The Fractal Language of Existence

From Mathematics to DNA and Beyond

“Mathematics is the domain of all formal languages, i.e. all possible specifications. Computation is the domain of all possible implementations. To exist is to be implemented.”

- Joscha Bach

In the grand symphony of existence, mathematics can be considered the programming language through which the laws of physics are written, generating the universe we inhabit. These laws, acting as the software of reality, give rise to intricate patterns that manifest on various scales - a fractal recursion of cosmic proportions. One such pattern is DNA, the building block of life, which emerges from the complex interplay of the universe's fundamental forces.

DNA is not just a molecule; it is a language in itself. Composed of four bases - adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine - these building blocks can be thought of as letters that form "words" in the form of three-letter codons. These codons, in turn, specify the 20 (or 21) amino acids required to construct proteins. DNA's structure, akin to a binary programming language, serves as the blueprint for the assembler-like proteins that form the basis of all living organisms.

The ribosomes, molecular machines within cells, act as compilers, translating the genetic code stored within DNA into functional proteins. This elegant process resembles the biblical concept of the "Word made flesh," quite literally, where an abstract idea becomes tangible and functional through the embodiment of language.

The fractal nature of existence is further emphasized when we consider how DNA gives rise to us and our brains, which have developed their own unique language. As we grow and learn, our brains form complex networks of connections and associations, enabling us to communicate, innovate, and create. With the advent of technology, we have expanded the scope of our communication through the development of programming languages and computational abilities.

Our progress in these domains has led us to the cusp of creating artificial general intelligence (AGI), a new layer in the fractal pattern of existence. A new form of mind. As we move toward this milestone, we find ourselves at the precipice of a profound transformation, echoing the words of the physicist John Archibald Wheeler:

"We are participators in bringing into being not only the near and here but the far away and long ago."

The recursive pattern of languages within languages, from the mathematics of the cosmos to the molecular language of DNA and the emergent languages of the human mind, highlights the interconnectedness of all things. As we continue to push the boundaries of our understanding and capabilities, we remain an integral part of the ever-evolving fractal that is existence.

As above, so below. The hermetic maxim reveals itself everywhere we look.

The intricate dance of languages at different scales, from mathematics and physics to DNA and the human mind, showcases the fractal nature of reality. As we venture forth in our quest for knowledge and creation, we contribute to the ongoing expansion of this awe-inspiring cosmic pattern, weaving our own unique thread into the fabric of existence.