On Langan’s Theory of Theories
Scientific method extended to all human thought
by
Pierre R Latour, Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering, Sept 21, 2013
Summary
Principia Scientific International, promotes discussion and debate using the scientific method for learning and teaching about how nature works. The method is part of the intellectual framework of human thought collected under the all-encompassing topic of philosophy. A professional philosopher, Christopher Langan, published his Theory of Theories and Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe which extends the scope of the scientific method to guide all human thought in a search for truth. It confirms the validity of the scientific method.
Introduction
The scientific method inaugurated by Francis Bacon around 1600 and codified by Galileo and Newton inspired the age of reason because it provided the way to elevate belief in how the natural world works, to knowledge, describing and predicting nature’s behavior in its own language, mathematics. Belief defined by authority was not sufficient to declare truth.
The method calls for intellectual formulation of a postulate from belief, then testing its predictions by comparison with experimental measurements. If the observations match predictions, the postulate is elevated to a theory, a form of knowledge to be accepted until something better comes along.
Engineers add additional requirements of utility, efficiency and value to apply scientific knowledge to build things people like and need. When engineered systems work as planned, the theory employed gains greater stature as valid and true.
The basic sciences are physics, chemistry and biology; with extensions like astronomy, geology, medicine, psychology, agriculture, engineering, military, political.
Philosophy
The Greeks recognized there is much more to reality than nature. Art, music, honesty, integrity, ethics, morality, epistemology, law, religion, good, evil, passion, emotion, success, life, death, truth, mathematics, beauty, love, knowledge, education, economics, history, fiction, war, peace.
Thomas Jefferson famously encapsulated this idea of the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God in the Preamble of his American Declaration of Independence, 1776. “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary …. to assume separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them …” And then “We hold these Truth’s to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed,”
Many men have died for that idea. So there is more to it than Nature and the study of Nature; science. The rest is the realm of Nature’s God. According to Jefferson.
Universities today organize academic study as liberal arts, science, mathematics, engineering, law, medicine, theology and philosophy. The most advanced degree is Doctor of Philosophy.
Langan
Christopher Langan is a professional philosopher. He has devised a deep philosophical foundation for the principles of proper scholarship and enquiry including the scientific method established for Principia Scientific International, combining science, mathematics and ethics to describe reality in a new, comprehensive way. His logic language is king. It is the best way known for people to reconcile their differences, learn about Nature and Nature’s God, and increase knowledge about truth and reality. It reconciles contradictions in a comprehensive, holistic way. That is the noblest endeavor of a well led life.
Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe at http://www.ctmu.org/ is Christopher Langan’s website. After being initially put off, a frequent initial reaction of a skeptic like me, I gave it some quality time and study and learned some new, deep ideas of philosophy.
His introduction to CTMU essay was a tough read ending with a startling and persuasive proof of the existence of God, the best I have encountered. I reread the essay to let it sink in.
My own simple proof says God exists as an idea, an intellectual belief, just as real as the beauty of a rose, thrill of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, Euclid’s geometry, love, liberty, justice, gratitude and appreciation. Every thinking man has a different view of his God, but every thinking man has a view. To assert my God does not exist would be absurd. Everybody has a God to believe in. Even athiests. It is logical.
Langan’s Theory of Theories was fascinating, showing weaknesses in the scientific method and pure mathematics, reconciled by his careful philosophy work that is important to engineering, politics and human happiness.
His link to “Uncommon Dissent: Intellectuals who find Darwinism Unconvincing”, was broken but led to Amazon book of same name by William A Dembski. Just read the Customer Reviews for fun. It includes an essay by Langan, who proposes the idea of a non-supernatural, teleological universe.
I downloaded his A New Kind of Reality Theory pdf. It discusses Intelligent Design in a new and interesting scientific & mathematical way from new Complexity Theory. It encompasses language and information with understanding of the real world.
His book “The Art of Knowing” is fundamental for physicians, engineers, lawyers, scientists, politicians, teachers, clerics, soldiers and parents. I have been using it in my quest to accept, reject or remedy the infamous Greenhouse Gas Theory. It confirms the requirement for clear, precise and complete definitions and language describing natural phenomena before knowledge can be created.
A Very Brief History of Time is fascinating.
Here is the best answer I have ever seen to Which Came First? Chicken or egg? Case closed. You can now tell your kids.
All of this is helpful for clear thinking, language, science, mathematics, theology and history united in philosophy to help us connect our minds and hearts to reality, God’s gift of the universe. Debate and peer-reviewed papers are insufficient. I recommend this to elevate political, scientific and blogger discourse.
I hope my scientific and religious friends will learn something about how to reconcile with God, Nature and fellow humans. Philosophy may not have good press but it teaches a lot. I like reconciliation. It takes work by peacemakers.
Trackback from your site.