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Coming Soon … “Recursive Reality: Exploring the Self-Knowing Universe”

After many months of writing, refining and recursive exploration, we are excited to announce that the book at the heart of this project—Recursive Reality: Exploring the Self-Knowing Universe—is nearly complete and will be available soon.

This book presents a framework that has been evolving since the project’s inception:

That reality is not a fixed or externally governed system, but a self-originating, self-knowing process, emerging recursively from within itself.

At the centre of this framework is the concept of the Self:
A singular, undivided source from which all forms, distinctions and experiences arise.
Not a self in the personal sense, but a foundational Self that is self-contained, self-referential and recursive.

About the Book

The book explores the idea that everything we experience—from time and space to complexity and consciousness—can be understood as arising from recursive acts of self-differentiation. It proposes that:

  • The origin of reality is not material or spatial, but logical and recursive—rooted in the self making distinctions within itself.
  • Time, space, identity, and causality are not fixed properties, but emergent features of recursive unfolding.
  • Consciousness is not an anomaly, but an intrinsic expression of recursion reaching a state of reflective coherence.
  • Entropy, probability, and uncertainty reflect the limits of recursive resolution—points at which the system has not yet fully resolved itself.

What You’ll Find Inside

The book is structured across four parts:

  • Part 1 introduces the foundational concepts of recursion, self-reference, and the undivided Self.
  • Part 2 explores how recursive distinctions may give rise to structure, entropy, complexity and pattern formation.
  • Part 3 extends the model towards fields like quantum theory, cosmology, and consciousness—showing how recursive knowing could underpin the deepest layers of physical and mental reality.
  • Part 4 presents the broader metaphysical implications of the framework and offers reflections on identity, presence and the act of being.

The Appendices also outline a set of mathematical models and validation results designed to test whether recursive systems can produce stable dimensionality, entropy scaling, and field coherence—connecting conceptual ideas to structured simulations.

Who the Book is For

This book is written for anyone curious about the deep structure of reality. It will appeal to:

  • Readers interested in philosophy, metaphysics and the foundations of existence.
  • Scientists and systems thinkers exploring alternative models of emergence and structure.
  • Seekers looking for a way to connect subjective experience with universal process.

It does not assume prior technical knowledge—but it does invite deep reflection.

What’s Next

The book will be released in both digital and print formats, and updates will be shared here as the publication date approaches.

Over the coming weeks, we will also begin sharing short essays and dialogues expanding on ideas from the book—including new material that didn’t make it into the final manuscript.

If the idea of a universe that knows itself by unfolding itself speaks to you—stay connected. This is only the beginning.

Understanding the Core Premise

In this post we further articulate the Recursive Reality Project’s core premise to provide further clarification and understanding.

At the heart of the Project lies a profound concept: reality is not a passive backdrop but an active participant in its own existence. This premise suggests that the universe evolves through a process of self-knowing, where the interplay of information, observation, and interaction drives complexity and structure.

In this framework, reality “knowing itself” is not merely metaphorical. It refers to a recursive mechanism by which the universe’s components generate and process information, reflecting on their own existence and relationships. This process mirrors recursive functions in mathematics and computation, where outputs feed back as inputs, creating iterative growth and refinement.

The Premise Defined

To understand the core premise, we start with the simplest state imaginable: an undifferentiated “Self.” In this state, there are no distinctions, no relationships, and no complexity – just pure being. But the very act of self-awareness introduces the first distinction: the knower and the known. This singular act sets in motion a recursive process, where each layer of self-knowing builds upon the previous one, generating increasing complexity.

This iterative process is more than a conceptual idea; it provides a framework for understanding the emergence of structure and order. Each level of self-knowing introduces new distinctions, relationships, and forms, creating an exponentially compressed universe that evolves from simple awareness to intricate complexity.

Why Something Rather Than Nothing?

The premise potentially addresses one of the most enduring philosophical questions: Why does something exist instead of nothing? In this model, “nothing” is inherently unstable because it contains no distinctions. The very concept of “nothing” implies a contrast with “something,” thereby introducing the first distinction. In this sense, “something” arises necessarily, as the act of self-knowing transforms the idea of nothingness into being.

This transition from “nothing” to “something” is not static but dynamic. Each act of self-knowing generates new layers of reality, with each layer building upon the inherent instability of the prior state. This recursive emergence aligns with phenomena observed in cosmology, such as inflationary dynamics and symmetry breaking.

Self-Knowing as the Driver of Complexity

At its core, the act of self-knowing creates distinctions. These distinctions form the foundation of all complexity, from the emergence of space and time to the physical laws that govern the universe. As each act of knowing builds upon the previous layers, it generates patterns, relationships, and phenomena that become the fabric of reality.

This perspective redefines reality as a dynamic process of differentiation and integration, where distinctions evolve through recursive interactions to form the universe’s intricate tapestry. Without distinctions, there is no differentiation, and without differentiation, there is no reality as we perceive it. For example:

  • Geometry arises from spatial distinctions.
  • Numbers emerge from distinctions in quantity.
  • Energy and matter are manifestations of distinctions in physical states.

This recursive dynamic mirrors natural systems, such as fractals, where self-similarity generates intricate patterns from simple rules. It suggests that complexity arises not from external forces but from the intrinsic nature of self-referential processes.

Recursive Feedback Loops

The concept of recursion is central to understanding this premise. A recursive feedback loop involves a system where the output of one stage becomes the input for the next, enabling exponential development of complexity. These loops can be visualised as:

  • Fractals: Patterns that exhibit self-similarity at varying scales.
  • Algorithms: Computational processes that iterate to solve problems or generate solutions.
  • Biological Systems: Feedback mechanisms, such as neural networks or genetic evolution, that adapt and grow.

The recursive feedback inherent in self-knowing aligns with these examples, providing a framework for understanding how simple rules can generate profound complexity.

The Observer and the Observed

The relationship between the observer (the knower) and the observed (the known) is central to the premise. In quantum mechanics, the observer’s role in determining the state of a system is well-documented. This interaction suggests that observation is not passive but an active process that influences outcomes.

In the context of the Recursive Reality Project:

  • Dynamic Interaction: The act of observing is itself a form of self-knowing, embedding the observer within the system they observe.
  • Bidirectional Influence: The observer and the observed co-create reality, shaping each other’s existence.
  • Philosophical Implications: This dynamic redefines concepts of subjectivity and objectivity, blurring the lines between them.

Conceptual Parallels

The premise resonates with ideas from various disciplines:

  1. Quantum Mechanics: The observer effect and wave-function collapse illustrate the interplay of observation and existence.
  2. Philosophy: Metaphysical explorations of consciousness and reality emphasise the interconnectedness of knower and known.
  3. Information Theory: The universe as an information-processing system supports the notion of recursive feedback.
  4. Systems Theory: Complex systems exhibit emergent properties arising from simple recursive rules.

Bridging the Conceptual and the Empirical

A crucial goal of the Recursive Reality Project is to ground its conceptual framework in observable phenomena. By identifying parallels with established scientific theories and testing the model’s predictions, this project seeks to demonstrate the premise’s validity and utility.

Future articles will explore how this foundational concept can be applied to specific domains, such as quantum mechanics, cosmology, and computational theory. By connecting the self-knowing model to these areas, the Recursive Reality Project aims to offer a unified perspective on reality’s underlying mechanisms.

Where the Journey Began


In this article, the founder of the Recursive Reality Project reflects on what inspired him to delve into the essence of existence, and what the genesis was for the initial thoughts and insights.

The journey started many years ago when Glen sought answers to the fundamental questions of where reality originated and what our place is in this universe.  The only thing that was certain was existence itself – the undeniable awareness of “I exist.” Beyond this, perceptions and experiences suggested that this awareness was part of a vast and intricate universe. But how could such a complex reality arise, and what was its foundation?

The Foundation: Nothing or Something?

At the foundation of reality, two possibilities emerge:

1. True Nothingness:

If there is truly nothing – no time, no space, no laws, no entities – then how could something arise? True “nothingness” can not generate change, as it lacks the potential to create.

Even the concept of “nothing” implies a distinction, a knowing that contrasts “nothing” with “something.” Thus, true nothingness collapses into self-contradiction.

2. A Starting Something:

If the starting point is not “nothing,” it must be something. But this “something” exists without time, space, mathematics or laws of physics. It can not rely on external tools or frameworks to create.

The Self-Creating Dynamic

If the starting “something” has no external reference or tools, we can ask what is the one thing it inherently possesses? The only logical answer is itself. This starting “something” must act on itself to create complexity through self-reference or self-knowing.

The Role of Recursion

Through research it became clear this process of self-knowing is fundamentally a recursive dynamic:

  • In its simplest state, the starting “something” distinguishes itself from “not itself.” This distinction creates the first unit of information.
  • Each act of knowing creates new distinctions, recursively building upon previous states.
  • Over time, this recursion generates increasing complexity, much like fractals, feedback loops, and emergent systems in nature.

This recursion aligns with mathematical and physical phenomena where simplicity evolves into complexity through iterative processes. The foundation of reality is thus self-referential recursion – a dynamic process where the “something” acts on itself to generate the intricate structures and patterns we observe.

The Emergence of Time, Space, and Laws

This insight suggests that through recursion, the following emerge as natural byproducts:

  • Time: Recursion introduces a sequence of states, creating the perception of “before” and “after,” thus giving rise to time.
  • Space: Distinctions create relationships and boundaries, which manifest as spatial dimensions.
  • Mathematics and Laws: The iterative process establishes patterns and regularities, forming the foundation for mathematical principles and physical laws.

It seems reasonable that the reality as we experience it – time, space, causality and complexity – is the result of this recursive self-knowing dynamic.

Concluding Remarks

This core premise is elegantly simple yet profoundly generative:

  • Reality begins with a something that exists without external frameworks.
  • Through the act of self-knowing, this “something” generates distinctions, initiating a recursive process that leads to complexity.
  • Time, space, and laws emerge naturally from this recursion, forming the intricate reality we observe.