The Cloud of Unknowing: Reflections on Physics, Theology, and the Witness of History
I. On the Origin of Substance (The Author’s Thesis)
The Author: "I tend to view substance and the idea of anyons not interfering with themselves—because they need to pass through one another as baryons do, having limited dimensions to travel in—as representative of the phenomena of construction of fields and particle waves. They are probability states of temporal necessity rather than constants, yet the constant entanglement always in decay in an orderly way is the 'magic' of the experience of being in a thermodynamic universe where relationships may be experienced."
The Analysis: This perspective shifts the focus from "hard" matter to the relational dynamics of quantum states. By viewing particles not as fixed constants but as probability states of temporal necessity, the author suggests that existence itself is a byproduct of the need for interaction. The "orderly decay" of entanglement (Entropy) is reimagined not as a tragedy, but as the very engine that permits the experience of time and relationship. Without the movement from order to decay, the universe would be a static, lifeless snapshot.
II. The Rejection of the Cyclic Model
The Author: "I think of the cyclic universe as more mechanistic and improbable and very unconvincing. They especially require a constant template—an eternal form of a universe that is a Platonic verisimilitude of the set of all sets including itself—and I just don’t care for that idea. If it were cyclical, it would be one thing like a point that expands and then collapses to a null state only to inflate again eventually. I prefer the universe viewed as an uncertain and amorphous substance of uncertain character provided by God as an image projected unto a 'cloud of unknowing' that is stable for a while until it moves on, having served God's purpose."
The Analysis: The "Cyclic Universe" (the idea of an endless Big Bang/Big Crunch loop) is often critiqued for its inherent determinism. The author argues that such a model requires an "eternal template" that effectively imprisons the Divine within a repeating machine. By contrast, the "Cloud of Unknowing" model—referencing the 14th-century mystical tradition—suggests a universe that is a teleological projection. It exists not because of a mechanical loop, but because it serves a specific, temporary purpose in the mind of an omniscient Creator.
III. The A Priori Multiverse
The Author: "God would create every possible universe that could exist in His thought a priori because He is omniscient—a greater than a multiverse relation."
The Analysis: This is a profound expansion of the modern Multiverse theory. While secular physics suggests multiple universes arise from quantum branching, this theological model suggests that omniscience equals existence. In the mind of an infinite God, a "thought" of a universe is so complete and detailed that it possesses its own internal reality. Therefore, every "possible" world is a "real" world within the Divine intellect.
IV. The Role of the Witness
The Author: "I have approximately 3 or 4 million words of witness history brief essays in 30 volumes. While AI is making the writing of novels feel somewhat obsolete, the role of the witness remains. We move toward the end of our affairs, reflecting on cosmology and getting affairs in order."
The Analysis: In an age of artificial synthesis, the Human Witness becomes the only irreproducible asset. A machine can simulate the "mechanics" of a cyclic universe, but it cannot document the "uncertain character" of living through a century of atomic dread, scientific revolution, and manual labor. The author’s body of work stands as a physical testament to the "magic" of a thermodynamic life.
No comments:
Post a Comment