***[A New Way of Seeing](_New%20Way%20of%20Seeing.md)*** **Part II: Introducing Autaxys–The Generative Principle and Its Dynamics** ## Chapter 7: Autaxys Defined *The Principle of Intrinsic Self-Generation and Patterned Order* Part I of this monograph, *The Limits of Our Gaze*, meticulously deconstructed our conventional ways of “seeing” reality, revealing the profound influence of our senses, instruments, theories, and even our ignorance itself in shaping our understanding of the world. We have seen how our current epistemic frameworks, while powerful within their domains, are inherently limited, biased, and often lead to incomplete or even misleading representations of the universe. This deconstruction serves as the essential prerequisite for embracing a new way of seeing, one that transcends these limitations and seeks a more fundamental, generative understanding of existence. This new perspective is grounded in the principle of **autaxys**, which this chapter will formally introduce and define. Autaxys is not merely a new theory within existing scientific or philosophical paradigms; it represents a fundamental shift in ontology, a re-framing of the core questions we ask about reality, and a recognition that the universe is not a collection of static things but a dynamic, self-organizing process of pattern formation. This chapter will lay the conceptual foundation for this new way of seeing, providing the essential definition and core characteristics of autaxys as the generative principle upon which the rest of the monograph will build. The need for a new foundational principle arises precisely from the limitations and inconsistencies exposed in Part I. If our conventional ways of seeing are inherently limited and biased, then a deeper understanding of reality requires a framework that transcends these limitations and offers a more coherent and unified account of existence. Such a framework must be able to account for the emergent nature of patterns, the dynamic interplay between observer and observed, and the fundamental interconnectedness of all phenomena. It must also address the limitations of existing ontologies, which often struggle to explain the nature of consciousness, the origin of the universe, or the relationship between mind and matter. Current scientific and philosophical paradigms, despite their successes, are demonstrably incomplete and face profound internal inconsistencies when attempting to explain the fundamental nature of reality, the origin of particles, their properties, and the nature of observation itself.¹ This signals a need for a deeper, pattern-based understanding of reality. Furthermore, it has been suggested that much of modern physics has embraced post-hoc mathematical constructs as foundational, prioritizing the fitting of equations to data over developing theories with genuine explanatory power derived from underlying physical principles.² This has led to a proliferation of ad hoc entities and unexplained parameters, obscuring the need for a more fundamental and generative approach. Autaxys, as we shall see, is proposed as such a framework. Autaxys, a term derived from the Greek roots *auto* (self) and *taxis* (order or arrangement), signifies a principle characterized by self-ordering, self-arranging, and the capacity to generate its own structure and dynamics intrinsically. The inclusion of ‘y’ instead of ‘i’ in “autaxys” is a deliberate choice, nodding to its conceptualization as an encompassing **system** of self-generating patterns and processes, rather than merely a singular, abstract quality of order. This concept embodies the core idea of a self-organizing system, where order and complexity emerge not from external imposition or pre-existing blueprints, but from the intrinsic interactions and dynamics within the system itself. This aligns with established scientific understanding, which highlights the pervasive role of self-organization and symmetry breaking in generating patterns across diverse physical, chemical, and biological systems. Autaxys, however, goes beyond these specific models by positing self-organization as a fundamental ontological principle, the very basis of reality’s capacity to generate structure and order. Within the field of autology (the study of autaxys, to be defined in the next section), autaxys is formally defined as: > The fundamental principle of reality conceived as a self-ordering, self-arranging, and self-generating system. It is the inherent dynamic process by which patterns emerge, persist, and interact, giving rise to all discernible structures and phenomena, including what is perceived by observing systems as information, as well as the regularities interpreted as physical laws, and the complex, stable patterns identified as matter, energy, space, and time. A core tenet is that autaxys operates without recourse to an external organizing agent or pre-imposed set of rules; the principles of its ordering and generation are intrinsic to its nature. This definition positions autaxys not as a static substance or a fixed entity, but as the foundational *activity* or *dynamic potentiality* from which all structured existence arises. It is both the ultimate source of order and the ongoing process of that order manifesting and evolving. The emphasis on “system” highlights its interconnected and rule-governed nature, while “self-generating” points to its capacity to bring forth novelty and complexity from its own internal dynamics. The patterns generated by autaxys are not merely incidental byproducts but are its primary mode of expression and the basis for all knowable reality. This perspective, where reality is understood as a dynamic interplay of patterns emerging from a deeper generative principle, directly addresses the limitations of conventional ontologies that struggle to explain the relationship between mind and matter, the origin of fundamental physical laws, or the nature of consciousness itself. Traditional frameworks often fall short when confronting the full spectrum of reality, particularly the subjective dimension of experience.¹ To further elucidate this core concept, it is essential to delineate the key characteristics of autaxys. These characteristics, derived from the critical analysis of existing frameworks and the identified need for a more fundamental and generative principle, collectively define autaxys as a unique and potentially transformative concept. ### Key Characteristics of Autaxys **Ontological Primacy:** Autaxys is posited as possessing ontological primacy. It is the ultimate ground of being, from which all other aspects of reality emerge as patterned manifestations. This includes not only the physical world of matter, energy, and spacetime, but also the abstract realms of information, laws, and even consciousness. This ontological primacy addresses the limitations of conventional ontologies, such as materialism and idealism, which often struggle to explain the relationship between mind and matter or the origin of fundamental physical laws. In the autaxic framework, these are not separate, irreducible categories but are different expressions of the same underlying generative principle. This aligns with arguments emphasizing the fundamental role of information in shaping reality.³ **Dynamic and Processual Nature:** Autaxys is inherently dynamic and processual, an ongoing process of self-unfolding and pattern generation. Reality, in this view, is not a static collection of things but is in a constant state of becoming, a continuous flux of emergent patterns. This dynamic nature aligns with the insights of process philosophy, as articulated by Alfred North Whitehead, and challenges the classical view of a universe composed of fixed, unchanging substances. It also resonates with the concept of “information dynamics” explored in earlier research.⁴ **Intrinsic Rationality and “Meta-Logic”:** While self-generating, autaxys is not arbitrary or chaotic. It operates according to intrinsic principles of coherence and order, which can be described as a “meta-logic” more fundamental than human-derived logical systems. This inherent rationality provides the basis for the observed lawfulness of the universe, grounding it in the intrinsic nature of autaxys itself rather than in externally imposed laws or unexplained brute regularities. This “meta-logic” is not a fixed set of rules but rather an emergent property of autaxys’ dynamic self-organization, reflecting its inherent tendency towards coherence, consistency, and the optimization of its generative processes. **Pattern-Generating Capacity:** The primary mode of autaxys’ manifestation is as a pattern-generating principle. It creates the discernible regularities and structures we observe at all scales, from the subatomic to the cosmic. This directly provides the foundation for a pattern-based ontology, moving beyond the “particle-as-thing” view critiqued in [Chapter 1](1%20Particle%20Paradox.md) and providing the source for the patterns that information theories describe. This emphasis on patterns aligns with the core arguments presented in *A New Way of Seeing*, which systematically deconstructs our conventional ways of seeing and proposes a shift towards a pattern-based understanding of reality. **Foundation for Information:** Autaxys serves as the foundation for information, in the sense that information arises when autaxys-generated patterns are registered or differentiated by an observing system. This clarifies the ontological status of information as secondary to, and dependent upon, the more fundamental, generative principle of autaxys. Information is not the primary substance, but a way of characterizing the patterns and relationships generated by autaxys, as explored in [Chapter 9](9%20Information%20Re-Founded.md). **Self-Articulation/Self-Description:** Autaxys exhibits self-articulation or self-description, where the dynamic unfolding of patterns *is* its expression. The structure and evolution of reality *is* the articulation of autaxys, emphasizing its immanence and completeness as both source and expression. This challenges the traditional separation between a descriptive framework and the reality it describes, suggesting that within autology, the very act of describing autaxys is itself a participation in its unfolding. This concept resonates with the idea of a “strange loop,” where self-reference and feedback play a crucial role in the emergence of complex phenomena.⁵ **Acausal Origin:** A defining feature of autaxys is its acausal origin regarding its ordering principles. These principles are intrinsic to its nature, not imposed by an external agent or pre-existing set of laws. This addresses the philosophical challenge of ultimate origins and the need for an uncaused cause for cosmic order, by positing that the most fundamental level of reality is inherently self-sufficient in its capacity to generate that order. This concept of an acausal origin challenges traditional notions of causality and suggests that the very concept of “cause and effect” might itself be an emergent property of autaxys’ self-organizing dynamics. **Transcending Gödelian Limits (Aspirational):** While any human formal description of autaxys will inevitably be incomplete, as per Gödel’s incompleteness theorems, autaxys itself, as the *territory-generator*, is conceived as operationally complete and consistent in its generative capacity. This reflects the aspiration that autaxys, as a fundamental principle, might provide a framework that transcends the limitations of formal systems while still being amenable to rigorous mathematical and computational modeling. This aligns with discussions in the philosophy of mathematics and logic, which explore the implications of Gödel’s theorems for our understanding of knowledge and reality. These characteristics collectively define autaxys as a unique ontological primitive, proposed as the active, self-organizing, pattern-generating foundation of all reality. It is designed to provide a more coherent and generative basis for understanding existence than offered by materialism, idealism, or conceptions of information or *logos* that lack its explicit emphasis on intrinsic self-generation and systemic pattern formation. By grounding both mind and matter, the physical and the phenomenal, in the same generative principle, autaxys offers a potential pathway towards a unified and integrated understanding of reality, a pathway that will be explored in the subsequent chapters of this monograph. --- [8 The Generative Engine](8%20The%20Generative%20Engine.md) --- **Notes - Chapter 7** 1. This argument is developed in Quni, R. B. *[A Skeptical Journey Through Conventional Reality](Skeptical%20Journey%20through%20Conventional%20Reality.md)*. 2. The critique of modern physics’ reliance on post-hoc mathematical constructs is detailed in Quni, R. B. *[The “Mathematical Tricks” Postulate](Mathematical%20Tricks%20Postulate.md)*. 3. See Quni, R. B. *[The Universe is Information](archive/releases/Universe%20is%20Information/_Universe%20is%20Information.md)*. 4. The development of information-centric frameworks is traced in Quni, R. B. *[Lineage of Information-Based Physics](Lineage%20of%20Information-Based%20Physics.md)*. This also connects to the synthesis attempted in Quni, R. B. *[Towards an Informational Theory of Consciousness and Reality](Towards%20an%20Informational%20Theory%20of%20Consciousness%20and%20Reality.md)*. 5. The concept of self-reference and strange loops is explored in Quni, R. B. *[Strange Loop of Being](Strange%20Loop%20of%20Being.md)*. ---