An Outsider cultivated austerities and quietude as he explored the Mystery. After decades the Inner Voice said it was Time and directed him to go on a Quest to share what he had discovered for the good of Human Beings everywhere, as well as inspiring personal growth. Like Don Quixote, his namesake, he began pursuing the impossible dream – jousting with imaginary windmills with the hopes of making the world a better place.
On the mystical Path he encountered a Logos worshipping army armed with their many syllogisms.
General Logos: "I'll dispatch this scum instantly with my superior deductive reasoning." To the Outsider: "Your Insights are fatally flawed, as they are based upon the fallacious Barbara Syllogism – the indeterminate logical progression of the Theory of Correspondences – that lies at the heart of many pseudo sciences – including Omenology and Astrology."
The Outsider immediately responded with 'The Logical Foundations of Information Dynamics' an article he had written. "Let me summarize. Information Dynamics is based in process sets, instead of traditional object sets. But our logic is identical. The features of a general set, whether based in objects or processes, also belong to specific members of the set. The logic of BD is sound, just inside out – with processes replacing objects as sets. This analysis simultaneously patches up differences and opens the Door into further Mysteries."
General Logos: "Hmmm? I thought we were two opposing forces we just belong to different branches of the same family. We aren’t enemies at all."
Outsider: "We're both Logos worshippers, actually twin sister and brother – Process and Object – somehow separated at birth."
Blessed by this fortuitous encounter with this imaginary foe, the Outsider first gave thanks to the powers that be for this divine coincidence and then proceeded forth confidently – fortified with these new weapons in his arsenal and the support of the newly formed Alliance.
His next encounter – arranged many generations in advance – was with the Physics contingent of the Science Empire’s Imperial Army. Instead of standing aside our hero blocked their progress. Why? Arrogance – an urge for acclaim, drama, or confrontation – a manifestation of Ego. No. Just because the Inner Voice said so. Actually seemed a little sketchy to him – maybe even a bad idea – would rather have practiced Tai Chi with friends and played the Organ. “Do I have to?” But he knew what he had to do.
A representative of the Empire: “Move aside. You’re obstructing our path.”
“First hear me out; then I will stand aside.”
“Puny mortal. A Science Immortal accompanies us. What could you possibly say that hasn’t been said before? Respect your superiors. Stand back if you know what’s good for you.”
The Outsider held his ground and wouldn’t budge no matter what. Sending his roots into the center of the earth, she was nearly moved out of her orbit in their effort to dislodge him. Exasperated the General called out their Immortal to settle the matter once and for all. Glad for the opportunity our Don Quixote envisioned himself in a traditional encounter between opposing forces – with the initial foray a fight between the hostile heroes – thus sparing the battle between armies – with all the destruction this entails. The optimistic hope was that the Loser’s Army immediately converts or submits to the other. The Outsider had nothing to lose – except for the illusion of Immortality.
From behind the lines of the Confederation Army their Immortal, the Physicist emerges. He is bedecked in all the regalia of science – white lab coat, clipboard, credentials, articles, books and such to establish himself as the trustworthy, good guy – at least on subliminal levels of awareness. Alternately our hero is a plain, but upright, individual – dressed in black baggy pants for mobility, a long sleeve shirt covered by a green short-sleeved vest for warmth and flexibility and wearing black Birkenstocks for stability.
“Is this the puny worm that has blocked our path? Just give up now and save the battle,” yells the Physicist. “Go back home to obscurity and don’t waste our precious time on nonsense.”
“Hear our case, embrace us as family, and we will submit willingly – becoming part of the larger Empire rather than absorbed, dissolved and relegated to the realm of Pseudo Science – the netherworld of uncertainty.”
“Insignificant dust, state your credentials to see if you are even worthy of battle.”
“Honored sir, I have earned my bread by the sweat of my brow – laboring as a lowly waiter my entire life.”
“A waiter?” the Physicist snorted. “Why am I wasting my time on this lowlife?”
“Hear me out, distinguished gentleman. We are actually brothers – fellow travelers on Life’s miraculous pathway – having both embraced the mysteries of mathematics and science – with Newton as our common ancestor.”
“Brothers!? Nonsense. Miracles!? Blasphemy! Newton, our common ancestor!? Delusions of Grandeur.”
“Following the divine calling prophesied in my youth I have followed the mysterious path of the Outsider to discover a new Paradigm.”
“Divine calling!? Paradigm shift!? How could you, as a mere waiter, have anything of substance to contribute? Sounds like rubbish instead – worthy only of the junk pile of ridiculous theories.”
“Following the Inner Light – cultivating austerities to purify my Vision – I came upon an essential Key to the Mystery – inadvertently and accidentally – due to my arduous and persistent study of the Dynamics of Behavior – the Miracle of Sustained Attention over decades – in the terminology of the new Science.”
“A Key to the Mystery!? A new Science!? How could you have possibly discovered something that millions of highly educated scientists over millennia overlooked? Let’s get this battle over with so I can be off to my scientific philosophizing – all based in Logos, of course. This will be quick.”
“As you wish.”
Out came the Physicist with his weapons – myriad sophisticated functions combined with specific initial conditions. “I can predict the world’s flux with these mighty tools. What need have we for your superfluous and flawed pseudo science?”
“Honored Immortal you have overlooked Life in your equations. The Science of Information Dynamics addresses what your discipline has neglected.”
“Life!? Humph! Just activity predetermined by the laws of physics. Humans operate under the assumption that they have free will. Just an illusion as far as I am concerned. And this science of yours – an ephemera that instantly dissolves under the clear light of Logos.”
“Dear sir. I too worship Logos – but as one of many.”
“A polytheist and moral relativist to boot,” spat out the Physicist disgustedly. With that he pulled out his book, The Grand Design, and hurled it at our hero. “Take that. It should dispel any of your misconceptions and allow you to retreat gracefully back into your little world – living out your duration in obscurity – dying an unknown.”
“Actually your so-called logical philosophy is based upon flawed reasoning, and is actually a religion based upon faith – totally indeterminate – impossible to validate or invalidate. It’s just as superstitious as astrology.”
“Death to the Infidel – linking Astrology with Scientific Determinism – total blasphemy."
“If you don’t mind, I’m going to employ your own weapons against your fallacious theories.”
And our waiter defended his claims with the following articles – Scientism, a Civil Religion, The Beliefs of Scientism, The Historical Emergence of Scientism, From Why to What & Back Again, & Scientism vilifies its Shadow.