Caos
“Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit”
The definition of Chaos is as follows:
1. Behavior so unpredictable as to appear random,* owing great sensitivity to small changes in conditions
2. the unorganized state of primordial matter before the creation of distinct forms, supposed to have existed before the creation of the universe
3. abyss, void
The Chaos Theory
Chaos theory is a mathematical and scientific field that focuses on the underlying patterns of dynamic systems. The theory states that chaotic complex systems appear random, in actuality there are “underlying patterns, interconnection, constant feedback loops, repetition, self-similarity, fractals and self-organization.”
However, the theory states, because these systems are so complex, the variables have non linear relationships and a very small changes in the system can have a disproportionately large effect (the butterfly effect) and many of these tiny changes together interacting make the sytstem appear random and make them very hard to predict.
The Edge of Chaos
Then there is the concept of “the edge of chaos.” This is the transitory state between order and disorde in the system. Kind of like the system is mixing order and disorder in a way that add a variety of changes to a system.
It is here that scientists have found that adaption occurs in almost all complex systems because my incorporating disorder into an organized system, life expresses “flexibility, creativity, agility, anti-fragility, and innovation” to better fit the current environment (given decentralized and non-hierachical systems). Here is were coevolution generally occurs.
It is here that we find balance between flexibility and stability in order to avoid system collapse. Imagine if in a perfect system a disaster were to happen and noone had the forsight to account for it or skills to adapt! The impact would be devestating and rebuilding even harder. Or if everything was so incredibly chaotic that nothing could be predicted, we’d be widely over stimulated and unable to form the structures needed for growth. That is why in physics, the edge of chaos is the optimal setting for controlling a system and where a system is best able to preform primitive functions for computation.
What does this mean for me?
Well, that is up for you to find out! But, for me, at the moment this means the following:
The concept of "Chaos" as a void of unorganized primordial matter, existing before the universe, coupled with the Big Bang theory (which describes an infinitely dense singularity expanding into our universe) indicates that Chaos is source of our existence and thus essentially is at the core of who we are.
“Chaos is the score upon which reality is written”
Thus we are drawn to it yet fear it, as what creates also destroys, leading to a sense of losing control in its depths. Yet, we know we can’t control everything, and we know death is an unavoidable part of life.
This bittersweet transition represents evolution both within us and in our surroundings.
In these times that to me resonante as being “at the edge of chaos,” I think becoming more creative and flexible is incredibly important as we adapt to changing and unpredictable circumstances and I feel that it is crucial to de-centralize and break down the hierarchal system we have in place and form networks of communities so that can weave together the results of their creative and flexible adaptations to changing times and altogether experiment mixing the old with the new and together evolving in our personal lives and as a species.
Further, I would love for people to see the death of ways of life and of life as also an opportunity for new ways and new life. Which is obviously very difficult, but to put it bluntly, it is the reality. Now I don’t mean to not feel or process the emotions that come with death, a figurative or literal one, or loosing compassion or dreading the causes and circumstances under which they occur, but it must be accepted as there is no life without death. While oxygen is the breath of life it also oxidizes, or damages our cells (hence the importance of anti-oxidents). While mushrooms are often parasites or decomposers, their transformation of organic matter converts them into fertile soil, potent medicine, food, and so much more. We literally wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for millions of years of mushrooms eating dead things. If we didn’t die, there wouldn’t be room for new people on this Earth (even though the current “overpopulation” is a myth and more a problem of poor resource distribution).
In my personal life, the most unpredictable circumstances are what really put my fundamental structures to test and what have been catalysts for immense prespective and reality changes. Recently I found myself mourning all the past versions of myself that I shed without even realizing. I found myself missing them thoroughly, and being so grateful for having been those versions of me that were positive and negative in so many different ways, but also I realized how happy and proud I am the person that I am today as a result of past versions and I can’t even imagine what I will be like in the future with these constant changes.
If chaos didn’t exist, then we wouldn’t exist, and we definitely wouldn’t evolve. Instead of dreading chaos, I believe we can find growth by embracing and channeling it. It's about experiencing evolution in real time within ourselves.
“We adore chaos because we love to produce order”
