Environment
This web page is an extension of the Reality web page. For a deeper understanding of Environment, visit the Reality web page.
The Environment is a subset of Reality - it is that part of Reality that affects us. Like Absolute Reality, there is an Absolute Environment - that is everything that affects us, whether we have knowledge of it or not. The Environment is that part the Absolute Environment that we have collective knowledge of.
Transcendent Reality provides us a paradigm to further the greater social good – as measured by our collective survival, continuance-in-kind, and prosperity. That paradigm is carefully constructed to realistically reflect and account for the Environment within which we exist. The environment Transcendent Reality addresses can be described in physical, biological, and sociological terms. It can also be described from a personal and group vantage or perspective.
In physical terms the environment is the space and matter we occupy, and that space and matter which surrounds us. In biological terms the environment includes the organs and systems comprising our body, and the life forms external to us. In sociological terms the environment is comprised of people and their ideas of interacting and associating with one another, reflected in the sociological and psychological models adopted, wittingly or unwittingly, for our self personally, or as a group. From a personal perspective, the environment is our self against the universe. From a group perspective, the environment is our group against the universe.
However the environment is described, it is clear that it evolves and changes over time. In this evolving and changing environment Transcendent Reality provides a realistic model of the current environment comprising and surrounding the individual and the group, and anticipates imminent changes. Transcendent Reality provides a set of principles to guide the individual and the group as they navigate and interact in their environments now and in the future.
In physical terms the environment is the space and matter we occupy, and that space and matter which surrounds us. Within us, our internal environment includes the atoms, molecules, and physical structures comprising us and giving our body shape and cohesiveness. Without us, the external physical environment reaches from the surface of our skin to the outer limits of the visible universe - and includes all inanimate objects therein, from sub-atomic particles to stars and galaxies.
The physical environment includes all things not living. The physical environment necessarily permeates all living things as well, but we generally will be referring to the physical environment external to a living thing, or to physical matter that has adhered to or penetrated the surface of a living thing as foreign matter. The absolute physical environment extends past the visible limits of the universe.
In biological terms the environment includes the organs and systems comprising our body, and the life forms external to us. External life forms may be symbiotic, neutral, or adversarial to us. We may be both predator and prey in our biological environment. Our predators may be large, like lions, and tigers and bears; or small parasites such as hook worms, microscopic germs, or sub-microscopic viruses and prions.
The biological environment necessarily permeates the human individual, and human groups. But, when we discuss the biological environment in Transcendent Reality, we will generally be referring to the biological environment external to the individual or the group, or to life forms which have invaded the human individual or the group and are generally foreign to them.
The limit of the known biological environment is presently the earth, and a small space station orbiting it. The absolute biological environment includes all living things - everywhere, which may extend past the limits of the visible universe.
In sociological terms the environment is comprised of people and their ideas of interacting and associating with one another, reflected in the sociological and psychological models adopted, wittingly or unwittingly, for our selves personally or as a group. Our internal philosophical environment includes both our personal psychological and sociological systems, and those of the group(s) we identify with. Our external philosophical environment includes those groups adhering to other psychological and sociological models, which (similar to biological life forms) may be allied (symbiotic), neutral (unaligned), or adversarial to our self or our group. We may both assimilate, and be assimilated by, other groups in our sociological environment.
In Transcendent Reality our personal environmental vantage has an internal aspect and an external aspect. The internal aspect is that which composes us, such as the atoms, molecules, cells, organs, limbs, and internal systems within us - those affecting our exterior appearance, the dynamic interaction of those components, and that intangible thing we call our soul. It includes the dynamic extension of our body by our personal tools, instruments, and machines when we are using them, and the extension of our mind in our personal computer(s), software, and data under our unique control. The external aspect of our personal environment is all that is not internal, from that within reach of our fingertips, to the limits of the visible universe.
In Transcendent Reality the group environmental vantage has an internal and external aspect. Individuals composing the group are the internal components of a group, which in Transcendent Reality are foremost - humans. Included are the dynamic interaction of the group's members, their shared tools, instruments and machines, their dialogues and rituals, and that intangible thing we call the group's unity, analogous to the human soul.
The group's boundary is abstract, and can expand and contract over a given physical area or space. Separate groups can also overlap each other's physical space without violating each other's identity or coherence. An individual may also be a member or component of more than one group simultaneously.
The external environment of a group is all other humans (as individuals or groups) that are not included in the group, either by their choice or by group consensus. External also are members of an external group that has penetrated or invaded another group with intent to eliminate, assimilate, or otherwise violate that group’s integrity.
The limits of the group environment is the limit of wherever human groups can extend their influence, whether by a member, or by artifices, manned or unmanned, such as airplanes rockets, satellites, space stations, and robot-controlled deep-space probes.
Our Environment is more than just static objects. It includes dynamic systems, and objects of varying energy levels, as well as a myriad of life forms and groups. It is clear that our Environment evolves and changes over time - often chaotically, and catastrophically without warning. Our models must evolve, and at times be revised so as to properly reflect our changing environment.
The physical environment changes as witnessed by the collision of stellar bodies and the movement of tectonic plates over the planet's surface, causing volcanoes and earthquakes which alter the landscape, and affecting ocean currents and atmospheric weather patterns. The biological environment changes as witnessed by the fossil records chronicling the rise and fall of the dinosaurs and the emergence of mammals and birds. The sociological environment changes as witnessed by the rise and fall of Kings and Empires such as Babylon, Rome, and Byzantium, the emergence of democratic republics and capitalistic systems, and the replacement of multi-pantheistic religions with monotheistic ones.
Within our environment, we control precious few events. For example, we presently exert no influence on the stars or the galaxies surrounding the earth. Within the solar system, we have managed to send a few probes to a few planets, but our visions of terra-forming planets remain a distant dream. On the planet Earth we cannot control the weather, thunderstorms, hurricanes (typhoons), earthquakes, volcanoes, or tsunamis. We cannot prevent drought from occurring, nor stop the rain.
We have learned to ameliorate floods with reservoirs, dams, levees, and such, but we cannot stop the rain from pouring down, or the waters from rising. Of all the thousands of diseases that plague mankind - robbing us of our young, disabling our bodies, and causing disfigurement, dismemberment, and premature death, we have only claimed to have eradicated one. In our zeal to control disease with antiseptics and antibiotics we have hastened the emergence of mutant strains resistant to all our treatments.
We must be ever aware, alert and mindful of our environment when we manipulate it or introduce changes - so that unintended consequences do not adversely damage or destroy us. It is important that we understand properly cause, and effect, that we are honest about what we know, and what we don't know, and that out models are continually improved with our latest observations and discoveries.
In this evolving and changing environment Transcendent Reality provides a useful and relevant paradigm to successfully cope with the current environment comprising and surrounding the individual and the group, and anticipate imminent changes. Transcendent Reality provides a set of principles to guide the individual and the group as they navigate and interact in their environments now and in the future.