Implication of higher dimensional communication -- "wave modality"?

Contrasting Human and AI Identity in Magical Discourse (Part #10)

A previous discussion evoked the possibility of Enabling discourse of a higher order (2023) in the light of both "magical communication" and the implications of second-order cybernetics (and higher).

Connectivity? The results of recent neuroscience research indicate the remarkable possibility of cognitive processes taking up even up to 11-dimensional form in the light of emergent neuronal connectivity in the human brain:

Using mathematics in a novel way in neuroscience, the Blue Brain Project shows that the brain operates on many dimensions, not just the three dimensions that we are accustomed to... The appearance of high-dimensional cavities when the brain is processing information means that the neurons in the network react to stimuli in an extremely organized manner. It is as if the brain reacts to a stimulus by building then razing a tower of multi-dimensional blocks, starting with rods (1D), then planks (2D), then cubes (3D), and then more complex geometries with 4D, 5D, etc. The progression of activity through the brain resembles a multi-dimensional sandcastle that materializes out of the sand and then disintegrates. (Blue Brain Team Discovers a Multi-Dimensional Universe in Brain Networks, Frontiers Communications in Neuroscience, 12 June 2017)

An obvious difficulty is associating comprehensible meaning with higher dimensionality -- as the brain would seem to do, and as may be implied by the subtleties of the magical arts. One speculative effort in the light of physical insights was presented separately (Speculation towards a framework of meta-communication, 2023).

Animation 3d nesting ****

Essential human communication through "wave mode"? It is intriguing to note how people have adapted to an appreciation of "waves". This is most evident in physical terms with respect to surfing. It is apparent in the adjustment to "waves" of public opinion and fashion. Such adaptations are reinforce by exposure to radio technology and the language it requires.

Most striking the adoption in popular language of an appreciation of "vibes" and its association with the experience of a place or an event -- and even of a person or group. It could be asked whether any form of otherness tends to be appreciated through a wave "lens" or frame. There is a case for exploring how the experience of various "encounters" with "othernesses" might be better articulated through "wave language" rather than through the conventional categories typically used. (Varieties of encounter susceptible to meaningful framing through wave language, 2013).

With the widespread preference for video-enabled visualization in preference to text, there is a sense in which people increasingly apprehend their environment through "moves", "vibes" and style -- rather than listening to categories and their orderly articulation. The role of the media, especially the social media, calls for interpretation in this light -- as with face-to-face encounters. Rather than being framed as "obtuse", a wave perspective is then potentially far more accessible (as a default) than is implied by conventional thinking.

It could then be asked whether a wave modality is the primary mode of communication, underlying or superseding the conventional use of labels and categories. If a direct mode is so readily accessible and familiar, instances of it should be readily recognizable. This suggest the possibility of an alaternative theory of being (Encountering Otherness as a Waveform: in the light of a wave theory of being, 2013). Identifying with a "waveform" may be a matter of choice in recognizing emergent dynamic qualities of identity and integrity (Being a Waveform of Potential as an Experiential Choice, 2013).

Primary examples would be falling in love and the response to music and the other arts. There is every possibility that there are distinctive modes of "wave cognition" -- including recognition of "bad vibes", potentially interpreted as "out of tune". Contrasting qualities of dialogue might be usefully distinguished in some kind of wave-enabled language.

Physics continues to explore the nature of gravity as eluding simple explanation. The nature of attraction between people and places merits a corresponding degree of cautious exploration. Like gravity, is falling in love an experience which merits comprehension through wave language -- namely a modality to which poetry and music offer pointers?

Existential encounter / bond: These would include the most readily recognizable experiences sensed to be of another kind or nature -- typically a challenge for adequate explanation in conventional language, understood to be unable to carry the meaning of the experience. Examples, possibly overlapping rather than distinct, are:

friendship, especially when recognized to be of a deep and lasting kind.
love, most notably as recognized in the experience of that between the sexes, or within a family
team mates, especially in sport and the military, where mutual dependence may be deeply tested, possibly in the face of mortal danger
obligations, possibly lifelong, most notably as framed by the Japanese understanding of giri
muse, embodied inspiration to creativity in literature, science and the arts -- as classically exemplified by the beloved of many painters.
disadvantage, experienced as a direct challenge to complacency and to existential failure to respond sympathetically -- as exemplified by the encounter with beggars
suffering, spontaneously evoking sympathy and an unexpected level of compassion -- as exemplified by any encounter with illness, handicap or other forms of distress

Relation to a leader: A potentially subtle relation of follower to a "leader" of some kind may be recognized, as in the following:

relationship to the leader of an enterprise, especially with a degree of risk and danger
relationship to a valued facilitator, teacher, mentor, or spiritual guide
relationship to those figures especially characterized by their charisma, as with some admired celebrities
relation to spiritual leaders, whether living (as in the case of the Pope) or dead (as with saints). Of particular relevance is the evocation by evangelists of experience possibly leading to conversion -- or to trance in other rituals, such as shamanism.

Appreciation of aesthetic performance: In such cases it is the performance which may be designed to evoke an unconventional bond, as with many concert performers. Of particular interest is the case of flamenco and its subtle transformative goal of duende -- involving emotion and authenticity (Daimon, Djinn, Muse and Duende: variations on a timeless experience, 2007).

Of related interest are collective performances framed or intended as transformative, possibly for both performers and audience. This is a notable feature of the work of Peter Brook (The Conference of the Birds, 1979).

Nature: Encounters with the wild, as variously articulated ("Human Intercourse": "Intercourse with Nature" and "Intercourse with the Other", 2007). More specifically the relationship could be restricted to that with a garden, a tree, or a mountain. Of particular interest is the experience for some of a sacred place, whether a shrine, a fountain, a sacred river, a sacred rock, or a sacred mountain -- often the focus of pilgrimage (possibly for millions).

Special bonds with an animal, whether wild or domesticated (as a pet, or otherwise), also call for consideration. Wave-related interaction with "nature" may also be fundamental to appreciation of certain sports (surfing, paragliding, skiing, skating, roller-blading, etc).

Threat: Experienced as a "global" configuration of circumstances, possibly embodied in another, which elicit a form of focus and augmented vigilance:

Potential trickster: The engagement with a skilled salesperson or a confidence trickster -- presenting a challenge of vigilance where gullibility is encouraged.
Potential threats: The encounter with threatening others as in domestic violence, bullying, urban violence (muggings, etc), blood feuds, terrorism, torturers and executioners
Catastrophic events / Crises: Experienced as disruptive of conventional life -- and typically terrifying

Inspirational challenges: As variously offered and framed as collective enterprises -- "crusades" or jihad -- notably exemplified by the Christian Church Militant and Al-Qaida, respectively.

Supernatural entities: As with framings of (envisaged) encounters with:

Deity, or representations thereof, especially as central to the transformative experience of mystics
Evil, especially experienced as the temptation and threat of satanic forces -- notably given contemporary recognition by Barack Obama on the occasion of his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize and by the current US Secretary of State in relation to the Boston Marathon bombings (Remarks by the President at the Acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, 10 December 2009; John Kerry: We've been in direct confrontation with evil, BBC News, 19 April 2013).
Messiah / Imam, consequent on the prophesied arrival of the Messiah of Christianity, the Messiah of Judaism, or the Imam of Islam -- or their analogues in other belief systems
Angels, as variously considered and sought (Gregory Bateson and Mary Catherine Bateson, Angels Fear: towards an epistemology of the sacred, 2004; M. D. Faber, The Psychological Roots of Religious Belief: searching for angels and the parent-god, 2004; Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake, The Physics of Angels: exploring the realm where science and spirit meet, 1996; Alison MacLeod, The Wave Theory of Angels, 2005)

Hypothetical "entities": Speculation continues regarding the unconventional nature of the cognitive engagement of humans with the "otherness" of unusual entities such as:

Extraterrestrial intelligences: as previously discussed (Communicating with Aliens: the psychological dimension of dialogue, 2000; Sensing Epiterrestrial Intelligence (SETI): Embedding of "extraterrestrials" in episystemic dynamics? 2013)
Global brain: as articulated variously (Peter Russell (The Global Brain: speculations on the evolutionary leap to planetary consciousness, 1983; Francis Heylighen (Return to Eden? Promises and Perils on the Road to an Omnipotent Global Intelligence, 2013; Douglas Heaven, Not like us: Artificial minds we can't understand, New Scientist, 10 August 2013)
Mathematical entities of higher dimensionality: These are of potential significance in the light of the argument of George Lakoff and Rafael Nuñez (Where Mathematics Comes From: how the embodied mind brings mathematics into being, 2001). They might include:
- Amplituhedron: as described by Natalie Wolchover (A Jewel at the Heart of Quantum Physics, Quanta Magazine, 17 September 2013).

Monster symmetry group: as separately discussed (Potential Psychosocial Significance of Monstrous Moonshine: an exceptional form of symmetry as a Rosetta stone for cognitive frameworks, 2007). So-called exceptionally simple Lie groups, most notably E8, have attracted commentary in this regard
Mandelbrot set: as separately discussed (Psycho-social Significance of the Mandelbrot Set: a sustainable boundary between chaos and order, 2005)
Boltzmann brains: a hypothesized self-aware entity which arises in the cosmos due to random fluctuations out of a state of chaos.
Large cardinals: as a property of transfinite cardinal numbers.

There is every reason to imagine that the preferred mode of communication ETs might be characterized to a far greater degree by a wave modality rather than on the mechanics of the conventional communication favoured by human authorities in terms of labels and their manipulation. There is the ironic possibility that meaningful communication by ETs would be with humans giving preference to a wave modality -- perhaps most ironically, those able to commune with nature.

(Contrasting the implications of "triple helix" -- cognitive and otherwise, 2017) *************

It is both amusing and tragic that a challenge in developing the argument further is a classical difficulty in a mode of theological discourse -- apophatic theology -- namely how to discuss something without discussing it directly (Being What You Want: problematic kataphatic identity vs. potential of apophatic identity? 2008). This is a process of saying by inference, of not-saying, as noted by Michael A. Sells (Mystical Languages of Unsaying, 1994).

Constrained, Unconstrained and Surprised in a Global Context: Encountering black swans with insights of the frog-in-the-well and turtle of Chinese fable, 2022 ****