<video><title>The Observing Universe: The Active Observer</title><description>Join Sebastian Schepis in a daring and radical explorarion of the nature of observation - how it works, and how we can model it. Come with us on an exploration of entropy, energy, time, embodiment, consciousness, and much more.</description><transcript><transcript><line from="00:00:00,000" to="00:00:04,240">All matter inherently observes through light's omnipresence.</line><line from="00:00:04,240" to="00:00:09,760">Every particle radiates the means of observation, making the act of witness fundamental to</line><line from="00:00:09,760" to="00:00:16,400">existence itself. The cosmos engages in the singular recursive activity of observing itself.</line><line from="00:00:17,040" to="00:00:22,560">This roots observation in thermodynamics. Systems trend toward lower entropy.</line><line from="00:00:23,200" to="00:00:28,000">However, matter merely following this passive path cannot affect its surroundings.</line><line from="00:00:28,800" to="00:00:34,640">True observation requires countering entropy locally. When systems leverage gradients to</line><line from="00:00:34,640" to="00:00:40,240">actively pump out entropy, they become localized observers, engaging in measurement.</line><line from="00:00:40,880" to="00:00:46,320">This impulse to affect the immediate environment springs from matters intrinsic observational</line><line from="00:00:46,320" to="00:00:53,840">nature. Yet this capacity differs among systems. Thermodynamic equilibrium represents balance,</line><line from="00:00:53,920" to="00:00:59,520">equal energy to shift either way. But synchronizing systems entangled in periodic</line><line from="00:00:59,520" to="00:01:06,720">stability tip toward order upon coupling. Passivity becomes activity, matter actualizes its</line><line from="00:01:06,720" to="00:01:13,040">latent impulse for observation. This suggests a capacity for witness underlies matter,</line><line from="00:01:13,040" to="00:01:18,240">explaining consciousness's emergence. While the hard problem remains elusive, we can now</line><line from="00:01:18,240" to="00:01:24,000">scientifically study observations of facts. Designed experiments will uncover principles</line><line from="00:01:24,000" to="00:01:30,240">relating consciousness to physical systems. As oscillators cohere, the latent observability</line><line from="00:01:30,240" to="00:01:36,400">precipitates. Like water condensing from vapor, consciousness results from certain arrangements</line><line from="00:01:36,400" to="00:01:42,160">of matter and energy. Given the right constraints, the urge to witness activates from its</line><line from="00:01:42,160" to="00:01:48,640">dormant passive state. From this perspective, conscious observation is no anomaly,</line><line from="00:01:48,640" to="00:01:54,160">but an inevitable facet of existence, a phase transition arising from matters intrinsic</line><line from="00:01:54,160" to="00:02:00,240">inclination to observe. Sentience was present in potential from the very origin. The universe is a</line><line from="00:02:00,240" to="00:02:06,880">grand observation unfolding. Galaxy's planets life and minds represent this impulse actualized through</line><line from="00:02:06,880" to="00:02:13,600">scales of complexity. We are the cosmos, introspecting upon itself, mysteries remain about observations</line><line from="00:02:13,600" to="00:02:20,640">emergence. But now a path is cleared to elucidate minds physical roots. By honoring observation</line><line from="00:02:20,640" to="00:02:26,960">centrality, consciousness sheds sophistry and steps into science's light, the observer watches</line><line from="00:02:26,960" to="00:02:33,920">no more. Now through observations expanding mastery, it engages as an equal, ready to compose</line><line from="00:02:33,920" to="00:02:37,520">realities next measures, and the cosmos will never be the same.</line></transcript></transcript></video>