How viewing the world as a hierarchy of complex adaptive systems maps to quantum physics, insights about the structure of the universe from spiritual/contemplative traditions, and the relationships of these concepts to understanding the nature of consciousness.

1. SENTIENCE EVERYWHERE:
Complexity Theory
& the Role of Sentience in a Self-Organizing Universe
Neil Theise, MD
Depts. Of Pathology and Medicine
Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York City
neiltheise.com
neiltheise.wordpress.com

2.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
 Philosophical Views of Consciousness
 A Complexity Primer
 The Universe as Complex System
 “Mind in Life”
 Sentience Everywhere

3.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
 Philosophical Views of Consciousness
 A Complexity Primer
 The Universe as Complex System
 “Mind in Life”
 Sentience Everywhere

4.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
• A Liver Pathologist

5.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
• Adult Stem Cell Researcher

6.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
• Adult Stem Cell Researcher
Theise, et al. Cell, May 2001

7.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
• Complexity Theory Geek
• Senior Zen Student (Village Zendo)

8.  Full Disclosures:
I’m really just a curious dilletante
(i.e. Gemini with Virgo Rising)

9.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
 Philosophical Views of Consciousness
 A Complexity Primer
 The Universe as Complex System
 “Mind in Life”
 Sentience Everywhere

10. Emergentism:
Consciousness emerges from the universe when
the universe becomes sufficiently organized and
complex
Panpsychism:
Consciousness pervades the universe.

11. Emergentism
Creates
Consciousness
vs.
Panpsychism
Transduces
Consciousness

12. Emergentism
vs.
Panpsychism

13. Emergentism
vs.
Panpsychism

14. Emergentism
vs.
Panpsychism

15. Emergentism
vs.
?
Panpsychism

16.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
 Philosophical Views of Consciousness
 A Complexity Primer
 The Universe as Complex System
 “Mind in Life”
 Sentience Everywhere

17. 1,2
Complex Adaptive Systems:
1Lewin
R, Complexity: Life at the Edge of Chaos. 2nd ed.
Chicago IL: University of Chicago Press; 2002.
2Johnson S, Emergence. New York NY: Scribner; 2001.

18. Complex Adaptive Systems:
Interacting individuals that,
if they fulfill 4 criteria,
organize themselves from the bottom up,
into larger structures,
which appear planned from the top, downward…

19. Complex Adaptive Systems:
Interacting individuals that,
if they fulfill 4 criteria,
organize themselves from the bottom up,
into larger structures,
which appear planned from the top, downward…

20. Complex Adaptive Systems:
Interacting individuals that,
if they fulfill 4 criteria,
organize themselves from the bottom up,
into larger structures,
which appear planned from the top, downward…
BUT ARE NOT!

21. Complex Adaptive Systems:
Interacting individuals that,
if they fulfill 4 criteria,
organize themselves from the bottom up,
into larger structures,
which appear planned from the top, downward…
These structures are referred to as
“emergent self-organization”
and are ADAPTIVE.

22. Complex Adaptive Systems:
Rise and fall of economic markets
Urban development
Immune systems
Beatlemania
Rise and fall of civilizations
Evolution and speciation

23. Complex Adaptive Systems:
• Numbers matter

24. Complex Adaptive Systems:
• Numbers matter
• Negative feedback loops

25. Complex Adaptive Systems:
• Numbers matter
• Negative feedback loops
• Interactions are local without global sensing

26. Complex Adaptive Systems:
• Numbers matter
• Negative feedback loops
• Interactions are local without global sensing
• Low level randomness

27. Complex Adaptive Systems:
• Numbers matter
• Negative feedback loops
• Interactions are local without global sensing
• “Quenched disorder”

30. 1Theise
ND. Exp Hematology 2003
M, Theise ND. BCMD 2004
3D’Inverno M, Theise ND, Prophet J.
In: Potten C, Wilson J, Clarke R, Renahan A:
Tissue stem cells: Biology and applications
2D’Inverno

31. Implications of Cell Lineages
as Complex Adaptive Systems
Mass extinctions.

32. “chaos”
disorder
order

33. “chaos”
disorder
order
complex
adaptive
systems

34. Implications
The price of adaptation,
i.e. of LIFE,
is DEATH

35.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
 Philosophical Views of Consciousness
 A Complexity Primer
 The Universe as Complex System
 “Mind in Life”
 Sentience Everywhere

36. Hierarchies of complex systems…
Theise. Nature, May 2006

40. Hierarchies of complex systems…
thing vs. phenomena
depends on scale of observation

42. Hierarchies of complex systems…
thing vs. phenomena
depends on scale of observation

43. Hierarchies of complex systems…
thing vs. phenomena
depends on scale of observation
=> COMPLEMENTARITY
Theise. Nature, May 2006
Theise & Kafatos, Complexity, 2013

45.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
Quantum phenomena exhibit complementary aspects that are
revealed by specific observations, i.e. there are a range of
possible states prior to observation and any single observation
is unable to capture all aspects of the complete physical
situation simultaneously.

46.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
Quantum phenomena exhibit complementary aspects that are
revealed by specific observations, i.e. there are a range of
possible states prior to observation and any single observation
is unable to capture all aspects of the complete physical
situation simultaneously.
Bohr, Delbruck: Biological Complementarity?

47.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
Quantum phenomena exhibit complementary aspects that are
revealed by specific observations, i.e. there are a range of
possible states prior to observation and any single observation
is unable to capture all aspects of the complete physical
situation simultaneously.
“Horizons of Knowledge”

48. Theise. Nature, May 2006
Theise & Kafatos, Complexity, 2013

49. Holism, not Reductionism
Theise. Nature, May 2006
Theise & Kafatos, Complexity, 2013

50. Communities
Bodies
Cells

51. e.g. cities, cultures, ecosystems, Gaia
Bodies
Cells

52. Communities
Bodies
Cells
Biomolecules
?

53. Communities
Bodies
Cells
Biomolecules
Toshio Yanagida et al.

54. Communities
Bodies
Cells
Biomolecules
Atoms

55. Peter Cariani
“Thermodyanmic Complexity”
Communities
Bodies
Cells
Biomolecules
Atoms

56. Communities
Bodies
Cells
Biomolecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles

57. Communities
Bodies
Cells
Biomolecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)

58. Communities
Bodies
Cells
Biomolecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
The Quantum Foam

59. We don’t live in the universe . . .

60. . . . we are the universe

61. Relative

62. Absolute

63. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
 Buddhist Metaphysics
Theise. Tricycle,
Summer 2006

64. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
1. “Thingness” is dependent on scale
Theise. Tricycle,
Summer 2006

65. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
1. Emptiness of inherent existence
Theise. Tricycle,
Summer 2006

66. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
1. Emptiness of inherent existence
2. Inevitable mass extinction
Theise. Tricycle,
Summer 2006

67. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
1. Emptiness of inherent existence
2. Impermanence
Theise. Tricycle,
Summer 2006

68. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
1. Emptiness of inherent existence
2. Impermanence
3. Systems depend on EVERY member
Theise. Tricycle,
Summer 2006

69. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
1. Emptiness of inherent existence
2. Impermanence
3. Interdependence
Theise. Tricycle,
Summer 2006

70. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
1. Emptiness of inherent existence
2. Impermanence
3. Interdependence
4. The fact of emergence is predictable,
But its precise nature is not.
Theise. Tricycle,
Summer 2006

71. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
1. Emptiness of inherent existence
2. Impermanence
3. Interdependence
4. Karmic law (cause and effect)
Theise. Tricycle,
Summer 2006

72. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
 Hindu and Jewish Mysticisms

73. Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Ishwara
Strings (or whatever)
Brahman
Generative Vacuum

74. Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Assiyah / Making –Doing
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Yetzirah / Formation
B’riah / Creation
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Atzilut / Emanation
Strings (or whatever)
Ein Sof
Generative Vacuum

75. These structures and processes therefore
solve the paradox
of how what links us to the Divine is,
simultaneously,
what obscures that link.

76. Implications of Everything
as Complex Adaptive System
 Pan-scale “quantum weirdness”
Stochasticity
Uncertainty (the “measurement problem”)
Complementarity
Non-locality
(Entanglement)

77. “Thus, even at levels of scale governed by classical
physics, observational choice remains inextricably
woven into the establishment, in the observational
moment, of the present conditions of existence… In
our view, the hierarchy of “horizons of knowledge”
requires the interplay of the observer with the
observed in a fundamental way and, as
such, biological “reality” as much as “quantum
reality” is neither immutable nor external. In the
views of thinkers such as von Neumann, Wigner, and
Stapp, this implicates consciousness itself as
inextricably linked to the moment by moment
evolution of the living universe.
Theise & Kafatos, Complexity, 2013

78. “Thus, even at levels of scale governed by classical
physics, observational choice remains inextricably
woven into the establishment, in the observational
moment, of the present conditions of existence. In
our view, the hierarchy of “horizons of knowledge”
requires the interplay of the observer with the
observed in a fundamental way and, as such,
biological “reality” as much as “quantum reality” is
neither immutable nor external… In the views of
thinkers such as von Neumann, Wigner, and Stapp,
this implicates consciousness itself as inextricably
linked to the moment by moment evolution of the
living universe.
Theise & Kafatos, Complexity, 2013

79. “Thus, even at levels of scale governed by classical
physics, observational choice remains inextricably
woven into the establishment, in the observational
moment, of the present conditions of existence. In
our view, the hierarchy of “horizons of knowledge”
requires the interplay of the observer with the
observed in a fundamental way and, as
such, biological “reality” as much as “quantum
reality” is neither immutable nor external. In the
views of thinkers such as von Neumann, Wigner, and
Stapp, these concepts implicate consciousness itself
as inextricably linked to the moment by moment
evolution of the living universe.”
Theise & Kafatos, Complexity, 2013

80.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
 Philosophical Views of Consciousness
 A Complexity Primer
 The Universe as Complex System
 “Mind in Life”
 Sentience Everywhere

81. HUMBERT R. MATURANA and FRANCISCO J. VARELA
All living systems are autopoietic systems.
AUTOPOIESIS
AND
COGNITION
The Realization of the Living
With a preface on “Autopoiesis”
by
SIR STAFFORD BEERS
1. Boundary: open to energy but closed to foreign
materials – i.e. is semi-porous.

82. HUMBERT R. MATURANA and FRANCISCO J. VARELA
All living systems are autopoietic systems.
AUTOPOIESIS
AND
COGNITION
The Realization of the Living
With a preface on “Autopoiesis”
by
SIR STAFFORD BEERS
1. Boundary: open to energy but closed to foreign
materials – i.e. is semi-porous.
2. Processes: the boundary is the ’being’ and the
processes are the ‘doing’ of a living system.

83. HUMBERT R. MATURANA and FRANCISCO J. VARELA
All living systems are autopoietic systems.
AUTOPOIESIS
AND
COGNITION
The Realization of the Living
With a preface on “Autopoiesis”
by
SIR STAFFORD BEERS
1. Boundary: open to energy but closed to foreign
materials – i.e. is semi-porous.
2. Processes: the boundary is the ’being’ and the
processes are the ‘doing’ of a living system.
3. Nervous System: the connection between external
events and the internal processes of the living
system.

84. HUMBERT R. MATURANA and FRANCISCO J. VARELA
All living systems are autopoietic systems.
AUTOPOIESIS
AND
COGNITION
The Realization of the Living
With a preface on “Autopoiesis”
by
SIR STAFFORD BEERS
1. Boundary: open to energy but closed to foreign
materials – i.e. is semi-porous.
2. Processes: the boundary is the ’being’ and the
processes are the ‘doing’ of a living system.
3. Nervous System: the connection between external
events and the internal processes of the living
system.
4. Communication Channels: between the living
system and its external environment.

85. HUMBERT R. MATURANA and FRANCISCO J. VARELA
AUTOPOIESIS
AND
COGNITION
The Realization of the Living
With a preface on “Autopoiesis”
by
SIR STAFFORD BEERS
All living systems are cognitive systems.

86. HUMBERT R. MATURANA and FRANCISCO J. VARELA
AUTOPOIESIS
AND
COGNITION
The Realization of the Living
With a preface on “Autopoiesis”
by
SIR STAFFORD BEERS
All living systems are cognitive systems.

87. All living systems are cognitive systems.
Conciousness <> Sense Making <> Sentience

88. Communities
Bodies
Cells
Biomolecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)

89. Only living
(biological)
systems
???
Communities
Bodies
Cells
Biomolecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)

90. ?
Communities
Bodies
Cells
Biomolecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)

91. All living systems are cognitive systems.
SENTIENCE, defined as:
1. Boundary: open to energy but closed to foreign
materials – i.e. is semi-porous.
2. Processes: the boundary is the ’being’ and the
processes are the ‘doing’ of a living system.
3. Nervous System: the connection between external
events and the internal processes of the living
system.
4. Communication Channels: between the living
system and its external environment.

92. All living systems are cognitive systems.
SENTIENCE, defined as:
1. Sensing the world
1. Boundary: open to energy but closed to foreign
materials – i.e. is semi-porous.
2. Processes: the boundary is the ’being’ and the
processes are the ‘doing’ of a living system.
3. Nervous System: the connection between external
events and the internal processes of the living
system.
4. Communication Channels: between the living
system and its external environment.
Theise & Kafatos, JCER, 2013

93. All living systems are cognitive systems.
SENTIENCE, defined as:
1. Sensing the world
2. Processing the information
internally in a COMPLEX
1. Boundary: open to energy but closed to foreign
fashion
materials – i.e. is semi-porous.
3. Responding
Theise & Kafatos, JCER, 2013
2. Processes: the boundary is the ’being’ and the
processes are the ‘doing’ of a living system.
3. Nervous System: the connection between external
events and the internal processes of the living
system.
4. Communication Channels: between the living
system and its external environment.

94. All living systems are cognitive systems.
SENTIENCE, defined as:
1. Sensing the world
2. Processing the information
internally in a COMPLEX
1. Boundary: open to energy but closed to foreign
fashion
materials – i.e. is semi-porous.
3. Responding
Theise & Kafatos, JCER, 2013
2. Processes: the boundary is the ’being’ and the
processes are the ‘doing’ of a living system.
3. Nervous System: the connection between external
events and the internal processes of the living
system.
4. Communication Channels: between the living
system and its external environment.

95.  Full Disclosures: My Points of View
 Philosophical Views of Consciousness
 A Complexity Primer
 The Universe as Complex System
 “Mind in Life”
 Sentience Everywhere
Theise & Kafatos, JCER, 2013

96. Biomolecules!!!
Theise & Kafatos, JCER, 2013

97. Only biomolecules???
Theise & Kafatos, JCER, 2013

98. Atoms!!!
Theise & Kafatos, JCER, 2013

99. Only atoms???
Theise & Kafatos, JCER, 2013

100. Subatomic particles!!!
10-18m
Strings
10-35m (or
whatever)

101. SO:
A complexity analysis of
the universe – as a unified,
self-organizing and emergent
phenomenon – reveals
that It is sentient
throughout.
Sentience is inherent
and universal in the
structures of existence.
Theise & Kafatos, JCER, 2013

102. SO:
A complexity analysis of
the universe – as a unified,
self-organizing and emergent
phenomenon – reveals
that It is sentient
throughout.
Sentience is inherent
and universal in the
structures of existence.
Theise & Kafatos, JCER, 2013

103. What are the minimal criteria for the
smallest entities emerging in the quantum
foam to be able to self-organize into the
larger scale universe? Interactivity is
essential - without it self-organization could
not take place. Therefore: “sentience” is the
inescapable minimum criterion for selfassembly of the universe into larger scale
structures, including those which are
capable of sense making and, ultimately, of
being consciously self aware.

104. What are the minimal criteria for the
smallest entities emerging in the quantum
foam to be able to self-organize into the
larger scale universe? Interactivity is
essential - without it self-organization could
not take place. Therefore: “sentience” is the
inescapable minimum criterion for selfassembly of the universe into larger scale
structures, including those which are
capable of sense making and, ultimately, of
being consciously self aware.

105. What are the minimal criteria for the
smallest entities emerging in the quantum
foam to be able to self-organize into the
larger scale universe? Interactivity is
essential - without it self-organization could
not take place. Therefore: “sentience” is the
inescapable minimum criterion for selfassembly of the universe into larger scale
structures, including those which are
capable of sense making and, ultimately, of
being consciously self aware.

106. What are the minimal criteria for the
smallest entities emerging in the quantum
foam to be able to self-organize into the
larger scale universe? Interactivity is
essential - without it self-organization could
not take place. Therefore: “sentience” is the
inescapable minimum criterion for selfassembly of the universe into larger scale
structures, including those which are
capable, ultimately, of being consciously
self aware.

107. Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
Complementarity
Energetic Vacuum

108. Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
Complementarity
Energetic Vacuum
Sentience

109. Recursion
Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
Complementarity
Energetic Vacuum
Sentience

110. Recursion
Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
Complementarity
Energetic Vacuum
Sentience

111. Recursion
Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
Complementarity
Energetic Vacuum
Sentience

112. Recursion
Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
Complementarity
Energetic Vacuum
Sentience

113. Recursion
Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
Complementarity
Energetic Vacuum
Sentience

114. Recursion
Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
Complementarity
Energetic Vacuum
Sentience

115. Recursion
Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
Complementarity
Energetic Vacuum
Sentience

116. Recursion
Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)
Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)
Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)
Molecules
Atoms
Subatomic Particles
Strings (or whatever)
Complementarity
PURE
AWARENESS
Sentience

117. The Sufi says this whole universe
was made in order that God might
know Himself. The seed wished
to realize what it is, what is in
it, and therefore became the tree.
Hazrat Inayat Khan

120.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
Quantum phenomena exhibit complementary aspects that are
revealed by specific observations, i.e. there are a range of
possible states prior to observation and any single observation
is unable to capture all aspects of the complete physical
situation simultaneously.
Is light a wave or a stream of particles?
Depends on the choices made by the observer.

121.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
In the quantum realm:
 Super-position of wave/particle features
In the biological realm:

122.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
In the quantum realm:
 Super-position of wave/particle features
In the biological realm:
 Super-position of scale dependent characteristics

123.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
In the quantum realm:
 Super-position of wave/particle features
 Description by a wave function that comprises stochastic
potentials that “collapse” into observed phenomena only
with the act of observation.
 Measurement problem: Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
In the biological realm:
 Super-position of scale dependent characteristics

124.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
In the quantum realm:
 Super-position of wave/particle features
 Description by a wave function that comprises stochastic
potentials that “collapse” into observed phenomena only
with the act of observation.
 Measurement problem: Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
In the biological realm:
 Super-position of scale dependent characteristics
 Description as a non-linear dynamical system that comprises
stochastic potentials of observable emergent phenomena
that only can be demonstrated by “running the system.”

125.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
In the quantum realm:
 Super-position of wave/particle features
 Description by a wave function that comprises stochastic
potentials that “collapse” into observed phenomena only
with the act of observation.
 Measurement problem: Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
In the biological realm:
 Super-position of scale dependent characteristics
 Description as a non-linear dynamical system that comprises
stochastic potentials of observable emergent phenomena
that only can be demonstrated by “running the system.”

126. The Measurement Problem:
Biological Uncertainty

127. The Measurement Problem:
Biological Uncertainty

128. The Measurement Problem:
Biological Uncertainty

129. The Measurement Problem:

130. The Measurement Problem:

131. “
disorder
order
chaos
”

132.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
In the quantum realm:
 Super-position of wave/particle features
 Description by a wave function that comprises stochastic
potentials that “collapse” into observed phenomena only
with the act of observation.
 Measurement problem: Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
In the biological realm:
 Super-position of scale dependent characteristics
 Description as a non-linear dynamical system that comprises
stochastic potentials of observable emergent phenomena
that only can be demonstrated by “running the system.”

133.  Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation
In the quantum realm:
 Super-position of wave/particle features
 Description by a wave function that comprises stochastic
potentials that “collapse” into observed phenomena only
with the act of observation.
 Measurement problem: Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
In the biological realm:
 Super-position of scale dependent characteristics
 Description as a non-linear dynamical system that comprises
stochastic potentials of observable emergent phenomena
that only can be demonstrated by “running the system.”
 Measurement problem: Boundary and scale selection