Enacting cognitive landscapes
To Activate Your Built Ark, Wait for rain
TAY-BAW
תֵּבָה
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8392.htm
ⲧⲁⲓⲃⲉ (Box, coffin, chest) https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AA
Related: Thay-baw (Returner)
ث و ب
https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D8%AB_%D9%88_%D8%A8#Arabic
A Reflection on the Tower of Babel and Entropy
In the complex interplay of human communication, understanding, and meaning-making, the concept of intersubjectivity plays a central role. Intersubjectivity refers to the shared understanding or mutual recognition between individuals, the common ground that allows people to connect, communicate, and interpret the world together. However, when this shared understanding begins to break down, it results in what might be called an intersubjectivity collapse.
This collapse can be explored through both theological and scientific lenses, drawing on the story of the Tower of Babel and the concept of entropy. Both provide unique insights into how the disintegration of common understanding leads to fragmentation, confusion, and chaos.
The Tower of Babel: A Symbol of Intersubjectivity Collapse
The biblical story of the Tower of Babel, found in Genesis 11:1-9, offers a narrative that can be interpreted as a metaphor for the collapse of intersubjectivity. In the story, humanity, united by a common language and a shared vision, attempts to build a tower that reaches the heavens.
This ambitious project symbolizes human pride, unity, and the desire to transcend earthly limitations. However, as the people begin to work together toward their goal, God intervenes by scattering them and causing them to speak different languages, thereby disrupting their ability to understand one another. The tower, a symbol of human collective effort, is abandoned, and the people are dispersed across the earth.
From an intersubjective perspective, the story of Babel illustrates the fragility of shared understanding. The common language that unites the people represents a form of intersubjectivity — a collective framework through which individuals interpret the world, align their intentions, and coordinate their actions.
Once that shared understanding collapses, so too does the coherence of their collective effort. What was once a unified project becomes fragmented, as the individuals are no longer able to communicate effectively with one another.
The collapse of intersubjectivity in the Babel story is not just a linguistic breakdown but a rupture in the very fabric of human community. Without a common language, individuals lose their ability to coordinate and collaborate. The result is not only confusion but the dissolution of a shared purpose.
The Tower of Babel, thus, can be seen as a powerful metaphor for the disintegration of intersubjectivity, where communication, trust, and mutual understanding are severed, leading to alienation and fragmentation.
Entropy: The Scientific Lens on Disorder and Communication
Entropy, a fundamental concept in thermodynamics and information theory, provides a scientific framework to understand the collapse of intersubjectivity. In thermodynamics, entropy is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system. Over time, systems tend to evolve toward a state of higher entropy, meaning that they become more disordered and less structured.
Similarly, in information theory, entropy quantifies the uncertainty or unpredictability of information content. High entropy indicates a state where information is dispersed or chaotic, making it difficult to extract meaning or structure.
When applied to the collapse of intersubjectivity, entropy can be understood as the process by which shared meaning and communication break down. In a system where individuals are no longer able to share common ground, the flow of information becomes increasingly erratic and disconnected.
Like a thermodynamic system moving toward maximum entropy, a society or group experiencing intersubjectivity collapse becomes disordered. Communication becomes fragmented, and meaning becomes less stable or coherent.
In the context of the Tower of Babel, the shift from a single language to many languages can be viewed as a sharp increase in the "entropy" of human communication. As the common linguistic code is replaced by confusion and misunderstanding, the system of communication becomes less efficient and more chaotic.
The shared understanding that once existed is now replaced by uncertainty and fragmentation. The collapse of the Tower of Babel, then, can be seen as a symbolic representation of a system reaching a state of high entropy — where mutual understanding is no longer possible, and individuals are left to navigate a world of fragmented meanings and conflicting interpretations.
The Implications of Intersubjectivity Collapse
The collapse of intersubjectivity — whether through divine intervention, as in the story of Babel, or through more secular processes like ideological fragmentation, technological change, or political polarization — has profound implications for human society. When people can no longer communicate or understand one another, the foundation of social cohesion begins to crumble.
Trust is eroded, collaboration becomes difficult, and collective action becomes nearly impossible. In a world where shared meaning is fragmented, individuals may retreat into their own silos of understanding, leading to further isolation and division.
In the modern world, we see echoes of the Babel story and the increasing entropy of communication in the rise of ideological divides, the fragmentation of public discourse, and the disintegration of common narratives. Social media platforms, for example, often exacerbate these divides by creating echo chambers where individuals are exposed only to information that reinforces their existing beliefs.
The proliferation of conflicting narratives — often driven by misinformation, algorithmic bias, and the manipulation of public opinion — results in a situation where the shared understanding that once united society becomes increasingly difficult to attain.
In the face of such fragmentation, the challenge becomes one of finding ways to re-establish intersubjectivity — to rebuild the common ground necessary for meaningful communication and collective action. Whether through dialogue, empathy, or the development of new frameworks for understanding, restoring intersubjectivity is key to overcoming the entropy of social and political discourse.
Conclusion
The collapse of intersubjectivity, as illustrated by the Tower of Babel and entropy, offers a powerful lens through which to understand the disintegration of shared meaning in human society. The Babel story highlights the vulnerability of collective understanding, showing how easily it can be shattered when communication breaks down.
Entropy, on the other hand, provides a scientific metaphor for the increasing disorder and fragmentation that occurs when shared understanding is lost. Together, these concepts offer a rich understanding of the challenges facing modern society, where the collapse of intersubjectivity can lead to alienation, division, and confusion.
Restoring intersubjectivity — rebuilding the shared understanding that allows us to connect with one another — is essential if we are to navigate the complexities of the modern world and find ways to collaborate in an increasingly fragmented landscape.