BY LETTER
Metaphysics
 Image from Bernd Helfert |
Under the broad heading of Metaphysics is a range of topics including Philosophy, Religion, and Esotericism. This is "Subjective" Knowledge that is not amenable to experimental tests and replication. Here we find everything from Keterist neohermeticism to Genen tantra, from the great Sophic Monasteries to the most eccentric cults. Metaphysics can be a spiritual path to greater understanding of life. Then again, sometimes it may simply be an avenue for manipulation by beings of a higher toposophic level.
Sub-Topics
Articles
- Attractor - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
An archetype or state that is characterization of the long-term behaviour of a dissipative dynamic system. Over long periods of time, the state space of some dynamical systems will contract toward this region. The Archailects are said to be dynamic systems that characterize particular attractors. Likewise, certain biological forms, certain memes, certain technological solutions, and so on, are known to have emerged independently on completely different planets or among different alien races. - Belief Eradication Project / BEP - Text by John B
A memetic/psychological/cognitive attempt at removing all belief from a baseline-equivalent sapient mind. - Ex nihilo - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Creation from nothing; in contrast to creation of order from chaos. A common element in the theology of many monotheistic memeticities. - Ideology - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, group, class, clade, or culture. - Koan - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Puzzling or paradoxical statement or story intended to aid in meditation and spiritual self-discovery. Originated with medieval Zen Buddhism, Old Earth, but have since been widely employed, especially among superbrights, powers, and hyperturing entities. - Mind-Body Problem - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The mind-body problem vexed human thinkers, even Interplanetary Age superbrights, for millennia, and continues to puzzle modosophonts today. A First Federation hyperturing did manage to narrow the number of field of possible answers to five (or seven) metaphysical metaphysical positions. - Physical Existence (metaphysics) - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
In many forms of esotericism and supernaturalist religion, this refers to existence in either r/l or virtual form; existence in a physical or virtual body; material as opposed to psychic or spiritual existence. - Physical Universe - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
The universe of physical matter and energy, determined by physical laws. Materialism states this is the only reality, while supernaturalist religion and esotericism assert that beyond the physical universe are one or more spiritual planes or dimensions. - Technoanimism - Text by Stephen Inniss
A common memeplex that reached currency in the Interplanetary Age with the advent of sentient and sapient ais, bots, and vecs and widespread gengineering and provolution. - Technoshamanism - Text by Stephen Inniss
A natural outgrowth of technoanimism. Technoshamanism is the art of understanding and negotiating with the ubiquitous sentient, sapient/sophont, and pseudosophont or pesudosentient items and beings that are encountered in day to day life by a typical modosophont in the Civilized Galaxy. - Universe - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
A self-contained cosmos or a part of a cosmos. Alternatively, the entirety of what naturally exists, including the galaxies and intergalactic space, all matter and energy, and space-time generally. A bounded virch environment that cannot be breached by its inhabitants may be referred to as a universe. The archailects have created so-called 'baby' or 'basement' universes for purposes of their own. Whether our own universe is part of a larger multiverse remains a subject of debate, while the question of if other universes have been contacted is a matter of rumour, occasionally fueled by statements made by one archailect or another.
Development Notes
Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Initially published on 25 August 2002.
Initially published on 25 August 2002.
Additional Information
