</h3>
 +
 
 +
<p>The [[Largest Contribution to Knowledge]] conversation has the Collective Mind <em>insight</em> and the Narrow Frame <em>insight</em> as context.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>If you've followed us thus far, you may have already understood why that the <em>systemic</em> contributions to human knowledge (improvements of the 'algorithm' by which knowledge is handled in our society and in all walks of life) are likely to be incomparably larger than any <em>specific</em> contributions of knowledge. A fine important point is that a real breakthrough in this all-important domain needs to include <em>both</em> the social process and the method by which knowledge is handled—because they are the yin and the yang of knowledge work. Hence the <em>collective mind</em> and the <em>narrow frame</em> insight—and especially the ways in which we propose to handle them—will provide us exactly the right context for this quest.</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Liberation—The Future of Religion</h3>
 +
 
 +
<p>The [[Liberation—The Future of Religion]] conversation has the Socialized Reality <em>insight</em> and the Convenience Paradox <em>insight</em> as context.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>In the traditional societies, religion has played the all-important role of connecting the people to an ethical purpose, and to each other. While discussing the consequences of the <em>narrow frame</em> (the narrow conceptual frame and way of looking at the world that our society adopted from the 19th century science), Heisenberg singled out the destruction of religion and the erosion of values. Can this trend be reversed? Imagine a world where instead of religions quarreling with one another, and the rest of us quarreling with religion—we <em>evolve</em> religion, so that we may learn from <em>all</em> traditions; and so that we may <em>all</em> benefit and evolve further. We offer the strategy to <em>re-evolve</em> <em>religion</em>, knowledge-based, as a natural antidote to religion-inspired hatred, terrorism and politics. The story of Buddhadasa's rediscovery of the Buddha's original insight will be a natural way to begin.</p>
 +
 
 +
<h3>Future Art</h3>
 +
 
 +
<p>The [[Future Art]] conversation takes place in the context of the Narrow Frame insight and the Power Structure insight. The <em>vastest</em> realm of creative opportunities...</p>
 +
<p>Marcel Duchamp exhibited the urinal, and changed art forever. Certainly, art has always been on the forefront of change. Now that we have effaced the old and must <em>create</em> anew—what will the new <em>art</em> be like?</p>
 +
 
 +
</div> </div>  
  
−
* Back to [[holotopia]]
+
<h3>Back to [[Holotopia]]</h3>

Latest revision as of 06:44, 1 June 2020

H O L O T O P I A    P R O T O T Y P E



Five Insights

FiveInsights.JPG
The Five Insights ideogram

The holotopia vision is made concrete in terms of five interrelated insights.

Power structure

Powered by ingenuity of innovation, the Industrial Revolution radically improved the efficiency of human work. Where could the next revolution of this kind be coming from?


Collective mind

The printing press revolutionized communication, and enabled the Enlightenment. But the Internet and the interactive digital media constitute a similar revolution. Hasn't the change we are proposing, from 'the candle' to 'the lightbulb', already been completed?

Socialized reality

The Enlightenment was before all a change of epistemology. An ancient praxis was revived, which developed knowledge of knowledge. On that as foundation, a completely new worldview emerged—which led to "a great cultural revival", and to comprehensive change. On what grounds could a similar chain of events begin today?

Narrow frame

Science gave us a completely new way to look at the world. It gave us powers that the people in Galilei's time couldn't dream of. What might be the theme of the next revolution of this kind?


Convenience paradox

The Renaissance liberated our ancestors from preoccupation with the afterlife, and empowered them to seek happiness here and now. The lifestyle changed, and the culture blossomed. How could the next such change begin?


Sixth insight

The five insights form a whole

The black arrows point to a vicious cycle

Follow the black arrows in the Five Insights ideogram, to see that the anomalies they connect together cause or create one another:

  • It is the power structure that created dysfunctional communication
  • It is the lack of communication that keeps us in socialized reality
  • It is by founding knowledge in "reality" that we ended up with the narrow frame
  • It is by using the narrow frame that we mistook convenience for happiness
  • It is our pursuit of convenience that makes us create power structures

The red arrows point to a benign cycle

Follow the red arrows to see that we cannot really change one of the insights they connect, without also changing the other.

  • To stand up to the power structures, we must liberate ourselves from the socialized reality
  • Our collective mind cannot be structured to federate knowledge, unless we have a method for doing that
  • To liberate ourselves from socialized reality, our values need to be different
  • To broaden the narrow frame, we must see and unravel the power structure that keeps it in place
  • To step beyond convenience, we need a collective mind that federates knowledge


The holotopia strategy follows

We can now see why

a comprehensive change can be easy, even when smaller and obviously necessary changes may have proven impossible.

The strategy that defines the holotopia naturally follows: Instead of struggling with the details, we focus on changing the whole order of things they compose together.


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