Introduction to the Future Society

http://www.futuresociety.org.uk/

Niall Douglas (BSc)Tertian, St. Andrews University

President of FutureSoc

1.1 HistoryOccidental Worldview

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Medieval Christian Mechanism Romanticism Systems Thinking

Descartes

Gaia Theory & Dissipative

Chemical Structures

Macy Conferences

Kant's The Critique of Judgement published

New ton

Humboldt's Cosmos published

Loeb's The Mechanistic

Conception of Life published

Quantum Theory

Mettrie's L'Homme Machine published

1.2 Our Place

(think of the following as a web) World Future Society

Forum For The Future (UK) International Futures Forum (Fife)

The St. Andrews Students Association Future Society (Us!)

St. Andrews University itself George Soros’ Open Society Institute HRH The Prince of Wales

Capitalism – As If The World Matters by Jonathon Porritt

2.1 The New Way Of Thinking

Generally called “Systems Thinking” though this is more what is currently known than

what could be known – hence the NWOT Is very, very wide ranging – the same core

principles applied to each discipline BUT: These core principles just look new, they are

actually very, very old:– “mysticism refound through LSD”

New Age hippies can actually be described in maths

2.2 Features of the NWOT

Shifts emphasis from the parts to the whole Equally requires irrationality, spirituality, emotion as

much as empiricism, the scientific method and logic All human experience is source of inspiration

Applying patterns of the small to the big and the big to the small

However, we know we are just beginning this path – our knowledge is incredibly immature We more know of what we don’t know than know

3.1 NWOT Theory 101

Whatever you’re doing (writing a book, a song, painting a picture, being alive etc) you’re traversing a fractal geometry

Creativity stems from randomness (chaos) (Constrained) Free will is compatible with

determinism Gregory Chaitin’s interpretation of Gödel’s

Incompleteness Theorem

3.2 So what’s a fractal?

Anything which is self-similar at smaller scales This is most of everything in Nature – linear

phenomena are rare, yet that’s what we currently consider our triumph of science

Technically speaking, it is any system with emergent properties These being any initially unspecified properties

generated by application of time (ie; evolution)

3.3 Fractals in Nature 1

3.4 Fractals in Nature 2

3.5 Fractals in Nature 3

Does God Play Dice? by Dr. Ian Stewart

3.6 Fractals in Nature 4

3.7 Fractals in Nature 5

3.8 Fractals in Nature 6

3.9 Fractals in Nature 7

3.10 Fractals in Nature 8

4.1 Nature in Fractals

4.2 The Mandelbrot Set 1

Very simple equation:Z = Z2 + C

Gives one of the most complicated mathematical structures currently known

Explore on your own with XaoS available from http://xaos.sourceforge.net/

4.3 The Mandelbrot Set 2

4.4 The Lorentz Chaotic Attractor

4.5 What to take away from this

Everything in the Universe follows the same pattern:

Growth of Complexity/Interconnectedness System goes chaotic New forms of order emerge (emergent properties) Growth of Complexity/Interconnectedness And so on …

Why? Because progression of time = growth of complexity/interconnectedness ie; structure

You can apply this to almost anything

5.1 Upcoming Events 1

We have six planned guest lectures this year, all of which are agreed in principle with the speakers: Cognitive Psychology Subatomic Particle Physics & Spirituality Corporate Governance (Management & Law) Ecology Accounting Historiography International Relations

5.2 Upcoming Events 2

We also have two video shows planned with more perhaps to follow

We will be studying two books this semester:1. The Web Of Life by Fritjof Capra (moderately hard)2. Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins

(easy) You can (re)watch these lectures as well as past

lectures off our website over the internet, as well as download lecture slides and other materials

If these prove too difficult for members, we may arrange special lectures HOWEVER …

5.3 You get what you put in!

The best, and ONLY way you will learn this stuff is through self-study!

We can help you when you get stuck, but you MUST make this journey alone

All events are held when possible during the first three weeks of each semester so they inspire your study for the remainder of the semester

Look at this as your real education. A degree is just a degree. Universities are really there for networking, NOT education!

5.4 Event 1 [PROVISIONAL] Tuesday 3rd October 2006 7.30pm The

Salad Bowl, Student's Association (Price: Free/£1)Topic: Fractals - The Colour of Infinity by Sir Arthur C. Clarke

This 1995 documentary is famous for good reason - lots of pulsing psychedelic colours with a custom written Pink Floyd sound track while a wizened Arthur C. Clarke croaks out a description. It scored 9.4 out of 10 on IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241317/) . Lasts less than an hour, but you'll almost certainly want to discuss it afterwards.

5.5 Event 2 Thursday 5th October 2006 7.30pm School I, The Quad (Price:

Free/£2)Topic: Knowing and being: new prospects for integrating science and spiritualityLecturer: Prof. Chris Clarke, University of Southampton

A combination of insights from cognitive psychology, quantum physics and religious studies is now restoring an integral worldview, whose hallmark is the acceptance of a plurality of different ways of knowing. This offers hope for finding a way of peace in a future which, with the rise of religious and secular extremism in both East and West, increasingly seems fraught with threats to both civil society and the ecosystem.

Chris Clarke is a Visiting Professor at Southampton University, where he was previously Professor of Applied Mathematics. His main research has been on astrophysics, moving more recently into the physics of the brain and consciousness studies, and leading to the edited book "Ways of Knowing: science and mysticism today"

5.6 Event 3 [PROVISIONAL] Thursday 12th October 2006 7.30pm School I, The

Quad (Price: Free/£2) Topic: The failings of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Lecturer: Dr. Crawford Spence, University of St. Andrews

The rise of the multinational corporation to unchallanged supremacy is probably one of the most significant characteristics of modernity. However, this rise to power was equally marked by substantial and continuing declines in living conditions for much of the world's population, even in the West. Corporations have little incentive to be socially or environmentally responsible past that legally required, and a great deal of incentive to be as destructive and unsustainable as possible in order to increase short term profits.

Crawford Spence lectures on CSR in the Management School which is one of the leading Management departments in the UK. A fiery and passionate speaker, his wide knowledge of grass-roots social movements ensures a practical balance to the theory.

6.1 Summary

Why you should join the Future Society:1. This year we have six guest lectures planned, with half by

internationally recognised leaders in their fields2. We run a book club studying two books per semester with

two meetings per semester3. We plug you directly into the world movement through our

Corporate Sponsor the International Futures Forum4. We provide somewhere for you to meet each other which

is the whole point of attending a top ten University

All for a measly £4 now, £5 after tonight(excepting where guest lecturers want a speaking fee)!

http://www.futuresociety.org.uk/