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.