"In programming language theory, the structured program theorem states that every computable function can be implemented in a programming language that combines subprograms in only three specific ways. These three control structures are- Executing one subprogram, and then another subprogram (sequence)
- Executing one of two subprograms according to the value of a boolean variable (selection)
- Executing a subprogram until a boolean variable is true (iteration)" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structured_program_theorem
Time is such an elusive concept. It surrounds us, invades us, and pervades us in such manner that it is very hard to dissect and analyze. In fact, the Heisenberg Uncertainty principle clearly implies that it is impossible to determine the nature of time, as long as we involve ourselves in any way with it. And since every one of our recorded actions happens in some point of the timeline, then, oh well... We're used to viewing existence as a continuous sucession of linear moments, during each of which all kinds of events may happen. Actions, events, happenings, movements, crashes, silences... every single possible verb. In this linear model, the static Universe is the collection of all objects and, well, of everything existent at a single point of the Unique Timeline. And then, the Everything is the sucession of all Universes which represent each and every one of the Points of this Unique Timeline.
The structured program theorem mentioned above summarizes, roughly, the way many people view their Own Existence.
- Sequence: People view the Universe as a natural sequence of events, and model their own Life accordingly. They know that they are born, they grow up, they probably reproduce, and then they die. As a programmer, I'd call this sequence the void main() function of the program of Life. And this sequence concept prevails in many other aspects of their Life. The execution of a certain action is mostly always the sequence of several sub-events, usually called "steps". People are accustomed to following predetermined steps in order to reach a certain goal.
- Selection: The concept of selection is the programming counterpart to the well-known Life concept of choice, or decision. "Life is full of choices", they say, and it performs in very much the same way as it does in a programming language. People analyze the situation, operate on the various factors that affect each one of the possible choices, and finally, reach a decision.
- Iteration: The presence of iterations in people's Lives is undeniable. Our schedule, our daily habits, our systems, our world, our machines, our inventions, our bodies, and our social behavior are all thriving with iterations. From the astral rotations to our own pumping hearts, from the annual festivals to our own weekly routines, cycles are engraved into humanity's core, imitating Nature's Own Way.
Historically, formal Computer Science is one of the youngest (if not the youngest) major Field of Study developed by humanity. Hence the three control structures presented above are not the source of this point of view of Life. People, the logic of the human being, is the source of this model, and so it is possible that humanity has had the notion of this model of Life for quite some time already.
So what was all that about? That was the theoretical and conceptual preamble to get into context. You know, as a 22-year old guy, I see the World, Life, People, and Society, and it just does not add up. First the World. The World, the Universe, what is it? It's a... Space, a... 3D Plane?... Endless Scratch Paper... it is the Universal Playground. It is a... (I was going to say "Sea" but the word does not amount to it...) a UNIVERSE!! It seems, though, that we're mostly limited to acting upon only one Planet, this Earth, and to just watching the rest of it as what can be called "the sky". Still, this Earth is a very large place, (and the rest of the Universe looks kinda dull, too). But just the Planet itself, watching it... it is part of this Playground. And such a very nice place too... it has so much to offer to Lifeforms like us.
Speaking of Life, What is Life? The time between Birth and Death? No, I mean the Essence of Life. What is that which pervades organisms and drives them, allows them to perceive, to act, to feel? What is that which pushes Me to acknowledge Myself as a center, as a concept, as an observer? What is that which gives me my Will, my Power to Choose? I feel, I think, I perceive, I act, I make, I invent, I create, I AM. And I KNOW that I am. Some people say that all those are simply biochemical signals, purely physical reactions. But do You think that, in order to create purely physical reactions, to drive a purely deterministic world, in which every momentual Universe is uniquely determined by its predecessor Universe, a Consciousness is necessary? Because I Feel that I have a Consciousness, and I Know all people feel this too. But of course not... a Consciousness, a feeling of individuality, is unnecessary and superfluous, if we lived in a deterministic Universe. In a Universe which we cannot change. Hence I believe Life is something I cannot presently define, but it is immaterial, and it clearly implies the existence of concepts not commonly perceived.
But the People, oh the People! We, the People, we who Exist and who Live and who Reason, are the apparent protagonists in this theatrical play of planet Earth. We are given a vast playground as a sandbox, the gift of Life, and our Human Body as our pail-and-bucket. We, who are Life... I think that many of us ignore, and hence do not fully enjoy, this grand opportunity. Many of us take all this: the World, Life, being a Human Being... many of us take it for granted. And yes! of course! it IS granted! But then they just absorb this knowledge of their privilege as a necessary, obvious axiom, and go on to search for more. More? Could you possibly ask for more? Think about it. You possess potential, possibilities, Life, feelings, thoughts, speech... What more do you desire? Money? Cars? Fame? Power? That is nothing in comparison. Is that what you truly desire? Then, of course, strive to obtain it! You are the decision-maker. But do not blame others or feel low because you do not possess what you desire. Never forget the enormous privilege of simply being alive. It has sometimes been said that the individual is smart, but that the masses are dumb. Collectiveness is often a negative trend in overall performance. The collectiveness of human beings, Human Society, is such a good example of this fact. This is the way I see it all happen: Most people do not Live for themselves... they live for society. And many people take it SO for granted, that they freak out when they're not hand-walked by society to do "what they're supposed to be doing". People almost think their life is a "should be", and worse, it's not a "I think it should be..."... it's more like "Everyone thinks it should be...". They are brought into this world, psychologically bounded into the ever-growing set of limits and parameters set by society, and "gently coerced" into each of its habits and rituals, until their goals become the same as society's. You can ask people all around what would they like to have the most... you'll know the most frequent answers will be either money, social status, a high-paying job, or something like that. Upon examining these goals, it is obvious that these things are only useful within society itself. They are not by itself the true desires, but people have now almost acknowledged that they are. So do I think it's wrong to live inside society's boundaries and have these same goals? Not really. But I feel that people have forgotten that this society, that their own role in society, is only one of virtually unlimited possibilites, and that they have the power to change their Lives at any time. And I also feel that a person cannot be happy if he or she lives according to dogmatic boundaries, whether they be economical, social, religious, or whatever. That's what I feel.
Summarizing, I think we are Living Beings, flowing with Life, which is definitely an immaterial "thing". Life is also something that allows us to be conscious, to choose, to act upon the world in unendless ways. This capacity of "choosing" is something that allows us to decide our own actions, makes it possible for there to exist more than one possible future, and hence, makes the Universe itself non-deterministic. "The future is not written" (Doc Brown, Back to the Future) We decide the outcome of the Universe, so to speak, and I feel that the more we acknowledge this, the more powerful our actions are.
Even further, I feel the Universe is incompletely modeled as traversing a sequential linear timeline. Instead, I feel that it is rather as if the Universe is not limited by our usual perceptions, but is instead a much more complex reality than I presently understand. It is as if the Universe is a single, sort-of-mysterious kind-of-multidimensional "thing", and that we, the observers, shift our positions and point of view according to our choices, and so observe a certain "angle" or "version" of the Universe at every moment, the one which we "choose" to see. I feel that the actions and choices of all conscious beings are bound to one another in a most essential manner, but not time-linearly. I don't really understand it, of course, but that's what I feel.
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