A system that observes itself can never observe all of itself
Spencer Brown’s point is that a system which observes itself can never observe all of itself, and that, therefore, as our telescopes become more powerful the universe must necessarily expand. If I am continuous with the universe, if the physics of my body is the same as the physics of everything else, then I have the same relation to the outside world as to that much of my own body which I can see. Without mirrors I cannot see my back or my head. Even with mirrors I cannot see into my brain, and even if, like a neurosurgeon, I study other people’s brains, I cannot study my own while I am doing it. This is utterly frustrating, but it has a marvelous and fascinating implication which is absolutely inescapable. You yourself are the universe which you are observing. You are trying to get at yourself when you love/hate other people. I am going to leave it to you to work out the connection between the frustration and its implication (it’s a wonderful trip), and only add that the aspect of yourself which you cannot see is obviously not any idea, image, or opinion of yourself that you have already formed. —Alan Watts, Cloud-Hidden Whereabouts Unknown
- previously: human behavior is too complex to be predictable
- see also: this kind of brain-bending thought experiment makes me think of John Wiswell’s brilliant short story I’ll Miss Myself 🥲
- see also: we are the process of the universe
- somewhat related: nature is emergent and adaptive
- future link: biomimicry