October 1, 2026: The Four-Body Problem Plus One

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness. Lao Tzu

Behaviour arises from the level of one’s consciousness. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

The best things in life aren’t things. Art Buchwald

A Note: There are not many comments about this stuff, which I get as I’m not a comment person either. Any comments go on bottom of the page of the post a reader is addressing.

The premise of this post: Though computations and calculations are needed to engineer what is helpful for humans to survive and thrive, there is no way to be, to do, to learn, to grow, or to be free without having the space and time to do so.

So, here goes some necessary language in two premises: 1) Being conscious is more than just being aware, yet one cannot be conscious without having awareness. 2) Being conscious can be difficult to define but seems to include a “self” that can think about and refine (hopefully) the many variables of consciousness. 3) Sentience is about processing feelings and emotions. Being conscious does not mean being sentient, but being sentient generally includes consciousness. 4) improving our metaphysical consciousness (sometimes called spiritual or religious, but those two terms seem to create conflict).

Oh no—there’s more?: The four-body problem consists of four major influencers in human development (I made up the word “quadrinary” some thirty years ago to expand on the principle of binary influencers—hence moving from the two-body movements to four bodies):

1) The physical body (itself a huge dynamic variable), 2) Individual psychology (another mess o’ variables), 3) Social relationships including community psychology (yet more variables), and 4) Environment proper as in longitude and latitude as well as the specific stuff and space in one’s particular area.

The plus-one: the space and time between stuff.  1) Stuff needs space to exist. 2) Holding the space (not putting any stuff in it) is crucial to interrupting the focus on stuff. 3) Having the time often means the ability to create time by shifting one’s focus.

These four influencers plus one are inherently difficult to track as they influence each other in varying degrees all the time. That results in an unpredictable swirl and whirl of stuff and space changing all of the time. Good luck pretending to control all of that spinning without ignoring some of the swirl and whirl. Trying to keep up with all the minutia of stuff is exhausting, but can be alleviated by looking outward or beyond all that stuff (a pilot can look to the horizon to slow down the rush of stuff if they have the time).

Human consciousness tends to sees stuff, not the surrounding space. The more stuff crowds in, the less time we feel we have. The result is that most of human consciousness (other species as well, I’m sure) is occupied with computational and/or calculational processes. That process, seems to have a life of its own as it breeds the need for more.

Constant processing is like having an incessant internal dialogue. And one cannot properly listen if one is constantly talking to themselves or others. No listening means no free space and time between stuff. That means we’re handicapping ourselves at best and disabling ourselves at worst.

Artificial Intelligence Variables and the Four-Body-Plus-One Problem

There are four variables of AI: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI). There’s also artificial narrow intelligence—ANI—but it’s not needed for this post.

As we know or are realizing, AI can be dangerous. Humans program AI variables to help “solve” the increasingly complex computational forces in our world (comparing, contrasting, categorizing, so “control” is more available). In other words, AI looks for stuff (so far). That focus generally mirrors human focus.

AI in any form (so far) does not have true “skin in the game” which means a major source of information available to humans (and other “live” beings) is unavailable to AI. AI also does not include true emotions though there can be calculational “feelings,” which humans can also do—think “manufactured” (true emotions are difficult to hide, while feelings are relatively easy to cover up). Additionally, AI is unable to “hold the space and time” as its business is to continuously compute inputs and outputs. However, this ability to “hold the space and time,” while available to humans, is not much practiced by humans.

AGI is a bit newer and is about the ability to apply learning in one area to other unrelated areas. This is tricky as notions of human general intelligence have waned in favor of specific areas of intelligence, though I think there is sufficient evidence to support the idea that general intelligence can make new areas of learning a bit easier.

ASI is not yet available but is being addressed. My guess is that for ASI to be helpful and not dangerous, it will require the ability to cease the constant computations and “sit” in the spaces between computations—holding the space and creating time to see what unfolds instead of rushing to solutions. I’m not convinced ASI will be able to have “skin in the game.”

The wrap-up: AI in any form does not have a biological body, a true psychology, social interaction, and it has a limited environmental input. This lack of informational access for AI is available to biological beings. Yes, the movies Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049 had ASI forms who had acquired more “human qualities.” While that might happen, it has not in our present reality.

My take: If human consciousness is to learn and develop fruitfully and not become lazy because there is any form of AI, both humans and AI will have to seek better quality spaces and time between all of the focus on stuff. AI must have “have skin in the game,” emotions, and learn how to hold the space and have the time. And both of us will have to improve learning, emotions, and metaphysical awareness. Otherwise, humans will be replaced.

Here’s a painful continuing rub on the often ineptness of human relationships: human interest about intimacy, friendship, social relationships, and love are not stuff, though we seem to treat them as stuff, especially true when we claim ownership rights over the variables—which we do. Such “goals” (yuck) actually work to keep us from having what we think we want to have.

Ergo, next month’s lighthearted adventure: Intimacy, friendship, quality social relationships, and quality environment while sailing the seas of the four-body problem. Yeah, that includes me!