Subjects To Cover
After reading through the CTMU, looking through some of Langan’s old material, and tracing prerequisites back a ways I have come up with a collection of subjects to cover much like the courses in Scott Young’s MIT challenge. There are 28 subjects total so far, though that may change as I go, subjects may be added or removed as relevance suggests. This gives an average of about 1.86 weeks per subject, and if I do them in batches of 4 that means I need to complete 4 subjects roughly ever 7 weeks. Obviously if a subject ends early I will pick up the next one immediately rather than waiting for the remainder of the batch to finish which should save some time. Some subjects should take less time but some will take more. This list is likely to change so there will probably be a running list in my Github or Google drive at some point. Below is a list of each subject along with a justification for why it’s included.
Motivations
As mentioned previously having an understanding of where Langan was and what problem he was trying to solve when he wrote the CTMU could help in understanding and in seeing the lines of thought for ourselves. Much easier to understand the solution if we understand the problem first.
History and Problems of Philosophy
The CTMU is a Metaphysical TOE which makes it a philosophical one. It’s also an answer to many of the philosophical queries of the past, and informed by a long history of Wester (and to some extent Vedic or Eastern) philosophy as can be seen from reading recommendations in the Michael Knowles interview.
Other Recommended Readings
Some time ago, though I don’t recall where, I found and saved a page of books recommended as prerequisite readings to the CTMU. Most of these books will be included in other subjects, for instance he has not one but two recommended books on Quantum Mechanics, but a few of them didn’t fit neatly into any of the other subjects so I included them as their own category since they are recommended. These would be:
Quantum Reality by Nick Herbert
Cosmology by Edward Harrison
The Mathematical Experience by Davis and Hersch
World Religions by John Bowker
Since they are recommended we’ll cover them.
Linear Algebra
Linear Algebra is needed for both Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity, which have a strong presence in the CTMU
Greek Philosophy
In the Michael Knowles interview Langan recommended starting with the Ancient Greeks: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. Additionally since it’s difficult to really understand a philosophy without understanding what it’s a response to, and the Greeks are more or less at the beginning of this chain for the Western tradition, the CTMU at the end, starting with them is sensible.
Thomas Aquinas/Scholastic Philosophy
Aquinas was also highly recommended reading.
“Modern” Era philosophy - Leibniz, Hume, Kant
In one interview, I’ll find it if I can, Langan mentions Leibniz as being the closest to his theory of the old philosophers, so Leibniz warrants attention. Additionally Kant and Hume are discussed quite a bit at the beginning of the CTMU, which takes issues with their answers to the central question of metaphysics.
Logic
The formalism of the CTMU is heavily based in Logic and is a “Limiting Form“ of Model Theory.
Set Theory
The CTMU needs a resolution to the set of all sets paradox which it offers through dual topological and descriptive containment (“On the CTMU”, Major Papers)
Model Theory
The CTMU is ultimately the Cognitive Theoretic Model of The Universe, and the metaformal system relies heavily on model theory in the basics. (see sections 8.7 and 8.8 of the Major Papers).
Information Theory
The CTMU uses “Infocognition“ as the fundamental substance of reality and calls for an extension of information theory - the same extensions given to Logic. (See section 4.6.12 of the Major Papers)
Multivariable Calculus
This will be needed for both Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity.
Ordinary Differential Equations
Needed for Partial Differential Equations
Partial Differential Equations
Needed for Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity.
Probability
Needed for Quantum Mechanics
Topology
The CTMU Conspansive Manifold contains 3 levels of topology.
Category Theory
Langan Recommends a book called Topoi by Robert Goldblatt which explores certain mathematical structures from the perspective of Category Theory rather than Set Theory. Langan also seems to feel the need for something beyond set theory, for example questioning a calculus professor on why calculus is developed in terms of set theory when sets are static objects and calculus is about change. Another example can be found in “On the CTMU” in the Major Papers when he discusses the need for a set theory that allows self-inclusion, since reality must by requirement contain itself. In the interview with Curt Jaimungal (a good looking guy) he mentions self-inclusion is necessary and that it’s not self-inclusion that needs to be avoided, but self-negation.
Topoi
This is a recommended book by Robert Goldblatt exploring Topos structures from the perspective of Category Theory.
Differential Geometry
Needed for General Relativity
Tensor Calculus
Needed for General Relativity
Quantum Mechanics
Has a strong presence in the CTMU
General Relativity
Has a strong presence in the CTMU
The CTMU (including introductory work)
This is the main event
An Introduction to Mathematical Metaphysics
One of the Major Papers and a core part of CTMU philosophy
The Metaformal System
One of the Major Papers and a core part of CTMU philosophy
Quantum MetaMechanics
One of the Major Papers and a core part of CTMU philosophy
The Reality Self Simulation
One of the Major Papers and a core part of CTMU philosophy
Remaining Papers
The remaining Major Papers, playing a lesser role than the ones above but still part of the core philosophy.
