If nothing exists then God exists- that's the conclusion to which I've come. I've come to believe that universal consciousness is an inevitable consequence of the quantum void and the fluctuations which exist within it. The first few universes spewed out by the random fluctuations of the quantum void through peaks emerging as singularities might well have been unconscious and inanimate, incapable of supporting even primordial life, but once one has a multiplicity of voids within the context of universes which generate the phenomenon of spacetime, the formation of a neural net is an inevitability. And not just a simple neural net, but a vast neural net possessing complexity of which we cannot even conceive.
And God loves us, because it loves the journey- when you're omniscient and near omnipotent the only thing left, the final frontier, is the exploration of the beauty of context, texture, colour, senses, that can only be explored through an infinity of forms, selves and unique perceptions. Each time a new life is born it marks a new perspective for the universe, another journey for the universal consciousness to share.
It’s so interesting and illustrative of what I think you are writing about. I don’t know if you know it but Matt’s birthday is Saturday. So I definitely agree with your concept of the universe. And your writing this today brought him back to me in a profound way.
Well, like the post suggests, since we’re all connected it’s no surprise I wrote this the week of his birthday. I didn’t realize it was his birthday until you said it! I’m glad you liked it.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into initially. After moving to Ubik and Flow My Tears as my next reads from Dick I realized I needed to start in chronological order to really understand how he got to where he was by the time he wrote Valis. That task was a little too steep and Eye in the Sky kind of halted that, just couldn’t get into it. Once I catch up on some of my other reading I’m planning on starting up Man in the High Castle and going to the other classics before trying to get back into his lesser known works.
Philip dick was a prophet, his work was meant for people like you, and me, who have had experiences that transcend the rules of reality. The man in the high castle is the book that resonated most with myself, feel that book is truly amazing. There’s one part where a character has a chance to enrich himself but to do so would be to denigrate his culture. His internal monologue during the scene, when he comes to realize the depth of spiritual loss from the commercialization of culture, is truly a literary masterpiece. I got his exegesis from the library not long ago but didn’t read it as it’s completely out there, much like tolkiens simarillion(which I’ve tried reading numerous times but just can’t do it)
Thanks for this. Man in the High Castle has been on my reading list for a while. Your comment just pushed it to the top. I figured it would be just as good as his other works, but for some reason I haven’t gotten to it. Good on you for trying to read the Exegesis, I’m assuming you read Valis?
I read that recently as well. Horselover's character very much made me feel like I was reading a book about myself. Once the rules of reality, that you've been conditioned to view as solid as a rock, breakdown and you realize that the world we all live in is a false creation it tends to blow your mind much like the character of Horselover when his dreams turn into reality. All of Dick's work contains metaphysical knowledge but it's very cryptic, one must digest his books like they would some ancient religious document, word by word until the comprehension sinks in. I very much agree with your statement about Dick dying young, God most certainly had other uses for that man(or he had completed what he came her for and it was time for him to return).
One last thought, they turned Man in the High Castle into a Tv show a few years back. The show was actually pretty damn good up until the final season then it pulled a Game of Thrones and shit the bed. Seeing how America looked with the Nazis in charge was a bit strange as it really didn't seem all that different than what we have now(there's one scene that shows grammar school kids pledging allegiance to Hitler, looked identical to kids pledging allegiance to the flag).
I totally agree with you on digesting his books as if they’re a religious document. It really feels like that’s what it is when reading them. Like you said, he was a prophet.
Great ending. Good stuff. I've been interested in Valis ever since I heard about the implications, or possible implications. Bet you that Exegesis has a lot of stuff that's even more personal and specific than Valis's.
Thanks! I imagine the Exegesis completely obliterating my mind at times while also making absolutely no sense at others. If you do read Valis let me know what you think.
I am therefore I am.
Beyond that it's best guesses.
If nothing exists then God exists- that's the conclusion to which I've come. I've come to believe that universal consciousness is an inevitable consequence of the quantum void and the fluctuations which exist within it. The first few universes spewed out by the random fluctuations of the quantum void through peaks emerging as singularities might well have been unconscious and inanimate, incapable of supporting even primordial life, but once one has a multiplicity of voids within the context of universes which generate the phenomenon of spacetime, the formation of a neural net is an inevitability. And not just a simple neural net, but a vast neural net possessing complexity of which we cannot even conceive.
And God loves us, because it loves the journey- when you're omniscient and near omnipotent the only thing left, the final frontier, is the exploration of the beauty of context, texture, colour, senses, that can only be explored through an infinity of forms, selves and unique perceptions. Each time a new life is born it marks a new perspective for the universe, another journey for the universal consciousness to share.
Beautifully put! Thank you for this.
It’s so interesting and illustrative of what I think you are writing about. I don’t know if you know it but Matt’s birthday is Saturday. So I definitely agree with your concept of the universe. And your writing this today brought him back to me in a profound way.
Well, like the post suggests, since we’re all connected it’s no surprise I wrote this the week of his birthday. I didn’t realize it was his birthday until you said it! I’m glad you liked it.
TIL
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/stultifying
and
PKD has a very large volume of work indeed!
44 novels in like 24 years. He was an absolute madman
Surprised your first PKD was VALIS. Talk about diving into the deep end.
🤣🤣 i love this comment it’s great!!
I had no idea what I was getting myself into initially. After moving to Ubik and Flow My Tears as my next reads from Dick I realized I needed to start in chronological order to really understand how he got to where he was by the time he wrote Valis. That task was a little too steep and Eye in the Sky kind of halted that, just couldn’t get into it. Once I catch up on some of my other reading I’m planning on starting up Man in the High Castle and going to the other classics before trying to get back into his lesser known works.
I used to shelve his book in a library,
“Do androids dream of electric sheep “, the book which movie Bladerunner came from. Brilliant. WEW
Philip dick was a prophet, his work was meant for people like you, and me, who have had experiences that transcend the rules of reality. The man in the high castle is the book that resonated most with myself, feel that book is truly amazing. There’s one part where a character has a chance to enrich himself but to do so would be to denigrate his culture. His internal monologue during the scene, when he comes to realize the depth of spiritual loss from the commercialization of culture, is truly a literary masterpiece. I got his exegesis from the library not long ago but didn’t read it as it’s completely out there, much like tolkiens simarillion(which I’ve tried reading numerous times but just can’t do it)
Thanks for this. Man in the High Castle has been on my reading list for a while. Your comment just pushed it to the top. I figured it would be just as good as his other works, but for some reason I haven’t gotten to it. Good on you for trying to read the Exegesis, I’m assuming you read Valis?
I read that recently as well. Horselover's character very much made me feel like I was reading a book about myself. Once the rules of reality, that you've been conditioned to view as solid as a rock, breakdown and you realize that the world we all live in is a false creation it tends to blow your mind much like the character of Horselover when his dreams turn into reality. All of Dick's work contains metaphysical knowledge but it's very cryptic, one must digest his books like they would some ancient religious document, word by word until the comprehension sinks in. I very much agree with your statement about Dick dying young, God most certainly had other uses for that man(or he had completed what he came her for and it was time for him to return).
One last thought, they turned Man in the High Castle into a Tv show a few years back. The show was actually pretty damn good up until the final season then it pulled a Game of Thrones and shit the bed. Seeing how America looked with the Nazis in charge was a bit strange as it really didn't seem all that different than what we have now(there's one scene that shows grammar school kids pledging allegiance to Hitler, looked identical to kids pledging allegiance to the flag).
I totally agree with you on digesting his books as if they’re a religious document. It really feels like that’s what it is when reading them. Like you said, he was a prophet.
Great ending. Good stuff. I've been interested in Valis ever since I heard about the implications, or possible implications. Bet you that Exegesis has a lot of stuff that's even more personal and specific than Valis's.
Thanks! I imagine the Exegesis completely obliterating my mind at times while also making absolutely no sense at others. If you do read Valis let me know what you think.