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The Fractal Self : Science, Philosophy, and the Evolution of Human Cooperation / David Jones, John L. Culliney.

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublisher: Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press, [2017]Copyright date: ©2017Description: 1 online resource (248 p.) : 33 b&w illustrationsContent type:
Media type:
Carrier type:
ISBN:
  • 9780824866617
  • 9780824866648
Subject(s): Other classification:
  • online - DeGruyter
Online resources:
Contents:
Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface: Self and Interdependence -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction. From Chaos to Intimacy, A Primer -- PART I. Origins -- 1. Primal Emergence -- 2. Out of the Dreamtime -- PART II. The Ascendance of Cooperation -- 3. The Quickening of Chemistry -- 4. Ecology Emergent -- 5. Intimate Ark: Sex and Emergence -- 6. Social Order in Nature Between Conflict and Cooperation -- PART III. Emergence of the Fractal Self -- 7. Self within World -- 8. From Self to Sage -- 9. From Self to No-Self to All-Self -- PART IV. The Fractal Self at Large -- 10. Anti-sage From Cult to Empire -- 11. Into Indra’s Net -- Notes -- Index -- About the Authors
Summary: Our universe, science reveals, began in utter simplicity, then evolved into burgeoning complexity. Starting with subatomic particles, dissimilar entities formed associations—binding, bonding, growing, branching, catalyzing, cooperating—as “self” joined “other” following universal laws with names such as gravity, chemical attraction, and natural selection. Ultimately life arose in a world of dynamic organic chemistry, and complexity exploded with wondrous new potential.Fast forward to human evolution, and a tension that had existed for billions of years now played out in an unprecedented arena of conscious calculation and cultural diversity. Cooperation interleaving with competition; intimacy oscillating with integrity—we dwell in a world where yin meets yang in human affairs on many levels. In The Fractal Self, John Culliney and David Jones uncover surprising intersections between science and philosophy. Connecting evidence from evolutionary science with early insights of Daoist and Buddhist thinkers, among others, they maintain that sagely behavior, envisioned in these ancient traditions, represents a pinnacle of human achievement emerging out of our evolutionary heritage. They identify an archetype, “the fractal self,” a person in any walk of life who cultivates a cooperative spirit. A fractal self is a sage in training, who joins others in common cause, leads from within, and achieves personal satisfaction in coordinating smooth performance of the group, team, or institution in which he or she is embedded. Fractal selves commonly operate with dedication and compassionate practice in the service of human society or in conserving our planet.But the competitive side of human nature is susceptible to greed and aggression. Self-aggrandizement, dictatorial power, and ego-driven enforcement of will are the goals of those following a self-serving path—individuals the authors identify as antisages. Terrorist leaders are an especially murderous breed, but aggrandizers can be found throughout business, religion, educational institutions, and governments. Humanity has reached an existential tipping point: will the horizon already in view expand with cooperative progress toward godlike emergent opportunities or contract in the thrall of corrupt oligarchs and tribal animosities? We have brought ourselves to a chaotic edge between immense promise and existential danger and are even now making our greatest choice.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number URL Status Notes Barcode
eBook eBook Biblioteca "Angelicum" Pont. Univ. S.Tommaso d'Aquino Nuvola online online - DeGruyter (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Online access Not for loan (Accesso limitato) Accesso per gli utenti autorizzati / Access for authorized users (dgr)9780824866648

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface: Self and Interdependence -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction. From Chaos to Intimacy, A Primer -- PART I. Origins -- 1. Primal Emergence -- 2. Out of the Dreamtime -- PART II. The Ascendance of Cooperation -- 3. The Quickening of Chemistry -- 4. Ecology Emergent -- 5. Intimate Ark: Sex and Emergence -- 6. Social Order in Nature Between Conflict and Cooperation -- PART III. Emergence of the Fractal Self -- 7. Self within World -- 8. From Self to Sage -- 9. From Self to No-Self to All-Self -- PART IV. The Fractal Self at Large -- 10. Anti-sage From Cult to Empire -- 11. Into Indra’s Net -- Notes -- Index -- About the Authors

restricted access online access with authorization star

http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_16ec

Our universe, science reveals, began in utter simplicity, then evolved into burgeoning complexity. Starting with subatomic particles, dissimilar entities formed associations—binding, bonding, growing, branching, catalyzing, cooperating—as “self” joined “other” following universal laws with names such as gravity, chemical attraction, and natural selection. Ultimately life arose in a world of dynamic organic chemistry, and complexity exploded with wondrous new potential.Fast forward to human evolution, and a tension that had existed for billions of years now played out in an unprecedented arena of conscious calculation and cultural diversity. Cooperation interleaving with competition; intimacy oscillating with integrity—we dwell in a world where yin meets yang in human affairs on many levels. In The Fractal Self, John Culliney and David Jones uncover surprising intersections between science and philosophy. Connecting evidence from evolutionary science with early insights of Daoist and Buddhist thinkers, among others, they maintain that sagely behavior, envisioned in these ancient traditions, represents a pinnacle of human achievement emerging out of our evolutionary heritage. They identify an archetype, “the fractal self,” a person in any walk of life who cultivates a cooperative spirit. A fractal self is a sage in training, who joins others in common cause, leads from within, and achieves personal satisfaction in coordinating smooth performance of the group, team, or institution in which he or she is embedded. Fractal selves commonly operate with dedication and compassionate practice in the service of human society or in conserving our planet.But the competitive side of human nature is susceptible to greed and aggression. Self-aggrandizement, dictatorial power, and ego-driven enforcement of will are the goals of those following a self-serving path—individuals the authors identify as antisages. Terrorist leaders are an especially murderous breed, but aggrandizers can be found throughout business, religion, educational institutions, and governments. Humanity has reached an existential tipping point: will the horizon already in view expand with cooperative progress toward godlike emergent opportunities or contract in the thrall of corrupt oligarchs and tribal animosities? We have brought ourselves to a chaotic edge between immense promise and existential danger and are even now making our greatest choice.

Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.

In English.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 27. Jan 2023)