Cosmology and the Origin of Life

Formulation of a Global View

• Relationship between Man and Nature
  • Hierarchical Linear Time vs. Connected Cyclical Time

Hierarchy Nature is a succession of progessively more sophisticated niches which maybe somewhat independent of one another

Connectivity No isolation; everything which exists is part of everything else

Purpose is then to confront these polarized World Views with Scientific Data to see which is more consistent.

• Complex partnership must be maintained to avoid mutual collapse

• The Dot War

Formulation of a Cosmological Model:

The Rules:

Making Models:

Early Cultures were curious and motivated to explore the world no one was ignorant because everything was new but the process of learning can begat ignorance through the death of imagination

The First Cosmology:

The Second Cosmology: Evolving Towards the Hierarchical Viewpoint

Some Example Myths as Cosmological Models

ORIGINAL IDEA:

Everything was created in a Single Event Everything was created in a Single Event Everything was created in a Single Event

The Third Cosmology:

Geometric Universe:

• Sky Observations Motion
• Mythological Figures Constellations
• Planetary Motions
• Calendars
• Lunar Eclipses

All of this started about 4000 years ago

Greeks refined the geometric universe (and stole a lot of th e math from the Babylonians).

They defined Four Primal Beings as being dominant in their cosmological model:

• Chaos (the limitless Void)
• Gaea (the Earth)
• Tartarus (the lower world)
• Eros (spirit of love)

Now we have various combinations of gods and sub-gods getting together to help populate the earth:

• Gaea + Uranus (sky god) Titan s
• Titans = first RULERS of the Earth
  Prometheius molds humans from clay and then breathes into them the spirit of life

  Pandora Releases Evil Secrets that Prometheius had locked away

  World is Doomed ( again )