A Q&A comparison
Rather, the universe is just a random happening of individual events without meaning. To atheists, the world around them is simply a mish-mash of random occurrences.
Potentialism, a theory crafted by David Birnbaum of NY, frontally disagrees. The universe, according to his philosophical treatise, has an overarching dynamic and purpose: Quest for Infinite Potential.
In April of 2012, a four-day international academic conference at Bard College focused on Infinite Potential, essentially overthrowing Randomness. The ramifications of the pivotal conference continue to this day. In the 2013-2014 period alone over a dozen journals have featured Birnbaum’s Summa Metaphysica.
Looking at questions posed to both Infinite Potential and Randomness adherents, we can see the stark contrast in the answers.
1) Why is there anything at all?
Birnbaum: The cosmos seeks its optimal/maximal potential.
Establishment: Random chance.
2) Is there an eternal dynamic? a so-to-speak ‘key’ to the universe? An underlying supra-dynamic/supra-imperative?
Birnbaum: Yes, Quest for Infinite Potential.
Establishment: No, none.
3) What drives the cosmic order?
Birnbaum: Quest for Infinite Potential.
Establishment: Random chance.
4) What ignited the Big Bang?
Birnbaum: Quest for Infinite Potential.
Establishment: Random accident playing-out across infinite universes.
5) The Goldilocks Enigma: Why is the universe ‘just right’ for life?
Birnbaum: Life is a primary goal of Quest for Infinite Potential, both as an intermediate end
in-and-of-itself and as a platform for extraordinariation.
Establishment: Random chance in our universe.
6) Why does ‘judicious design’ seem to permeate our universe?
Birnbaum: Because it is designed and iterated by Infinite Potential.
Establishment: Any seeming ‘design’ is an illusion.
7) Why does there seem to be a ‘hidden reality’ to our universe?
Birnbaum: Because there is one, Quest for Infinite Potential.
Establishment: Fantasy/religious propaganda.
8) Why does nature seem to have a ‘mathematical subtext’?
Birnbaum: Because the equations, marshaled by Infinite Potential,
design nature ongoing.
Establishment: No answer.
9) Is there a ‘script’ to the universe?
Birnbaum: There is a so-to-speak work-in-progress script as Infinite Potential iterates ongoing to
optimize potential (and advance towards extraordinariation).
Establishment: No, none, all is random.
10) If there is a God what is the essence of God?
Birnbaum: Potential; God is the God of Potential.
Establishment: No God or any transcendent force.
11) What was the catalyst for life?
Birnbaum: Quest for Infinite Potential.
Establishment: Random accident.
12) What sustains life?
Birnbaum: Quest for Infinite Potential.
Establishment: No answer.
13) Why is there a virtual kaleidoscope of life?
Birnbaum: Quest for Infinite Potential/Extraordinariation.
Establishment: No answer.
14) What drives Evolution?
Birnbaum: Quest for Infinite Potential (which includes genetic survival).
Establishment: Genetic survival alone and random chance.
15) What drives (non-evolutionary) self-organization and self-patternization (my term), like
snowflakes all being unique?
Birnbaum: Quest for Infinite Potential/extraordinariation.
Establishment: No answer.
16) Why is the universe ‘bio-friendly’?
Birbnbaum: Because bio is a great platform for Potential/extraordinariation. The more precise statement would be that the universe is ‘bio-oriented’.
Establishment: No answer
17) What was the catalyst for consciousness?
Birnbaum: Quest for Infinite Potential/extraordinariation.
Establishment: Random chance.
18) Does Man have a purpose?
Birnbaum: To quest for his/her optimal potential.
Establishment: No / none.
19) Does Mankind have a purpose?
Birnbaum: To quest for its optimal potential.
Establishment: No / none.
20) Is there a purpose to the universe?
Birnbaum: The universe seeks its fullest possible potential.
Establishment: No purpose.
The contrast could not be more clear. Randomness essentially has ‘nothing to say.’ It is so-to-speak ‘holding an empty hand. Potentialism, on the other hand, offers an elegant and unified theory; it presents a quite formidable proposition. Randomness Theory has no known core text; Potentialism Theory has a major philosophical treatise – vetted for 25+ years on the global stage – backing it up, Summa Metaphysica. The choice between the two contending theories could not be more stark.