Spiral Inquiry Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/spiral-inquiry Join George Gantz on this spiral journey as we inquire into topics at the intersection of scientific knowledge, human experience, and spiritual insight, in the effort to understand, to grow, to change, and to make the future a better place. Explore a diverse collection of essays, podcasts, and videos. Please add your voice to this learning community. © 2025 George Gantz d5d42fe6-aaf6-5661-a9ad-d680566ae067 no en Wed, 23 Jul 2025 07:36:31 -0700 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:17:14 -0800 http://spiralinquiry.org https://img.transistor.fm/J5CktMehfEory7Q1QGKr27aIPgyEtAPHoUKreLHBvjk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzE4NDk4LzE2MTMw/NTk3NTYtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg Spiral Inquiry http://spiralinquiry.org episodic George Gantz Join George Gantz on this spiral journey as we inquire into topics at the intersection of scientific knowledge, human experience, and spiritual insight, in the effort to understand, to grow, to change, and to make the future a better place. Explore a diverse collection of essays, podcasts, and videos. Please add your voice to this learning community. Join George Gantz on this spiral journey as we inquire into topics at the intersection of scientific knowledge, human experience, and spiritual insight, in the effort to understand, to grow, to change, and to make the future a better place. George Gantz No No The Door that has No Key 10 10 The Door that has No Key full 660e018e-c020-4929-b5e9-8b682e2b301f https://share.transistor.fm/s/2da6dc5b There are strange things going on in the worlds of mathematics, computer science, physics, and consciousness. In 2020, the Foundational Questions Institute Essay Contest was looking for answers to the puzzles of undecidability, uncomputability, and unpredictability. Join me as we explore the intersections of mathematics, physics and consciousness in my essay, "The Door that has No Key".  The answer to all these questions may rest with the qualities of autonoetic consciousness:  entanglement, agency and self-reference. 

]]> There are strange things going on in the worlds of mathematics, computer science, physics, and consciousness. In 2020, the Foundational Questions Institute Essay Contest was looking for answers to the puzzles of undecidability, uncomputability, and unpredictability. Join me as we explore the intersections of mathematics, physics and consciousness in my essay, "The Door that has No Key".  The answer to all these questions may rest with the qualities of autonoetic consciousness:  entanglement, agency and self-reference. 

]]> Mon, 15 Nov 2021 13:00:00 -0800 George Gantz George Gantz 1996 The Foundational Questions Institute was looking for answers to the puzzles of undecidability, uncomputability, and unpredictability. Join me as we walk into these mysteries, through "The Door that has No Key". The Foundational Questions Institute was looking for answers to the puzzles of undecidability, uncomputability, and unpredictability. Join me as we walk into these mysteries, through "The Door that has No Key". No Faith is Fundamental 9 9 Faith is Fundamental full df1395ee-de6b-48d1-96fc-cc24641d30a6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7a8afe4b Our topic today is an essay submitted in the 2017 essay contest sponsored by The Foundational Questions Institute known. The contest topic: What is Fundamental?  While most of the essayists debated things like cosmic symmetry, string theory or quantum gravity, my answer, and the topic of my essay is "Faith is Fundamental."

]]> Our topic today is an essay submitted in the 2017 essay contest sponsored by The Foundational Questions Institute known. The contest topic: What is Fundamental?  While most of the essayists debated things like cosmic symmetry, string theory or quantum gravity, my answer, and the topic of my essay is "Faith is Fundamental."

]]> Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:00:00 -0700 George Gantz George Gantz 2113 "What is Fundamental?", asked the Foundational Questions Institute in 2017. My answer, and the topic of this essay: Faith is Fundamental. "What is Fundamental?", asked the Foundational Questions Institute in 2017. My answer, and the topic of this essay: Faith is Fundamental. No My Personal Journey Through Emptiness to Faith Part 2 8 8 My Personal Journey Through Emptiness to Faith Part 2 full 728a950f-e09d-4dfd-a4f1-047ecd3cab1f https://share.transistor.fm/s/0cdf40ad Today we complete a personal journey, a recounting of how my understanding of the world developed and evolved. I started with a mindset committed to absolute empirical truth, but in a painful and sometimes joyful process of discovery, I've come to a deeper understanding and appreciation for the mystery and beauty of creation and my place in it. Such understanding requires faith at its center. Faith that is integrated with science.

This story originally appeared on spiralinquiry.org in seven chapters and is offered in two podcast segments. The first episode followed the spiral down. This episode follows the spiral up! 

]]> Today we complete a personal journey, a recounting of how my understanding of the world developed and evolved. I started with a mindset committed to absolute empirical truth, but in a painful and sometimes joyful process of discovery, I've come to a deeper understanding and appreciation for the mystery and beauty of creation and my place in it. Such understanding requires faith at its center. Faith that is integrated with science.

This story originally appeared on spiralinquiry.org in seven chapters and is offered in two podcast segments. The first episode followed the spiral down. This episode follows the spiral up! 

]]> Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0700 George Gantz George Gantz 2360 Today we complete the story of how my understanding of the world developed and evolved. Originally committed to absolute empirical truth, I've since come to a deeper understanding of the mystery and beauty of creation. Today we complete the story of how my understanding of the world developed and evolved. Originally committed to absolute empirical truth, I've since come to a deeper understanding of the mystery and beauty of creation. No My Personal Journey Through Emptiness to Faith Part 1 7 7 My Personal Journey Through Emptiness to Faith Part 1 full 7503f3cc-2cbe-49c2-baf9-ebf6325a7f16 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3e51eaea Today we begin a personal journey, as I recount the story of how my understanding of the world developed and evolved. I started with a mindset committed to absolute empirical truth, but in a painful and sometimes joyful process of discovery, I've come to a deeper understanding and appreciation for the mystery and beauty of creation and my place in it. Such understanding requires faith at its center. Faith that is integrated with science.

This story originally appeared on spiralinquiry.org in seven chapters and will be offered in two podcast segments. The first episode will spiral down. The second episode will spiral up! 

]]> Today we begin a personal journey, as I recount the story of how my understanding of the world developed and evolved. I started with a mindset committed to absolute empirical truth, but in a painful and sometimes joyful process of discovery, I've come to a deeper understanding and appreciation for the mystery and beauty of creation and my place in it. Such understanding requires faith at its center. Faith that is integrated with science.

This story originally appeared on spiralinquiry.org in seven chapters and will be offered in two podcast segments. The first episode will spiral down. The second episode will spiral up! 

]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2021 22:00:00 -0700 George Gantz George Gantz 1452 Today we begin a personal journey, as I recount the story of how my understanding of the world developed and evolved. Originally I was committed to absolute empirical truth. I've since come to a deeper understanding of the mystery and beauty of creation. Today we begin a personal journey, as I recount the story of how my understanding of the world developed and evolved. Originally I was committed to absolute empirical truth. I've since come to a deeper understanding of the mystery and beauty of creation. No Thinking Beyond the Empirical Frontiers 6 6 Thinking Beyond the Empirical Frontiers full b9692e47-2102-438b-801d-082c956909f9 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ad92f2c5 The topic today is "Thinking Beyond the Empirical Frontiers", an essay I originally presented at the Science and Non-Duality Conference in San Jose, CA in October 2017.   Thinking is what we do to make sense of the world. Yes, we have emotional and spiritual content in our experience, but we are cognitive sentient beings.  We seek to build a cognitive map of how the world works and what gives it meaning.  I believe the hard limits on the frontiers of empirical science and mathematics provide an opportunity to reassess our obsession with material reality.  The nature of those limits points to some fascinating ideas, many which have been explored by mystics and theologians across the centuries.

]]> The topic today is "Thinking Beyond the Empirical Frontiers", an essay I originally presented at the Science and Non-Duality Conference in San Jose, CA in October 2017.   Thinking is what we do to make sense of the world. Yes, we have emotional and spiritual content in our experience, but we are cognitive sentient beings.  We seek to build a cognitive map of how the world works and what gives it meaning.  I believe the hard limits on the frontiers of empirical science and mathematics provide an opportunity to reassess our obsession with material reality.  The nature of those limits points to some fascinating ideas, many which have been explored by mystics and theologians across the centuries.

]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0700 George Gantz George Gantz 1462 Thinking is what we do to make sense of the world. The hard limits on the frontiers of empirical science and mathematics provide an opportunity to reassess our obsession with material reality. Thinking is what we do to make sense of the world. The hard limits on the frontiers of empirical science and mathematics provide an opportunity to reassess our obsession with material reality. No The How and the Why of Emergence and Intention 5 5 The How and the Why of Emergence and Intention full f7a27247-c215-454e-8dc9-2f63a58eee83 https://share.transistor.fm/s/c76b722d in 2017, The Foundational Questions Institute sponsored an essay contest with the title "Wandering Towards a Goal: How can Mindless Mathematical Laws Give Rise to Aims and Intention?". I argue that we have a choice. Whether to believe the Universe is Random or Purposeful. So here is essay "The How and the Why of Emergence and Intention".

]]> in 2017, The Foundational Questions Institute sponsored an essay contest with the title "Wandering Towards a Goal: How can Mindless Mathematical Laws Give Rise to Aims and Intention?". I argue that we have a choice. Whether to believe the Universe is Random or Purposeful. So here is essay "The How and the Why of Emergence and Intention".

]]> Tue, 15 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0700 George Gantz George Gantz 2008 How can mindless mathematical laws give rise to aims and intention? I argue that we have a choice -- whether to believe the Universe is Random or Purposeful. How can mindless mathematical laws give rise to aims and intention? I argue that we have a choice -- whether to believe the Universe is Random or Purposeful. No The Empirical Standard of Knowing Part 2 4 4 The Empirical Standard of Knowing Part 2 full c1f0957b-161e-41d8-a7cb-0a187ec89e2f https://share.transistor.fm/s/298a84bc This is Part 2 of "The Empirical Standard for Knowing: Faith Misplaced". Today we will explore anomalies in quantum physics, logic, and mathematics, and then suggest some modifications to the empirical tenants of faith. Changes that I believe offer a more fruitful approach to the continuing efforts to expand our knowledge and understanding of the world.

]]> This is Part 2 of "The Empirical Standard for Knowing: Faith Misplaced". Today we will explore anomalies in quantum physics, logic, and mathematics, and then suggest some modifications to the empirical tenants of faith. Changes that I believe offer a more fruitful approach to the continuing efforts to expand our knowledge and understanding of the world.

]]> Sat, 15 May 2021 12:00:00 -0700 George Gantz George Gantz 1902 Today we will explore anomalies in quantum physics, logic, and mathematics, and then suggest some modifications to the empirical tenants of faith. Today we will explore anomalies in quantum physics, logic, and mathematics, and then suggest some modifications to the empirical tenants of faith. No The Empirical Standard of Knowing Part 1 3 3 The Empirical Standard of Knowing Part 1 full 9ad55cba-f324-4e57-991a-2d3f68c08d54 https://share.transistor.fm/s/72d16f90 In 2016, The Institute for Religion in an Age of Science devoted their conference to the topic "How Can We Know: Co-Creating Knowledge in Perilous Times". They invited me to submit a paper on The Empirical Standard for Knowing: Faith Misplaced. We are going to cover this material in two parts. Today, in part 1, I will introduce the articles of faith that underpin empirical knowledge, and explore the questions raised in the context of relativity and complexity theory. 

]]> In 2016, The Institute for Religion in an Age of Science devoted their conference to the topic "How Can We Know: Co-Creating Knowledge in Perilous Times". They invited me to submit a paper on The Empirical Standard for Knowing: Faith Misplaced. We are going to cover this material in two parts. Today, in part 1, I will introduce the articles of faith that underpin empirical knowledge, and explore the questions raised in the context of relativity and complexity theory. 

]]> Thu, 15 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0700 George Gantz George Gantz 1936 Today, in part 1, I will introduce the articles of faith that underpin empirical knowledge, and explore the questions raised in the context of relativity and complexity theory. Today, in part 1, I will introduce the articles of faith that underpin empirical knowledge, and explore the questions raised in the context of relativity and complexity theory. No The Hole at the Center 2 2 The Hole at the Center full c647644a-e437-46b0-b24b-f8b642b606bd https://share.transistor.fm/s/73873448 The topic today is the Hole at the Center of Creation, an essay submitted in the 2015 FQXI contest. The topic for the contest was "trick or truth", on the mysterious connection between physics and mathematics. The essay points out that in pursuing fundamental questions on the nature of creation, logical order, and of consciousness, we are led inexorably to an infinite void, one we cannot cross without a transcendent, metaphysical guide.

You can download the full essay at spiralinquiry.org/essays

]]> The topic today is the Hole at the Center of Creation, an essay submitted in the 2015 FQXI contest. The topic for the contest was "trick or truth", on the mysterious connection between physics and mathematics. The essay points out that in pursuing fundamental questions on the nature of creation, logical order, and of consciousness, we are led inexorably to an infinite void, one we cannot cross without a transcendent, metaphysical guide.

You can download the full essay at spiralinquiry.org/essays

]]> Mon, 15 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0700 George Gantz George Gantz 2351 The topic today is the hole at the center of creation. The essay points out that in pursuing fundamental questions on the nature of creation, logical order, and of consciousness, we are led inexorably to an infinite void, one we cannot cross without a transcendent, metaphysical guide. The topic today is the hole at the center of creation. The essay points out that in pursuing fundamental questions on the nature of creation, logical order, and of consciousness, we are led inexorably to an infinite void, one we cannot cross without a tra No The Tip of the Spear 1 1 The Tip of the Spear full 0e69ad2f-b511-45fb-8084-ca3ebf1f728b https://share.transistor.fm/s/5a434598 The evidence is clear – there is a new emergent phenomenon arising from the global integration of human knowledge and aspirations linked through advanced networks. As in each previous emergence of higher-order from lower, the behaviors that evolve from the complex interaction of the individual components cannot be predicted. Can we influence the trajectory of this emergence in ways that benefit the individuals that comprise it and increase the probabilities of continued progress? In addition, can we prepare for the potentially rare but nevertheless real possibility of the first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization? Yes, by drawing on evolutionary lessons to identify and promote collectively beneficial behaviors in our global institutions, including the institution of science. As human civilization continues to evolve, progress will be powered by knowledge, but we should arm “the tip of the spear” with the human empathic values of trust, humility, mutual respect, and shared commitment: in a word, with love, in its most universal form.

]]> The evidence is clear – there is a new emergent phenomenon arising from the global integration of human knowledge and aspirations linked through advanced networks. As in each previous emergence of higher-order from lower, the behaviors that evolve from the complex interaction of the individual components cannot be predicted. Can we influence the trajectory of this emergence in ways that benefit the individuals that comprise it and increase the probabilities of continued progress? In addition, can we prepare for the potentially rare but nevertheless real possibility of the first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization? Yes, by drawing on evolutionary lessons to identify and promote collectively beneficial behaviors in our global institutions, including the institution of science. As human civilization continues to evolve, progress will be powered by knowledge, but we should arm “the tip of the spear” with the human empathic values of trust, humility, mutual respect, and shared commitment: in a word, with love, in its most universal form.

]]> Thu, 11 Feb 2021 09:17:12 -0800 George Gantz George Gantz 1859 Science is the engine of human progress, but the tip of the spear, our primary intention, must be armed with the human empathic values of trust, humility, mutual respect, and shared commitment: in a word, love. Science is the engine of human progress, but the tip of the spear, our primary intention, must be armed with the human empathic values of trust, humility, mutual respect, and shared commitment: in a word, love. No