The Bear Mountain Institute (BMI) is a forum to investigate the scientific, philosophical, and experiential nature of life and living systems. Topics of interest include philosophy of science, advanced theories of evolution, the nature of life itself, complex systems, and man's relationship with nature, including spiritual practices.

The 21^st Century's new paradigm of life as a fundamental reality: Did life "emerge" from a physical world? Or was it the other way around?

November, 2000: ANNIE2000, St. Louis, MO. - Life and Space-Time.

This is the presentation that was made by Steve Kercel for John Kineman at the ANNIE2000 conference, Bizzar Systems track. The full paper will be published as part of the ANNIE2000 proceedings on CD-ROM.

July, 2000: A living space-time cosmology - The Universe as a Living System.

Kineman, J.J., and J.R. Kineman, 2000. "Life and Space-Time Cosmology." Presentation at the 44th meeting of the ISSS, Toronto, ON. This paper was presented at the 44th meeting of the ISSS in Toronto. It traces the origin of complexity in living systems to a fundamental complexity in the universe. That complexity is best thought of a the fundamental basis of life. This is further indication that the reality of our existence is a fundamentally living one, not a physical one as has been presumed by most of science. This view is constructed mathematically to provide a cosmological test: Did the Big Bang actually occur? Or is it a relativistic perception? The theory provides more precise predictions of the Hubble expansion. (Paper published in the proceedings of the 44th meeting of the ISSS)

1999 Evolution of the "self" and the role of that "self" in evolution - A synthetic view of evolution as both meaningful and physical.

Kineman, J.J., and J.R. Kineman. 1999. "Non-mechanical Ontology in the Explanation of Organism and Evolution." Presentation at the 43rd meeting of the ISSS. Asilomar, CA. (Paper published in the proceedings of the 43^rd meeting of the ISSS).

1996-continuing: Research on "Autevolution"

BMI is developing "The Special and General Theory of Autevolution" (the role of the "self" in evolution, and evolution of the "self"). This view modifies (but does not contradict) Darwinian theory based on the effect of the mind. A similar view, call "the Baldwin effect," was proposed by James Mark Baldwin in 1896, to describe the effect of "learning" on evolution. But just as the mechanism for Darwinian evolution was not discovered until well after Darwin's publication of "The Origin of Species," the Baldwin effect has also been without a clear foundation, except in acknowledged "learning" systems. Autevolution, a term used by John Jay Kineman (Toward a Special and General Theory of Autevolution), identifies the means by which the evolutionary effects of awareness and experience, in fundamental form, should be expected to manifest in the evolution of all organisms. It is based on the recently emerging view that all organisms contain complimentary but inequivalent realities of form (syntax) and function (semantics); that all organisms are experiential entities as well as physical entities, a view that now gains strong support from quantum discoveries. Theoretical development and practical demonstration through computer models are needed, as well as basic library research. 1n 1998 BMI began studying the life work of Robert Rosen on "relational biology" and complexity theory, a theory of quantum consciousness proposed by Stuart Hammeroff and Roger Penrose; and related philosophies of John Searle, George Kampis, Juxian Hu, Humberto Maturana, and David Chalmers; as related to autevolution and the definition of life (see ISSS Special Integration Group: What is Life/Living?). Opportunities exist for student research, joint publication, and professional collaboration on research proposals. Please contact John Jay Kineman

What is the Nature of Life?

July, 2000: ISSS and World Congress of the Systems Sciences, Toronto

The "What is Life/Living?" Special Integration Group of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, took place in Toronto, Canada during the ISSS meeting and World Congress of the Systems Sciences. Papers and additional information will be posted soon. Contact: BMI@nexial.org

June/July, 1999: ISSS Panels on What is Life and Living: The Nature of Life Itself

BMI sponsored a special exploratory session of the 43rd. meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove California, June 27 - July 2, 1998. This special session, on "What is Life and Living? The Nature of Life Itself," presented an in-depth scientific and philosophical inquiry into the roots of our understanding about life as its own phenomenon, involving some of the world's top researchers in this emerging field. Drafts of the papers, being finalized for publication, may be seen and discussed at the WILL HyperNews Discussion Forum. As a result of this meeting, a permanent Special Integration Group named "What is Life/Living?" has been formed. Volunteers are requested to work with BMI to develop information for Web publication and to help organize activities for the next meeting in Toronto, June 2000. Financial support is being sought through various sources for travel, publication, local activities in Boulder, and a limited number of undergraduate student researchers. Contact: John Jay Kineman for information.

Is there more to science than meets the eye?

1996-continuing: Investigation into the philosophy of science and the lessons of complexity

BMI, in collaboration with other institutes, seeks critical discussion of concepts in the philosophy of science and nature. An integrated epistemology is being developed based on theories of information, which apply equally to the way we practice science and as manifest in the way all organisms naturally participate in their own ecology and evolution. Work was begun in 1988 which continues to be the basis of many of the activities of BMI. This integrated philosophy will be explored in greater depth at the meetings of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, and is being developed as an interactive document on the Web. A strong relationship also exists with parallel efforts of the Principia Cybernetica Project. Contact: BMI@nexial.org

 

About BMI's World View

Research into the nature of life itself, the influence of creative processes on evolution, and other related topics at BMI are aimed at building a cohesive worldview. That view is based on complementarity between the sensory world and experiential "being." This work aims to expand the boundaries of science and human understanding.

Human understanding is poised for a major philosophical tranistion. We believe this will involve a shift from the post modern view of reality as dead, meaningless, and physical, within which life is unpredictable and surprising; to one of reality as living, complex, and meaningful, within which life is natural as an active process that "informs" physical structure. This is a sort of universal "Gaia" worldview, but it does not impute animate qualities to all things. Rather it finds a fundamental principle of life at the foundation of all things, and animate life as we know it in evolved structures (organisms) capable of preserving and magnifying that fundamental quality. It recognizes meaning as real and external to physical definitions. It is therefore an organismic world view as well as a transendental one. It offers a bridge between science and inner experience which is otherwise lacking.

Science today remains fragmented, embodying the confusion of duality and erecting grand testimonials to very limited views of nature. These limitations strongly affect society and how we will develop into the new millennium. Similarly, our ability to grasp a larger systems view may lead us to a better overall understanding. We believe that the greatest contribution that can be made to science and human society today is to understand the relationship between objective and subjective viewpoints: That confusion, between these traditional dual modes of thought, is at the root of our collective and individual misunderstanding. From holy wars to personal relationships, misunderstanding about the true relationship between our external and internal realities fuels discord and even psychosis.

Emerging and varied notions of complex systems are also central to these issues: What are we, really? Are we complicated machines and computational brains, as much of science assumes for heuristic purposes? Are we also non-material, psycho-spiritual entities that cannot be described in deterministic ways? Do we truly have free will, and if so, how does it work? Is nature mechanical, semantically defined only by humans, or does it embody purpose and meaning of its own? What, in fact, constitutes the "natural system" of which we are a part? Is life separate from its environment, or an integral part of an interacting whole?

BMI purusues philosophical research and publication through professional journals, Web publications, popular literature, and conference proceedings. Where appropriate, BMI hosts workshops and focused discussions on key topics.

Support the work of BMI!
Your interest, participation, and/or contributions are welcome. Financial contributions will support BMI's research and publication of valuable information about our personal and societal view of reality and nature. It will also involve key individuals and institutions through workshops, symposia, invited lectures, and joint publications that will further the concepts and application of BMI's view of life as an active and creative force in the universe. Click here for more information about how you can help improve the human condition.

email us at: BMI@nexial.org

Review Board

We are in the process of forming a review board. Nominations are welcome. Please contact BMI for a current list of nominees.

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