Scientists and philosophers clothe themselves in the foundations of knowledge. Historically, however, they have dressed up their ideas differently. Scientists tend to put on empiricism and study the things that exist in our universe.
Until recently, philosophers chose the ancient fabric of metaphysics but lately have been choosing either the underwear of logical analysis or the fashion design of language and its concepts. Bertrand Russell, a pioneer in logical analysis said most theorists start in the middle of theories because that is the easiest place but it is very difficult to start at the foundation of the theory.
Russell had this problem as he sought the foundations of knowledge in mathematics and logic rather than things we experience in the world. However a 17th century philosopher, Baruch Spinoza, who, Russell said, was “the noblest and most-loveable of the great philosophers,” began with: “The first thing which constitutes the actual being of a human mind is nothing but the idea of a singular thing which actually exists.”
Unfortunately Spinoza clothed his ideas in the fabric of metaphysics and his discussion of things was much misunderstood. I have discovered that you cannot really make sense of Spinoza without relating his ideas to concepts of modern science, such as quantum theory, information theory, neuroscience and cosmology.
However, scientists are not especially good philosophers as the absurd idea of TOE-hold (Theory of everything), indicates. So scientists need Spinoza’s ideas as much as he needs theirs. These ideas led me to the 5 E’s of existence.
The 5 E’s of Existence are: 1) Energy 2) Entropy 3) Entanglement 4) Eternity and 5) Equality.
Here is a rough and very cursory outline of Spinozian meditations on the foundations of things:
1) Things are an expression of the energy that generates the universe
2) Energy is a singularity inside all things that gives them work to do (’work to do’ is the definition of expression’) Energy is the Alpha & Omega. A point that has no part, eternity and NOW (pages of unpacking needed).
3) Only things and their actions exist. (ie are in time & space).
4) Things inform animal brains that they a) exist b) are a certain kind of thing (essence) and c) are in relation with other things (equal/not equal, part/whole). This information is generated in the synapses of and stored in, the dendrites of brain neurons (memory).
5) The evolved human brain turned relations into mathematics/logic and language and the reflective self emerged that is distinguished by reason and feeling. Emotions are a reaction of the animal relations of the brain.
6) Since things in the universe are entangled (i.e. both yes & no), energy is always accompanied by entropy. This is the whole of information. Energy is conserved, i.e. always present while entropy is the dark matter that will cause all things to return to the singularity of energy. All human ignorance is caused by entropy. (pages of unpacking needed).
7) Things began to be seen as objects to use and not just objects to react to in order to survive. This is the blessing (energy) and curse (entropy) of human behaviour and can make us the only unnatural things in creation.
Human culture began. (So social scientists could have jobs).