#34 Converations on Complexity: Neil Theise

“We are not walking through the world; we are interwoven with it. In everything we do, we participate in complexity."–Neil Theise Neil Theise is a professor of pathology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Through his scientific research, he has been a pioneer of adult stem cell plasticity and the anatomy of the human interstitium. Dr. Theise’s studies in complexity theory have led to interdisciplinary collaborations in fields such as integrative medicine, consciousness studies, and science-religion dialogue. Neil’s new book, which we discuss on the episode, is Notes on Complexity The book is “An electrifying introduction to complexity theory, the science of how complex systems behave—from cells to human beings, ecosystems, the known universe, and beyond—that profoundly reframes our understanding and illuminates our interconnectedness.” Mentioned in the episode: The Source by James A. Michener Everything Only Looks Like a Thing with Neil Theise at the Science and Nonduality Conference Chaos: Making a New Science by James Gleick Introduction to John Conway’s “Game of Life” Some examples of emergent patterns in the “Game of Life” Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 02:15 – Neil’s Scientific and Spiritual Background 08:29 – Complexity and the Merging of Science and Spirituality 15:48 – Complex vs Complicated 22:14 – Chaos, Fractals, and Emergence 29:48 – Biological Emergence 36:44 – Incompleteness Theorem, Quantum Physics, and Consciousness 47:02 – Complexity and Resiliency