MARS

athematics

rt

eligion

exience

CONTACT, March. 13, 2004CONTACT, March. 13, 2004

CONTACT, March. 13, 2004CONTACT, March. 13, 2004

Math, Art, Religion, Science:

4 Complementary Belief Systems

Carlo Séquin,

University of California, Berkeley

Why This Topic ?Why This Topic ?

I wanted to fit the Conference Ttitle.

Stimulated by last year’s conference…

-- in particular by this picture:

The Face on MarsThe Face on Mars

Picture taken by Viking Orbiter in 1976

Face on Mars Close-upFace on Mars Close-up

High-res. photo, Global Surveyor, 4/8/2001

How Do We Make Sense How Do We Make Sense of the Unknown?of the Unknown?

Different people have

different mental frameworks, belief systems

or use them in different order

to come up with possible “explanations”.

OutlineOutline

Look at four dominant forces that have shaped the human mind over the last few thousand years.

Fill in this matrix: CHARACTERISTICS

Math

Art

Religion

Science

Look at some test examples …

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Output:

What kind of beliefs does the system deliver ?

Basis: Where do these beliefs come from ?

Method: How are these beliefs found/created/developed ?

Evaluation: How do we know if they are valid ?

Use: What is this belief system good for ?

MathMath Output:

Theorems

Basis: Axioms, previous theorems

Method: Evolutionary steps, revolutionary inspiration

Evaluation: Consistency, formal proofs

Use: Creates a synthetic framework based on logic.Foundation for most of the sciences.

ScienceScience Output:

Models of the physical world

Basis: Observations, Experiments

Method: Educated guesses, hypotheses, tests

Evaluation: Consistency. Can you make useful predictions ?

Use: Makes models of the observable world.--> Understanding, technology, civilization.

ArtArt

Output: “Pieces”, “installations”, …

Basis: Observations, ideas, emotions, beliefs, …

Method: Inspirations, visions, having a message, …

Evaluation: Done by ( culture clique (?) in ) society

Use: Creates new artifacts based on imagination.Make life richer. Give beauty, joy, entertainment, …Provoke, put established assumptions in question.

ReligionReligion Output:

Pronouncements, rules, “truth”

Basis: Epiphanies, revelations, philosophical insights

Method: Authority, tradition, charisma of leader

Evaluation: ‘ You are not supposed to question it ! ’

Use: Addresses “un-answerable” questions.Gives meaning, hope, ethical guidance…

Overlap of these SystemsOverlap of these Systems

Religion once was the only system:

It explained nature

It provided a framework for thinking

It provided ethical guidance

It answered “un-answerable” questions

It provided rituals, spiritual enrichment, beauty ...

Today Religion is more compartmentalized !

Contention between SystemsContention between Systems

The two frameworks operate an different principles:

RELIGION – SCIENCE

authority – evidence

revelation – discovery

tradition – innovation

true believers – critical thinkers

Science and Religion are NOT the same(as the Templeton Foundation wants to imply).

Creationism is NOT a science.

PuzzlesPuzzles

Everybody subscribes to some degree to all of the above four frameworks;there are personal differences in the mix and the priority among these systems:

When you encounter something new, foreign,

how do you try to make sense out of it ?

which belief system do you enlist (first) ?

which interpretation will win in the end ?

My Attempt at ClassificationMy Attempt at Classification

Created by:

Intelligence Nature

Meaningfulmessage,or object

M

Systematic,repeatable

process

S

Randomone-time

occurrence

R

Artistic,or playfulartifact

A

I will display some intriguing(?) pictures:

Check yourself, how you interpret them...

Possible Answers,

with respective

probabilities:

Self-TestSelf-Test

Meaningfulmessage,or object

Systematic,repeatable

process

Randomone-time

occurrence

Artistic,or playfulartifact

Let’s start with another Let’s start with another mysterious example...mysterious example...

Nazca, PeruNazca, Peru Are these ancient landing strips ?

More Strange Lines…More Strange Lines…

PetroglyphsPetroglyphsBut what does it mean ?

GraffitiGraffiti

Faces on Faces on the Rocksthe Rocks

Panorama from Mars Rover OpportunityPanorama from Mars Rover Opportunity

Miracles of Photoshop ?

StrangeStrangeLife formsLife forms

Codex SeraphinianusCodex Seraphinianus

Codex SeraphinianusCodex Seraphinianus

Clouds in the SkyClouds in the Sky

UFO ?

Lenticular cloud

Fire in the SkyFire in the Sky

Volcanic Vent Hole ? Volcanic Vent Hole ?

Art by Andy GoldsworthyArt by Andy Goldsworthy

Andy Goldsworthy – Stone FormationsAndy Goldsworthy – Stone Formations

Andy GoldsworthyAndy Goldsworthy– Ice Formations– Ice Formations

AntarcticaAntarctica

2001 ?2001 ?

Breckenridge CO, January 2004Breckenridge CO, January 2004Snowsculpting ChampionshipsSnowsculpting Championships

“Turning a Snowball Inside-Out”

““Turning a Snowball Inside-Out”Turning a Snowball Inside-Out”

A model of the Morin Surface

= Half-way point of sphere eversion

The challenge is to turn a sphere inside-out: Surface may pass through itself,

but no ripping, puncturing, creasing allowed,e.g., this is not an acceptable solution:

PINCH

Sphere Eversion ProcessSphere Eversion Process But there are more contorted paths

that can achieve the desired goal.

Bernard Morin figured out one such path.

Charles Pugh made models from chicken wire.

Nelson Max made a first computer simulation.

Gridded Models for TransparencyGridded Models for Transparency

3D-Print from Zcorp SLIDE virtual model

Restructured Morin surface to fit block size: (10’ x 10’ x 12’)

Shape Adaption for Snow SculptureShape Adaption for Snow Sculpture

The Final ModelThe Final Model

Day1Day1

Day2Day2

Day3Day3

Day 4Day 4

Day4Day4

Day5Day5

Honorable Mention:

“Most AmbitiousDesign”

““Paradigm Shift” (British Columbia)Paradigm Shift” (British Columbia)

““Year of the Dragon” USA - TennesseeYear of the Dragon” USA - Tennessee

Why Do People Do Such Things ??Why Do People Do Such Things ??

All this effort for a short-lived artifact ?

The joy of creating something of your own design …

The pride of astounding people ...

Crop Crop CirclesCircles

Crop CirclesCrop Circles

Milk Hill Crop CirclesMilk Hill Crop Circles

Milk-Hill Design AnalysisMilk-Hill Design Analysis

http://bcornet.homestead.com/files/MilkHill/milkhill.htm

409 Circles

Milk Hill crop formation is exactly the same design as the interior of the Raelian Symbol which Raelians have been wearing publicly since 1990.

Crop Circle ConstructionCrop Circle Construction

26 person-hours of crop squashing,http://www.geocities.com/pduchesne3/

Probably not of extraterrestrial origin !

General ConclusionsGeneral Conclusions

Mars has been an enigma for a long time.

Fuzzy observations (channels, face,…) have led to fantastic, speculative interpretations.

This was a good take-off point for a reviewof the multiple channels through which we form our beliefs and seek interpretation.

There are still many strange things out there that we do not currently understand.

There is only a minuscule probability that any of them are due to extraterrestrial intelligence.

Is There Life Out There ?Is There Life Out There ?

No scientific answer yet.

My personal belief: YES, definitely !

(based on statistics and the fact that the sun and the earth are not such a special case as far as solar systems go)

When will we find it ?

My guess: In the next 10 to 20 years.

Is There Intelligent Life Out There ?Is There Intelligent Life Out There ?

Yes, probably somewhere in the universe.

When will we make contact with them ?

I have no idea …

Any guess would have to come from an estimate how long a technical civilization can survive. Our one and only data point says: probably at least 100 years…

QUESTIONS ?QUESTIONS ?

DISCUSSION ?DISCUSSION ?