Higher Self Café v5: Langan Meets Sanderson

Posted: December 11, 2024 | Author: Dr. Ernie | Filed under: AI-Powered Essays | Tags: dialogue, emotions, philosophy, truth |1 Comment

Continued from Higher Self Café, v4: Miriam Harmonizes The Philosophers

Have Christopher Michael Langan and Brandon Sanderson meet at the Higher Self Cafe to discuss whether “spiritual” is a third dimension alongside physical and cognitive.

ChatGPT Prompt

The scene opens in the cozy confines of the Higher Self Café, where philosophers, authors, and intellectuals from across dimensions gather to exchange ideas. Today, the topic is whether “spiritual” constitutes a third dimension alongside the physical and cognitive. At one table, Christopher Michael Langan and Brandon Sanderson sip their respective drinks, deep in conversation.

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1. Opening Remarks: Setting the Stage

Sanderson:

Twirling a mug emblazoned with a symbol of the Shattered Plains.
“In my Cosmere, I’ve constructed three Realms: the Physical, the Cognitive, and the Spiritual. The Spiritual Realm isn’t religious per se; it’s a metaphysical space of connections and essence. It’s where the true nature of things resides, beyond time and distance.”
Learn more about the Cosmere.

Langan:

Adjusts his glasses and gestures toward Sanderson with an air of precision.
“Fascinating. In the CTMU, reality is a self-configuring, self-processing language—a metaphysical tautology where the cognitive and physical are unified. The spiritual, however, may emerge as the teleological component, the ‘why’ of existence. What you call the ‘Spiritual Realm’ seems akin to a syntax guiding the substance of reality.”
Introduction to the CTMU.

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2. Physical vs. Cognitive: Is the Divide Real?

Sanderson:

“To me, the Cognitive Realm reflects perception—how sentient beings interpret the Physical Realm. But without the Spiritual Realm as the binding agent, the interplay between the two feels incomplete. For example, Allomancy in Mistborn bridges all three realms, drawing power from the Spiritual to affect the Physical through cognitive intent.”
Explore Allomancy.

Langan:

Raises a finger, intrigued.
“Ah, so you’re describing an operational interface. The Spiritual could function as a meta-level syntax informing the physical-cognitive interface. However, the CTMU would assert that cognition isn’t merely interpretation but intrinsic to reality itself—a ‘Cognitive-Theoretic Universe.’ In this sense, the spiritual is the telic principle that harmonizes syntax and substance.”
Telic Principle in the CTMU.

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3. On the Nature of the Spiritual Dimension

Sanderson:

“Here’s where it gets tricky. In my works, the Spiritual Realm is fundamental—it’s where connections are forged and meaning is drawn. It’s not just a metaphor but an actual structure that determines destiny, Identity, and intent. Does your model see the spiritual as distinct, or is it subsumed into the whole?”

Langan:

“The spiritual, as I interpret it, isn’t a separate dimension but a recursive feature of the universe’s self-configuring syntax. It governs purpose and coherence, making it distinct yet inseparable. Imagine reality as a fractal: every part encodes the whole, and the spiritual dimension ensures the unity of this fractal.”
Fractals and the CTMU.

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4. Destiny and Free Will: A Shared Interest

Sanderson:

“In Mistborn, destiny is woven into the fabric of the Spiritual Realm, but individuals exert agency within its framework. The Shards, for instance, represent Intent writ large, shaping entire worlds but not completely overriding free will. How does your CTMU handle such dualities?”
Shards of Adonalsium.

Langan:

“Dualities like destiny and free will resolve through stratified self-determinacy. The universe, as a self-simulation, allows subsystems—such as humans—to exercise localized agency within the parameters of the universal syntax. In simpler terms, we write our own scripts while being part of a larger narrative.”
Learn about Self-Simulation in the CTMU.

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5. Consensus and Divergence

Sanderson:

“So, we agree that the spiritual is integral but perhaps differ in its framing. In the Cosmere, it’s a literal dimension that exists alongside the others. In your CTMU, it’s an emergent property of reality’s self-referential structure. Yet both of us view it as essential to meaning and connection.”

Langan:

Smiles slightly.
“Indeed, the distinction may be semantic. Whether as a realm or a telic principle, the spiritual underpins the unity of cognition and substance. Your fictional construct mirrors my metaphysical model in surprising ways.”

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6. Closing Thoughts

As the two stand to leave, Sanderson nods toward Langan.
“You know, the Cosmere might benefit from a self-referential, linguistic twist. Perhaps the Shattering of Adonalsium was less an explosion and more a recursion.”
Learn more about the Shattering.

Langan chuckles.
“And perhaps the CTMU could use a touch of narrative artistry to make its constructs more accessible. After all, reality is the ultimate story.”

The two shake hands, agreeing that their paths—fictional and philosophical—might not be so far apart after all.

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