1. a state in which all components or elements are arranged logically, comprehensibly, or naturally
Chaos (n):
1. a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order.
3. the infinity of space or formless matter supposed to have preceded the existence of the ordered universe.
System (n):
1. an assemblage or combination of things or parts forming a complex or unitary wholeFragments of order exist in any system of chaos, fragments of chaos exist in any system of order. Any ordered system has the potential to become a chaotic system, and vice versa.
But what is the difference between order and chaos? What defines a given situation to be ordered, and another situation to be chaotic? The answer is, like so many other things, human perception. I don't really know much about Chaos Theory. I think I tried to understand it once, and it was a bit over my head. Of course, I didn't try really hard. Anyway, I propose that it is simply the human equation which differentiates between order and chaos. So that the only question which matters is this: Is the universe ultimately an ordered system or a chaotic one? The answer to that question is too vast to be tested or theorized about scientifically. It is therefor a matter of personal belief, and in fact a religious question, not a scientific one. But then again, what separates religion from science? Human perception.
Nevertheless, let's explore each of these two potential answers.
First, let's consider the implications of an ultimately ordered system of existence. That would imply that there was a higher order to the universe that we as human beings are incapable of understanding. A system that is ultimately logical and comprehensible. That would furthermore imply that the universe has to be comprehensible to a being. Because in order for the universe to be an ultimately ordered place, there must be some being which can recognize and comprehend the entire existence of the universe as logical. Because if it is conscious perception that defines a system to be ordered or chaotic, then an ultimately ordered universe must be completely understood by some being who perceives the system of order and defines it is such. I believe this being identifies himself as God. Now, God is omnipotent, He has all power. That means, that there is literally nothing God is unable to do. Some silly people argue that God cannot be omnipotent because He does not have the power to do something like create a rock to heavy for Him to lift. Of course those people haven't considered that without God's will there is no such thing as weight, gravity, or mass anyway. But that's another topic. So, God is omnipotent, and the universe is ultimately an ordered place. That means, that all chaos is just a human label for an order that is too complex for us to understand. And that in fact chaos and order are not polar opposites or mutually exclusive. A given system can be both ordered and chaotic, based upon the given ability of an observer to understand the nature of the system and those systems directly affected by it. One person may look at a system and see chaos, another may look at it and see order. As a simple example, I look at this:
And I see chaos. Because I do not have the understanding to perceive the order on that chalkboard. I am not at a level of knowledge where I can comprehend the order, and therefore to me, it is chaos. So what causes the system displayed on that chalkboard to be chaos is not that it is actually chaos, but that I am unable to comprehend the order. It is often said that a given system, particularly a society, will begin in order and degrade into chaos. But I say, that it begins in order, and evolves progressively into an order which is eventually too complex to be understood. Because if the universe is ultimately an ordered place, then chaos is merely an idea that we have. A concept we have created to excuse ourselves from the impossible task of comprehending the full existence of all the universe, all factors and systems in it, down to the behavior of every sub-atomic particle. Something only a Higher Being could do.
Let me think of another example. Say you have a collection of different bottles of paint on a shelf. They are all nicely arranged, spaced evenly apart, ordered and organized by color. The system of paints on the shelf is very orderly. Now, suppose the artist comes along. She begins by selecting out the paint she wants to use for a given painting. She takes the ones she wants, and sets them on the floor next to her easel and canvas. This system is a bit more complicated, and therefor appears to be less organized and orderly, and quickly degrading into chaos. But, suppose the artist has not set the bottles in order of their color because she arranged them on the floor in order of which she intends to use first, to which she intends to use last. So, there is still a sense of order and coherence here, at least for her. Now, she begins. The paints are removed from their orderly bottles, and squirted messily onto a pallet, there to be mixed in various ways, and applied to the canvas. And let's say this particular artist happens to be working on an abstract piece. So, the composition of the painting is very bizarre, the paints do not form specific identifiable shapes. They are not organized at all, they are mixed, brushed, squirted, spread, curved, and ultimately transformed into a very complex and abstract painting which does not appear to be a painting of any identifiable object. Nor does this painting hold specific patterns. But of course, every stroke of the brush was deliberate. To the artist, this painting expresses a particular thought, or emotion, which is very complex, but ultimately if the artist understands this painting, it is no longer a painting of chaos, but becomes an understood and comprehended work of art, therefor a system of order. So despite the appearance of chaos on the canvas, there is actually perfect order and harmony. Now, let us assume, that things become even more complicated. Say, for example, that now a group of children enter the room. And these children are very energetic, and of course the ensuing result is chaos. Paints being thrown all over the place, squirted out onto clothes, or the carpet, or the walls. Paints being smeared, tossed, dropped accidentally. But even in the accidents, and even with all the shouting, every child is doing what they specifically feel driven to do at that point, what is logical to them. The various motives, disposition, and behavior of each individual child is incredibly complex. All of the factors in the system of a human child are of course governed by all of that child's past experience. As well as whether or not they are sick, and how hungry or tired they are. Multiply all of those infinitely complex factors by ten children in the room, and you have a system of chaos. Or rather, a system of order that is very difficult to comprehend. And even though there will of course be a mess, ultimately the order and occurrence of natural events in the universe can allow for ten small children in a room full of paint supplies.
Now apply this concept on a macro level. The universe is ultimately an ordered place, because there is no system too complex for an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God to comprehend. So to God, the universe is an ordered place. Imagine all of the particles that would eventually become the universe floating in space, as in definition 3 of the word 'chaos'. Ultimately, every particle in this system behaved the way it was supposed to. And this infinite system of chaos was actually an infinitely complex order, in which every particle correctly and orderly did that which is impossible for human beings to comprehend, which is, be formed into a universe. Nevertheless, they were formed, and not by accident. For if the universe is ultimately a system of order, then someone who comprehended the order had to form it. But in this situation, everything was possible, there was no limit to the possibilities, there was no good or evil yet, there was no disagreement, there was no right or wrong place for a given particle to be. And therefor in the infinite space or formless matter supposed to exist before the formation of the known universe, there was not chaos, but in fact, perfect order and harmony.
When I get the chance, I will continue by exploring the idea of a universe that is ultimately chaotic.
But what is the difference between order and chaos? What defines a given situation to be ordered, and another situation to be chaotic? The answer is, like so many other things, human perception. I don't really know much about Chaos Theory. I think I tried to understand it once, and it was a bit over my head. Of course, I didn't try really hard. Anyway, I propose that it is simply the human equation which differentiates between order and chaos. So that the only question which matters is this: Is the universe ultimately an ordered system or a chaotic one? The answer to that question is too vast to be tested or theorized about scientifically. It is therefor a matter of personal belief, and in fact a religious question, not a scientific one. But then again, what separates religion from science? Human perception.
Nevertheless, let's explore each of these two potential answers.
First, let's consider the implications of an ultimately ordered system of existence. That would imply that there was a higher order to the universe that we as human beings are incapable of understanding. A system that is ultimately logical and comprehensible. That would furthermore imply that the universe has to be comprehensible to a being. Because in order for the universe to be an ultimately ordered place, there must be some being which can recognize and comprehend the entire existence of the universe as logical. Because if it is conscious perception that defines a system to be ordered or chaotic, then an ultimately ordered universe must be completely understood by some being who perceives the system of order and defines it is such. I believe this being identifies himself as God. Now, God is omnipotent, He has all power. That means, that there is literally nothing God is unable to do. Some silly people argue that God cannot be omnipotent because He does not have the power to do something like create a rock to heavy for Him to lift. Of course those people haven't considered that without God's will there is no such thing as weight, gravity, or mass anyway. But that's another topic. So, God is omnipotent, and the universe is ultimately an ordered place. That means, that all chaos is just a human label for an order that is too complex for us to understand. And that in fact chaos and order are not polar opposites or mutually exclusive. A given system can be both ordered and chaotic, based upon the given ability of an observer to understand the nature of the system and those systems directly affected by it. One person may look at a system and see chaos, another may look at it and see order. As a simple example, I look at this:
And I see chaos. Because I do not have the understanding to perceive the order on that chalkboard. I am not at a level of knowledge where I can comprehend the order, and therefore to me, it is chaos. So what causes the system displayed on that chalkboard to be chaos is not that it is actually chaos, but that I am unable to comprehend the order. It is often said that a given system, particularly a society, will begin in order and degrade into chaos. But I say, that it begins in order, and evolves progressively into an order which is eventually too complex to be understood. Because if the universe is ultimately an ordered place, then chaos is merely an idea that we have. A concept we have created to excuse ourselves from the impossible task of comprehending the full existence of all the universe, all factors and systems in it, down to the behavior of every sub-atomic particle. Something only a Higher Being could do.
Let me think of another example. Say you have a collection of different bottles of paint on a shelf. They are all nicely arranged, spaced evenly apart, ordered and organized by color. The system of paints on the shelf is very orderly. Now, suppose the artist comes along. She begins by selecting out the paint she wants to use for a given painting. She takes the ones she wants, and sets them on the floor next to her easel and canvas. This system is a bit more complicated, and therefor appears to be less organized and orderly, and quickly degrading into chaos. But, suppose the artist has not set the bottles in order of their color because she arranged them on the floor in order of which she intends to use first, to which she intends to use last. So, there is still a sense of order and coherence here, at least for her. Now, she begins. The paints are removed from their orderly bottles, and squirted messily onto a pallet, there to be mixed in various ways, and applied to the canvas. And let's say this particular artist happens to be working on an abstract piece. So, the composition of the painting is very bizarre, the paints do not form specific identifiable shapes. They are not organized at all, they are mixed, brushed, squirted, spread, curved, and ultimately transformed into a very complex and abstract painting which does not appear to be a painting of any identifiable object. Nor does this painting hold specific patterns. But of course, every stroke of the brush was deliberate. To the artist, this painting expresses a particular thought, or emotion, which is very complex, but ultimately if the artist understands this painting, it is no longer a painting of chaos, but becomes an understood and comprehended work of art, therefor a system of order. So despite the appearance of chaos on the canvas, there is actually perfect order and harmony. Now, let us assume, that things become even more complicated. Say, for example, that now a group of children enter the room. And these children are very energetic, and of course the ensuing result is chaos. Paints being thrown all over the place, squirted out onto clothes, or the carpet, or the walls. Paints being smeared, tossed, dropped accidentally. But even in the accidents, and even with all the shouting, every child is doing what they specifically feel driven to do at that point, what is logical to them. The various motives, disposition, and behavior of each individual child is incredibly complex. All of the factors in the system of a human child are of course governed by all of that child's past experience. As well as whether or not they are sick, and how hungry or tired they are. Multiply all of those infinitely complex factors by ten children in the room, and you have a system of chaos. Or rather, a system of order that is very difficult to comprehend. And even though there will of course be a mess, ultimately the order and occurrence of natural events in the universe can allow for ten small children in a room full of paint supplies.
Now apply this concept on a macro level. The universe is ultimately an ordered place, because there is no system too complex for an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God to comprehend. So to God, the universe is an ordered place. Imagine all of the particles that would eventually become the universe floating in space, as in definition 3 of the word 'chaos'. Ultimately, every particle in this system behaved the way it was supposed to. And this infinite system of chaos was actually an infinitely complex order, in which every particle correctly and orderly did that which is impossible for human beings to comprehend, which is, be formed into a universe. Nevertheless, they were formed, and not by accident. For if the universe is ultimately a system of order, then someone who comprehended the order had to form it. But in this situation, everything was possible, there was no limit to the possibilities, there was no good or evil yet, there was no disagreement, there was no right or wrong place for a given particle to be. And therefor in the infinite space or formless matter supposed to exist before the formation of the known universe, there was not chaos, but in fact, perfect order and harmony.
When I get the chance, I will continue by exploring the idea of a universe that is ultimately chaotic.
