Last Updated 3.28.25.
This page has a lot of information regarding the background and antecedents of the Way of the Universe philosophy.
The ancient philosophic strands of the Way of the Universe
The most relevant ancient philosophic strands of the Way of the Universe are found in both Greek Stoicism and Chinese Taoism. In Greek Stoicism, the main command was to "know the universe and know yourself." Likewise, Chinese Taoism was based on intense observation of the universe's life-sustaining processes. Both Stoicism and Taoism were known for balancing rationality and kindness and combining the best qualities and abilities of the head and heart.
The Way of the Universe includes the wisdom of those two ancient traditions. But, with the additional knowledge from modern scientific discoveries, particularly in evolutionary science, these two ancient wisdom traditions have been transcended in the Way of the Universe.
The following will help clarify.
In almost every culture and era, philosophers and the wisest individuals have declared that by carefully studying the universe, one will discover The Way, one's proper place, purpose, identity, and how to live successfully with others. In the past, groups like the Stoics of ancient Greece and the Taoists of ancient China were leaders in this process, intensely studying the universe through direct observation.
They made significant, good observations, but those observations were very location, time, and instrument-limited. Even as limited as those Universe observations were, the old "Way of the Universe" wisdom has successfully guided the lives of billions of individuals in Eastern and Western cultures to this day.
Unfortunately, the wisest individuals of the past did not have the modern instruments or computational power we have today. The Way of the Universe goes far beyond what the Stoics, Taoists, and other wise individuals observed about the nature and reality of the universe.
The Way of the Universe's major upgrade is due to the discoveries made using science, modern tools and analysis methods, *computers, massive telescopes, and other new technologies). Using these modern science tools and analysis methodologies, we can now look back at the universe from its beginning and observe its complete evolution over 13.7 billion years.
This allows us to see far more evolutionary patterns than our ancestors ever could.
Core principles from observing the universe from the philosophies that have come before and the new evolutionary science principles
We have included short summaries of the core principles of Taoism, Greek stoicism, the work of the evolutionary theorist Pierre Teilhard De Chardin, and the evolutionary theorist John Stewart. Not all of these principles carry forward into the new Way of the Universe philosophy, but many do. We have included them also so that you can see the developmental pattern of patterns being refined and expanded upon by further research and analysis. This by no means is required reading, but it is very interesting and could provide additional insights into the evolution of how the Way of the Universe came about.
Taoism
Underlying Principle:
The Tao is not a god or a personified entity, but rather the fundamental, natural order or principle that governs the universe.
Stoicism:
Focus on What You Can Control:
Stoicism emphasizes distinguishing between what is within your control (your thoughts, actions, and reactions) and what is not (external events, other people's actions). By concentrating on what you can influence, you reduce unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Live Virtuously:
Stoicism values living a life guided by virtue, which includes wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance. These virtues are seen as the foundation of a fulfilling life.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's philosophy, rooted in his Jesuit faith and scientific background, centers on the concept of a convergent evolution towards a "Omega Point", a state of ultimate spiritual unity and consciousness.
Evolution as a Universal Process:
Teilhard viewed evolution not just as a biological phenomenon but as a fundamental force shaping the universe, moving from simple to complex, and ultimately towards a higher state of consciousness.
The Noosphere:
He introduced the concept of the noosphere, the sphere of thought and consciousness, as a stage of evolution that emerges alongside the development of human intelligence and interconnectedness.
The Omega Point:
This is the ultimate goal of evolution, a state of perfect unity and consciousness, where all things are reconciled and exist in a state of divine unity with God.
Interconnectedness and Unity:
Teilhard emphasized the interconnectedness of all things, arguing that the universe is moving towards a greater unity and wholeness.
Science and Religion:
He sought to integrate science and religion, arguing that they are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary ways of understanding the universe and our place within it.
Spiritual Evolution:
He believed that humans are not just physical beings but also spiritual beings, and that evolution is not only physical but also spiritual, leading to a higher level of consciousness and understanding.
Christian Perspective:
Teilhard's philosophy is deeply rooted in his Christian faith, viewing evolution as a manifestation of God's creative power and purpose.
John Stewart’s Evolutionary Manifesto
Stewart begins by claiming that humans are adrift, they lack a cosmic vision to guide them and give their lives meaning. But there is good news. Evolution has a direction and it is progressive. This progressive evolutionary direction has created a new worldview.
The emergence of the new evolutionary worldview is beginning to lift us out of the abyss. The new worldview has a unique capacity to reveal who we are and what we should be doing with our lives. It relies solely on scientific knowledge and reason to identify our critical role in future evolution. The evolutionary worldview can unite us in a great common enterprise and provide meaning and purpose for human existence.
Stewart argues that we will perish if we don’t intentionally direct evolution. However, if we learn to steer evolution properly, we can make a better world. We can create a “sustainable global society [and we must] free our behavior from the dictates of our biological and cultural past.” This will allow us to adequately deal with urgent problems like global climate change and nuclear obliteration. If we fail, we will perish.
In the past, biology and culture proceeded by trial and error. Genetic mutations and environmental selection made the species, while stochastic processes governed scientific and technological advances as well as social and political arrangements. Neither biology nor culture were designed to be successful from an evolutionary perspective but, with the emergence of intelligence, we have the chance to design imaginative and innovate solutions for our problems. We can shift to intentional evolution by becoming “intentional evolutionaries and evolutioneers,” individuals who
dedicate their lives to advancing the evolutionary process … they no longer see themselves as isolated, self-concerned individuals who live for a short time, then die irrelevantly in a meaningless universe. They see that they are contributing to the success of processes much larger than themselves that will outlast them and potentially live forever. The allegiance of conscious evolutionaries and evolutioneers is not to what is, but to what can be.
To understand how the past has shaped us and how the future is likely to unfold is the goal of intentional evolutionaries and evolutioneers.
Stewart argues that “The trajectory of evolution is not produced by an external force, or by some impulse that is intrinsic to the universe, or by an ideal end-point that somehow attracts evolution towards it.” Thus, there is no need to resort to mysticism; science will slowly identify the processes and forces responsible for evolution’s directionality. (Please note that new research may indicate that there is some inherent impulse in physical matter to evolve and develop progressively. This concept has been allowed for in the new way of the universe philosophy.)
Part 2 – ADVANCING EVOLUTION BY ORGANIZING A COOPERATIVE GLOBAL SOCIETY
There has been a trend to increasing cooperation in the cosmic past. The universe slowly diversified into galaxies, stars, planets, and lifeless matter, further organizing into molecules, cells, multi-cellular organisms, insects, fish, and mammals. Non-human animals cooperated in hives, troops, and packs; human animals cooperated in bands, tribes, communities, states, and nations. The trend is unmistakable—to survive and flourish we form larger cooperatives. The next step is a global cooperative.
The great potential of the evolutionary process is to eventually produce a unified cooperative organization of living processes that spans and manages the universe as a whole. The matter of the universe would be infused and organized by life. The universe itself would become a living organism pursuing its own goals and objectives, whatever they might be.
What can we learn from our evolutionary past about organized cooperatives?
First and foremost, these cooperatives are all structured so as to minimize destructive conflict between their members, and to facilitate cooperation. Typically, this includes the near eradication of activities such as the inappropriate monopolization of resources by some members, the production of waste products that injure other members, and the withholding from others of the resources they need to realize their potential to contribute to the organization.
This means that a global society needs to eradicate things like war, pollution, global warming, starvation, disease, illiteracy, and governmental corruption. Naive? Cells and insects overcame millions of years of competition by creating cooperative arrangements using nothing more than trial and error. Human tribes and nations did so by forming collectives like the United States or the European Union. Still there must be a means for dealing with cheaters, those who want the benefits of cooperation without the cost.
The role of governance in thus imperative in organizing cooperation. Traditionally, governments have imposed constraints on individuals to deter cheating and thieving. These constraints ensure that the interests of the individual and the society align. “In order to be effective, these systems of constraint need to be more powerful than the members of the organization. If they are not, members will be able to escape their control, and act contrary to the interests of the organization …” Most importantly, the social contract will be undermined if powerful minority groups advance their interests at the expense of the entire organization.
For these reasons, much of the history of evolution at all levels of organization has been about what humans describe as exploitation, the abuse of power and class struggle. But past evolution has dealt with these challenges by constraining the interests of the powerful so that they are aligned with the interests of the organization as a whole.
Finally, none of this requires a change of human nature.
Past evolution has repeatedly shown how to organize self-interested individuals into cooperatives through the institution of effective governance. A society with a high proportion of wise, compassionate, and altruistic citizens would be much easier to govern, but evolution shows that the achievement of a cooperative and sustainable society does not depend upon it.
“The potential of a global society to produce immediate benefits to humanity will assist in driving its initial emergence. Cooperation on a global scale has the potential to increase economic performance, abolish war and famine, and achieve environmental sustainability.” However, a global society will be opposed vehemently by those whose interests it does not serve—arms manufacturers, fossil fuel corporations, the monied elite, and the like. They will try to buy the support of whoever will further their interests.
To overcome naked self-interest we must adopt an evolutionary worldview if we are to achieve a global society
The emerging evolutionary worldview has a unique capacity to overwhelm this conflict of interests. An understanding of evolution … will deliver the … support of the increasing numbers of people who are discovering meaning and purpose in advancing the evolutionary process. In accordance with their talents and opportunities, they will work … to move humanity towards a unified global society … They know that human civilization cannot continue for long unless we are organized globally … In the absence of global organization, human civilization is likely to be ended eventually by global warming or other environmental problems, nuclear war, conflicts fueled by competition for diminishing resources, or some combination of these.
Part 3 – ADVANCING EVOLUTION BY ENHANCING EVOLVABILITY
“Life has gotten better at evolving. Evolution has become smarter and more creative at finding solutions to adaptive challenges.” In the past organisms produced different offspring and natural selection determined which would survive. Eventually organisms learned during their lifetimes. Yet what these organisms learned died with them. But then mechanisms like imitation and parental instruction overcame this problem, allowing what was learned to be passed on. With the development of language and writing, knowledge survived and accumulated. Mental models began to describe how the world worked, allowing us to see to see the consequences of our actions.
For the first time humans have a powerful, science-based story that explains where they have come from, and their place in the unfolding of the universe. As we have seen, our evolutionary models are revealing where evolution is headed, and what humans must do if we are to advance evolution on this planet. This is paving the way for the transition to intentional evolution.
Thus, we need to protect ourselves from the dictates of our biological and cultural past. This can be done through great effort, by devising means of controlling our innate biological tendencies. “Our use of rationality is mainly limited to devising means to achieve ends that are beyond our conscious control. We use the enormous power of mental modeling to serve the desires and motivations established by our evolutionary past. Our reason is a slave to our passions.”
The dictates of our evolutionary past limit our ability to advance evolution forward, as we only tend to pursue goals consistent with desires and emotions. This is problematic. “Until humanity frees itself from maladaptive motivations and behaviors, it will be just like a family that endlessly repeats the same arguments until someone learns to stand outside the situation and stop their habitual reactions.” And this cannot be achieved by an intellectual decision, as our desires dominate our behavior. In the remainder of this section, Stewart argues that as we become free of our biological and social past, we will evolve:
Once enough members of the global society are self-evolving, the society will become a self evolving being … Through the global organization, life on Earth will transcend it evolutionary past. It will be able to adapt in whatever ways are necessary for life on Earth to make a significant contribution to the successful evolution of life in the universe. No longer will the global organization waste the enormous creativity of consciousness on the pursuit of self-centered desires that were established by past evolution. As Earth life moves out into the solar system, the galaxy and the universe, it will be able to change its adaptive goals and behavior in whatever ways are demanded by the challenges it meets. It will be able to continually recreate itself, to change its nature at will, to repeatedly sacrifice what it is for what it can become, to continually die and be born again.
PART 4: THE UNIQUE CAPACITY OF THE EVOLUTIONARY WORLDVIEW TO PROVIDE DIRECTION AND PURPOSE FOR HUMANITY
Still “merely freeing ourselves from our evolutionary past will not complete the shift to intentional evolution.” Individuals must commit to advancing the evolutionary process in order to find meaning, purpose, and identity. And, unlike mythological and religious worldviews, the evolutionary worldview will supply meaning, purpose, and identity without being disconcerting to reason. “In the evolutionary worldview, humanity finally has a belief system that provides meaning, purpose and identity without having to invent supernatural entities and processes …”
Stewart acknowledges a philosophical threat to his position—the naturalistic fallacy. We cannot derive ought from is, facts from values, or so it claims. Just because evolution has a trajectory doesn’t imply that the trajectory is good or that we should further it. Stewart responds:
the evolutionary worldview … derives its ‘oughts’ from other ‘oughts’ in combination with relevant facts, not solely from facts.” There is no logical fallacy involved in deriving ‘oughts’ from other ‘oughts’ … The use of relevant factual information in this derivation of new values is also perfectly legitimate … Intentional evolutionaries do not fall into the naturalistic fallacy—they embrace evolutionary goals because the goals are consistent with their most fundamental values.
Stewart say the most fundamental value “is to favor life over death and oblivion.” And unless we intentionally direct evolution we will perish. The implications are profound.
It would mean that everything humanity has experienced until now, the misery, wars, holocausts, triumphs of the spirit, transcendent art, inventions and scientific breakthroughs; all the personal dreams, aspirations, struggles, and strivings; and all the political movements, work, fame, fortunes, families and civilizations would be for nothing. Everything would be as if it never happened. Life on Earth would disappear without trace. The only way we can contribute to something that is not ephemeral is if humanity continues to be successful in evolutionary terms.
As we mature we should gradually see our lives in a larger context. Ultimately an evolutionary consciousness is the results, which can imagine being part of the universe or the multiverse. This provides hope that life is not meaningless or purposeless for there is always a larger context that may make sense of the smaller context in which we live.
Strategically, it will therefore always make sense for life to continue to build its adaptive capacity, no matter how dark the hour, no matter how pointless existence seems to be within known contexts. Such a strategy will put it in the best position to take advantage of any new possibilities that emerge, including any that arise from larger, more meaningful contexts.
Stewart also believes the evolutionary worldview, in addition to being scientific, can satisfy our emotional needs. This involves an immersion in the profundity of this worldview that fully recognizes that we are part of a cosmic process whose success depends on us driving evolution forward. Such
These realizations are exhilarating and energizing and capable of providing a deep sense of meaning and purpose. Increasingly, you will cease to experience yourself primarily as an isolated and self-concerned individual. Instead, you will begin to see and experience yourself as a participant in the great evolutionary process on this planet … When you think of yourself, you will tend to see yourself as a part-of-the-evolutionary process. You will experience yourself as the most recent representative of an unbroken evolutionary lineage that goes back billions of years. Your conscious participation in evolution will increasingly become the source of deep value and meaning and purpose and identity in your life.
Stewart concludes with a stirring exhortation:
Wherever life emerges, living processes will progressively become organized into cooperatives of greater and greater scale; this will be accompanied by a long sequence of improvements in evolvability. Eventually, organisms will emerge that can build mental models of their environment and themselves; they will use this capacity to develop a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary processes that have produced them and will determine their future.
New evolutionary science-related updates will be added to the above developments in the near future.
Showing 1 reaction