Life-Value Onto-Axiology and Life-Ground Ethics | Prof John McMurtry

Table of Contents

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The Secret to the Ill-Health of Nations

On January 8, 2016, I was moved to make contact with Professor John McMurtry, after starting to read his book, ‘The Cancer Stage of Capitalism: From Crisis to Cure‘ (CSC-2). What I read provided context for a better understanding of an article I wrote entitled, ‘The Secret to a Healthy Nation‘ (SHN). CSC-2 provided the ultimate… Read More

Towards Learning the Life Capital Solution (An Essay as part of the Festshrift for Prof John McMurtry) | Bichara Sahely (2024)

In this essay, I will pay tribute to Prof John McMurtry’s ever-lasting memory by reflecting on how his lifework and our correspondences over five years of engagements have changed my views of life and its meaning in ways previously unimaginable.

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Introducing “Ten Essays In Honour of John McMurtry – January 6, 2024 by Jeff Noonan (Author), Giorgio Baruchello (Author)”

Ten Essays In Honour of John McMurtry: Noonan, Jeff, Baruchello, Giorgio: 9781999114657: Amazon.com: Books

Min(d)ing ChatGTP for the Social Biases, Blindspots, Fault Lines and Roadblocks to Adoption of Life-Value Onto-Axiology in All of Our Relations

Table of Contents

♦ On Democracy
♦ On the Military-Industrial Complex
♦ On Zeitgeist
♦ On Wider Dissemination
♦ Overview for Data Analysis of “ChatGPT’s Take On Integrating Life-Value Onto-Axiology with other Life-Coherent System Thinkers, Frameworks and Global Institutions”
♦ On how best to integrate true but partial life-coherent perspectives
♦ On Roadblocks and Challenges
♦ On Transmuting Profit and Power Dynamics to Social Profit and Empowerment
♦ Why does the dominant paradigm persist despite systemically driving socially and environmentally life-degenerative consequences?
♦ Is resistance futile, and how can we be hopefully optimistic for meaningful life-coherent changes?

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ChatGPT’s Take On Integrating Life-Value Onto-Axiology with other Life-Coherent System Thinkers, Frameworks and Global Institutions

Table of Contents

♦ Defining the Base of It ALL

♥ Life-Value Onto-Axiology
♥ The Primary Axiom of Value
♥ “The Capital Stage of Capitalism: From Crisis to Cure”
♥ Life Capital

♦ Introducing Life-Coherent System Thinkers

♥ Daniel Schmachtenberger’s “Metacrisis”
♥ Nate Hagens’ “The Great Simplification”
♥ Kate Raworth’s “Doughnut Economics”
♥ Daniel Christian Wahl’s “Designing Regenerative Cultures” and “Living the Questions”
♥ Bernard Lietaer’s “Monetary Vision”
♥ Riane Eisler’s “Caring Economics” and “Social Wealth Indicators”
♥ Genevieve Vaughan’s “Maternal Gift Economy”
♥ Jason Hickel’s “Degrowth”
♥ David Korten’s “Living Economics”
♥ Charles Eisenstein’s “Sacred Economics”
♥ John Fullerton’s “Regenerative Capitalism”
♥ Darcia Narvaez “Evolved Developmental Niche” and “Cultivating Cooperative Companionship”
♥ John Galtung’s “Violence Typology”
♥ Sally Goerner’s “Energy Systems Science”
♥ Ken Wilber’s “AQAL Integral theory”
♥ Sir Michael Marmot’s “Health Gap” and “The Social Determinants of Health”

♦ Introducing Life-Coherent Frameworks

♥ The Three Horizons Framework
♥ The Theory of Triadic Influence
♥ Modern Monetary Theory

♦ On Healthy Matters

♥ One Health: Part 1
♥ One Health: Part 2
♥ Universal Public Services
♥ Public Health Policies
♥ Health in All Policies

♦ On Wars and their Dis-Solutions

♥ War Critique
♥ The Palestinian-Israeli “Conflict”
♥ The United Nations and “Global Truth and Reconciliation Initiatives”

♦ Alignment with Life-Coherency

♥ On ChatGPT Alignment with the Primary Axiom of Value
♥ On Game Theory Alignment with Life-Value Onto-Axiology
♥ On Christian Values

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Laotzu’s Tao and Wu Wei, by Dwight Goddard and Henri Borel, [1919]

The classic of the Way and of High Virtue is the Tao Teh Ching. Its author is generally held as a contemporary of Confucius, Lao Tzu, or Laozi. The exact date of the book’s origin is disputed. The book is divided into two parts, the Upper Part and the Lower Part. The Upper Part consists of chapters 1-37, and each chapter begins with the word “Tao,” or the Way. The Lower Part consists of chapters 38-81, and each chapter begins with the words “Shang Teh,” or High Virtue. This 1919 edition names the Lower Part as the Wu Wei, or translated variously as “not doing,” “non-ado,” or “non-assertion.” This edition also contains a history of the book and its author, Lao Tzu, along with a discussion of the Wu Wei. Lao Tzu’s classic has been cherished as suggestions, rather than commandments, for finding one’s path to beauty, goodness, and quality of life through a non-assertive understanding of the Way. (Summary by Melanie McCalmont)

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THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS

The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of traditional Sayings (logoi) of Jesus. It is attributed to Didymos Judas Thomas, the “Doubting Thomas” of the canonical Gospels, and according to many early traditions, the twin brother of Jesus (“didymos” means “twin” in Greek).

We have two versions of the Gospel of Thomas today. The first was discovered in the late 1800’s among the Oxyrhynchus Papyri, and consists of fragments of a Greek version, which has been dated to c. 200. The second is a complete version, in Coptic, from Codex II of the Nag Hammadi finds. Thomas was probably first written in Greek (or possibly even Syriac or Aramaic) sometime between the mid 1st and 2nd centuries.

There has been much speculation on the relationship of Thomas to the canonical Gospels. Many Sayings in Thomas have parallels with the New Testament Sayings, especially those found in the synoptic Gospels. This leads many to believe that Thomas was also based on the so-called “Q” Document, along with Matthew, Luke, and Mark. Indeed, some have speculated that Thomas may in fact be “Q”. Unlike the synoptic Gospels, and like “Q”, the Gospel of Thomas has no narrative connecting the various Sayings. In form, it is simply a list of 114 Sayings, in no particular order. Comparison with New Testament parallels show that Thomas contains either more primitive versions of the Sayings, or developments of more primitive versions. Either way, Thomas seems to preserve earlier traditions about Jesus than the New Testament.

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THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – The Spiritual Wisdom of the Beatitudes | Anthony Profeta | heedthespirit.com

In Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 51:16), he declared to the crowd which gathered to listen to him, a number of “Blessed are” statements. These statements have been called “The Beatitudes”; and the spiritual wisdom which Jesus is giving to the crowd is quite profound. In fact, I often wonder how many people truly understood what he was saying. For, we have to remember that Jesus was speaking as a fully enlightened being; someone who knew God intimately and recognized that his life came from God. Therefore, these statements should be meditated on and analyzed not from a physical point of view, but rather from an elevated spiritual consciousness.

Also, their deep spiritual advice can be of help to any of us walking the spiritual path, whether we are a Christian or not. For, truth is truth, no matter which path it comes from or where it is heard. Therefore, the beatitudes are as follows:

  • Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
  • Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
  • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
  • Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
  • Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
  • Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
  • Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Over the next few days, we will take a look at each beatitude individually and go into them in depth so that we can fully understand their spiritual benefit. But for now, just read them over again and see how they resonant within your own heart & soul. See if you can fully comprehend the advice & wisdom which Jesus was sharing with the crowd. For, Jesus came as a prophet and a witness to our God & Creator. He came to earth to remind humanity that God is the Father of all; and he came to show His children the way back to Him. Therefore, an understanding of his words can truly help a seeker to attain God.

May God bless you as you travel along your own spiritual path & remember to – Always Heed the Spirit,

Anthony

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The Psychological Drivers of the Metacrisis: John Vervaeke, Iain McGilchrist, Daniel Schmachtenberger | Dec 5, 2023

This is a conversation between Iain McGilchrist, John Vervaeke and Daniel Schmachtenberger, recorded at Merton College, Oxford, in September 2023. With no planned objective or agenda, the discussion sought to outline the cognitive and spiritual components of the metacrisis. The metacrisis is the total ecosystem of all global crises and the common underlying dynamics that generate catastrophic and existential risks.

This is neither a comprehensive theory of the topic, nor an approach to addressing it. The conversation was simply an opportunity to explore in real time how the speakers, with their different worldviews and pre-existing frameworks, would approach this deep and challenging domain. As Iain, John and Daniel all happened to be in Oxford with availability on a single afternoon, they had not discussed or prepared the approach at any significant length in advance. As a result, a shared understanding emerges only towards the very end of the film. The content is incomplete and partial, and should be viewed as a potential entry point to a far deeper conversation (which may or may not be recorded at a later date).

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Revolutionary Social Transformation (2023) | Ken Wilber | integrallife.com

This never-before published essay by Ken Wilber delves into the intricate dynamics of societal evolution, emphasizing the interplay between technological advancements, cultural worldviews, and governance systems. Through an integral lens, Wilber explores the potential for new and more authentic modes of being and consciousness to emerge, emphasizing the evolutionary Eros that drives social transformation.

Wilber underscores the importance of the Lower-Right quadrant (techno-economic base) as a significant determinant of the average level of consciousness in the Lower Left (cultural beliefs and worldviews). Conversely, he also highlights that the cultural and collective consciousness in the Lower Left is essential to support and sustain the advancements in the Lower Right. The essay touches on the challenges of introducing new governance systems without corresponding shifts in collective consciousness and discusses the concept of “legitimation crisis,” where prevailing worldviews face challenges in maintaining their influence.

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Distributed Science – The Scientific Process as Multi-Scale Active Inference (2023) | Balzan et al | osf.io

Abstract

The scientific process plays out in a multi-scale system comprising subsystems, each with their own properties and dynamics. For the practice of science to generate useful world models — and lead to the development of enabling technologies — practicing scientists, their theories, methods, dissemination, and infrastructure (e.g., funding and laboratories) must all fit together in an orchestrated manner. Scientific practice has broad societal implications that go beyond mere scientific progress: we base our decisions on theoretical (i.e., models and forecasts) and technological (e.g., vaccines and smartphones) scientific advances. This paper applies the free energy principle to provide a multi-scale description of science understood as evidence-seeking processes in a nested hierarchy of living (biological and behavioural) and epistemic (linguistic) structures. This allows us to naturalise the scientific process — as distributed self-evidencing — in terms of dynamics that can be read as inference or Bayesian belief updating; i.e., processes that maximize the evidence for a generative model of the sensed and measured world. The ensuing meta-theoretical approach dispels the notion of science as truth-pointing and foregrounds inference to the best explanation — as evinced by the beliefs of scientists and their encultured niche. Crucially, it furnishes a way of simulating the practice of science, which may have a foundational role in the next generation of augmented intelligence systems. Epistemologically, it also addresses some key questions; e.g., is science a special? And in what ways is scientific pursuit an existential imperative for all beings? These questions may be foundational in how we use and design intelligent systems.

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