Fractal Tree of Knowledge

The Fractal Tree of Knowledge has significantly more explanatory power and less misogyny than the traditional apple-and-snake metaphor. It also takes a pro-knowledge stance instead of implying ignorance is paradise.

This page describes an example progression of reasoning (i.e. syllogism) used to guide readers from one level of cognitive complexity to the next. Each new step in the logic chain can an be thought of as an iteration in the fractal tree of knowledge, because each one reveals a geometrically increasing number of corollary conclusions that expand the breadth, nuance, and complexity of our ethical awareness.

On the Kohlberg scale, this is the equivalent to going from Stage 4 to Stage 6.

In this progression, we go from a fundamentalist religious perspective to a new generating equation based on universalism and the pursuit of happiness through scientific evidence. It does this by systematically filling in the gaps in knowledge and reasoning until the desired level of understanding is obtained and a new pattern of thought is adopted. It is persuasion through targeted education and apt allegory.

This is an example of metaphor mapping, providing a new, rational interpretation of a core religious allegory.

In the future, similar paths can be constructed that start with other philosophical reference points, such as atheism or libertarianism. The eventual goal is to identify the key unique entry points based on the most common philosophical, political, and religious beliefs, and provide customized curriculums that localize languages, cultural references, religious allegories, and rhetorical strategies to speak directly to the values and goals of each. This can be done using the wiki custom language function to code switch the entire philosophy to use the specific vernacular of the reader.

Understanding the nature of Literalism versus Allegory and how it applies to our interpretation of scripture is the first building block.

If religion is an allegory for something, what is that something? It must be the universe. And that is why the idea of god is universal.

If god is an allegory for the self-organizing universe, then the creation story must be an allegory for the big bang and evolution.

If god used evolution to create our brains and our emotions, then our ethics and morality must have been instilled in us by our survival instincts.

If happiness is the emotion we feel when do what our brains were designed to do (survive), then improving our quality of life must be the goal of life.

Therefore we should use all of the evidence at our disposal to create a society that maximizes happiness and well-being for all people. This is represented by multiple iterations as scientific evidence is gathered, applied, and updated into the future, and the full pattern is revealed.

Tree of Videos

Daniel Quinn's Ishmael offers a thought-provoking alternative interpretation of the creation story of Adam and Even and the Tree of Knowledge as an allegory for the agricultural revolution.

The Story of Humanity - Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

Pursuit of Happiness - Tree of Knowledge

Shadaye - Tree of Knowledge