Wholeness and the Implicate Order

1. Fragmentation is an Illusion, Wholeness is Reality

What should be said is that wholeness is what is real, and that fragmentation is the response of this whole to man’s action, guided by illusory perception, which is shaped by fragmentary thought.

The Illusion of Separation. Our tendency to perceive the world as a collection of separate, independent fragments—nations, races, individuals, even thoughts—is a deeply ingrained illusion. This illusion, perpetuated by our habits of thought, leads to conflict, confusion, and a sense of meaninglessness. The world is not inherently broken; our perception of it is.

Wholeness as the Ground. The true nature of reality is an unbroken, undivided whole. Fragmentation is not a fundamental property of the universe but rather a response to our actions, which are guided by a fragmented way of thinking. This means that the problems we face are not inherent in the world but are a reflection of our own limited and distorted perception.

Shifting Perspective. To move beyond fragmentation, we must recognize that our thoughts are not direct descriptions of reality but rather ever-changing forms of insight. By understanding that our theories are ways of looking at the world, not absolute truths, we can begin to see the underlying wholeness that connects all things.

2. Language Shapes Thought, Thought Shapes Reality

The subject-verb-object structure of modern languages implies that all action arises in a separate subject, and acts either on a separate object, or else reflexively on itself.

Language as a Framework. The structure of our language, particularly the subject-verb-object format, reinforces the illusion of separation. This structure implies that all action originates from a distinct subject and acts upon a separate object, thus perpetuating a view of the world as a collection of isolated entities.

The Rheomode Experiment. To challenge this, the author proposes the "rheomode," a way of using language that prioritizes verbs over nouns. This approach emphasizes actions and processes, which flow and merge into each other, rather than fixed, static entities. The rheomode is not a new language but a new way of using existing language to reveal the limitations of our current linguistic structures.

Thought as a Process. By experimenting with language, we can gain insight into how our thoughts are shaped by the structures we use to express them. Thought itself is a process, a flowing movement, and by recognizing this, we can begin to see how our language can either reinforce or challenge our perception of reality.

3. Knowledge is a Process, Not a Static Truth

Instead of supposing that older theories are falsified at a certain point in time, we merely say that man is continually developing new forms of insight, which are clear up to a point and then tend to become unclear.

The Dynamic Nature of Knowledge. Knowledge is not a collection of fixed truths but rather a dynamic process of ongoing insight and understanding. Theories are not absolute descriptions of reality but rather ways of looking at the world, each with its own domain of clarity and limitations.

Experience-Knowledge. Experience and knowledge are not separate entities but rather two inseparable aspects of a single, unified process. Our experience is shaped by our theoretical insights, and our knowledge is shaped by our experience. This means that our understanding of the world is always evolving.

The Role of Insight. True knowledge arises from acts of intelligent perception, which go beyond the mechanical repetition of past thoughts. These acts of insight allow us to see new orders and relationships that are not simply modifications of what is already known.

4. Quantum Indeterminacy Points to Deeper Order

The quantum theory, as it is now constituted, presents us with a very great challenge, if we are at all interested in such a venture, for in this theory there is no consistent notion at all of what the reality may be that underlies the universal constitution and structure of matter.

Beyond Classical Determinism. The quantum theory challenges the classical notion of a deterministic universe, where every event is precisely determined by prior causes. Instead, it introduces a level of indeterminacy, where the results of individual measurements are not predictable, and only statistical predictions can be made.

Hidden Variables. The author explores the possibility of "hidden variables" at a sub-quantum level that could determine the seemingly random behavior of quantum particles. This is not to restore classical determinism but to suggest that the quantum level is not the ultimate level of reality.

A New Kind of Order. The indeterminacy of quantum mechanics may not be a sign of chaos but rather an indication of a deeper, more subtle order that is not accessible through our current theories. This order may involve new kinds of entities and laws that go beyond the limitations of our current understanding.

5. Order is a Spectrum, Not a Fixed Structure

Order in its totality is evidently ultimately undefinable, in the sense that it pervades everything that we are and do (language, thought, feeling, sensation, physical action, the arts, practical activity, etc.).

Beyond Cartesian Order. The Cartesian grid, with its rectilinear structure, has been the dominant notion of order in physics for centuries. However, both relativity and quantum theory suggest that this order is inadequate for describing the universe at its most fundamental level.

A Spectrum of Order. Order is not a single, fixed structure but rather a spectrum of possibilities, ranging from simple, linear arrangements to complex, non-linear patterns. This spectrum includes not only the order of space and time but also the order of thought, feeling, and action.

Formative Cause. The author emphasizes the importance of "formative cause," an inner organizing principle that shapes the growth and development of things. This notion, which was central to ancient Greek philosophy, suggests that order is not imposed from without but rather arises from within.

6. Implicate Order: The Universe Enfolded

In the enfolded order, space and time are no longer the dominant factors determining the relationships of dependence or independence of different elements.

Beyond Explicate Order. The explicate order is the order of our everyday experience, where things are separate and distinct in space and time. The implicate order, on the other hand, is a deeper level of reality where everything is enfolded into everything else.

The Holomovement. The implicate order is carried by the "holomovement," an unbroken and undivided totality of flowing movement. This movement is not limited by space or time but rather encompasses all of existence.

The Hologram Analogy. The hologram provides a useful analogy for understanding the implicate order. In a hologram, each part contains information about the whole, and the whole is enfolded into each part. This is similar to the way in which the implicate order is present in every region of space and time.

7. Consciousness and Cosmos: A Shared Ground

In this flow, mind and matter are not separate substances. Rather, they are different aspects of one whole and unbroken movement.

Consciousness as Process. Just as reality is a process, so too is consciousness. It is not a static entity but rather a flowing movement of awareness, which is inseparable from the content of thought.

Mind and Matter as Aspects. Mind and matter are not separate substances but rather different aspects of the same underlying reality, the holomovement. This means that consciousness is not something that is added to matter but rather an intrinsic part of it.

The Immeasurable Ground. Both matter and consciousness have their ground in the immeasurable, undefinable totality of the universal flux. This ground is beyond the reach of our ordinary modes of thought and language, but it is the source of all that is.

Last updated: January 24, 2025