Seeing things whole

The point, the absolutely main point here, is the change of the way we look at things. We leave our traditional candles aside, and use the flashlight. What do we see?

Each of these five insights is a result of applying this this way of looking to a bundle of core issues—and seeing them in a completely new light. We are also building the analogy between our own time and the time of Galilei. So...

The next Renaissance

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?

What is it that we failed to see in the light of the candle? First of all the inner—our very ability to feel. And then the long-term—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!

See the Convenience Paradox insight.

The next Industrial Revolution

Is a radical increase in the effectiveness and efficiency of human work still possible (analogous to what resulted by the Industrial Revoluton)? And if so—how could we fail to see that?

We focused on making the already small things even smaller. And smarter. And neglected completely those huge and far more important ones: the systems in which we live and work!

See the Power Structure insight.

The next Gutenberg

Some researchers ascribe all of it Gutenberg: It was the revolution in communication 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? What else is there that could still surprise us?"

We look at the algorithm. If you think of the Web as a kind of a gigantic machine, call it a computer, connecting us all—the question is what program is this thing running? Is it efficient? Is it at all working? So yes, the 'hardware' is now in place. And the 'software' is yet to be created...

See the Collective Mind insight.

The next Enlightenment

And now the deep root, the point of it all. What really 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 that sort of change happening in our time?

The way of looking now is to see the foundations of our culture. The hidden judgment what's "true", "good", "right"...

See the Socialized Reality insight.

The next science

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?

We look at our very way of looking. We look at our 'eyeglasses'...

See the Narrow Frame insight.

The insights

Each of these five insights leads to a gestalt 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 holotopia'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.

Each insight is reached by illuminating some whole. Each insight reinforces wholeness as value. Hence each insight independently of others supports the basic premises of holotopia and holoscope.

Relationships among insights

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 results.

Links to details

The next Englightenment

The five insights complete the vision of an Englightenment-like change:

• The convenience paradox evokes a parallel with the Renaissance, where a radical change of values empowered our ancestors to pursue happiness in this world; and to develop the arts, relationships, ways to be human
• The power structure 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
• The collective mind is about a development analogous to the invention of the printing press, and the corresponding revolution in knowledge and communication</p>
• The socialized reality points to a change analogous to the dramatic improvement of the foundations on which truth and meaning are constructed—and then of course all the rest
• The narrow frame should remind of the advent of science

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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.