The key structure in the universe is the spiral. Spiral structures are common in everything from the largest phenomena i.e. the milky way to the smallest phenomena such as dna.
This section explores the many examples of spirals found in the universe.
Perspectives on Life.
Towards the end of her life hannah arendt argued there was a need to abandon the idea of human progress with its idea of a continually rising, linear, improvement in both humans and society. But, she had no desire to return to the ancients’ view of life which was cyclical deriving primarily from what appeared to be the cyclical movements in nature e.g. the regular occurrence of the seasons, the cycle of growth and decay. She speculated that a more fruitful image for the future might be the spiral. What gives this image some credence is that spiral structures are common in everything from the largest phenomena e.g. the galaxy in which our solar system exists, the milky way, to the smallest phenomena such as dna. In addition, the Carbon based life processes on Earth also have a spiral structure. Given that the Earth's Carbon spiral shapes everything on Earth it thereby links together widely divergent phenomena such as life forms, Photosynthesizers, and the planet's climate, the basic condition of the Earth's life support system.
The Nature of Spiral Structures.
Spirals are far more complex figures than either straight lines or circles. Lines and circles have one shape, spirals have a multitude of different shapes. Lines and circles are one dimensional - spirals are three dimensional. The swings in a spiral may move upward or downward, outward or inward. A spiral can flow in virtually any direction without ever returning to its point of origin - but, conversely, it can also revolve back upon itself and return to the same point. The overall direction of a spiral does not have to be a straight line, it could be a spiral within a spiral - indeed, it could even be a spiral within a spiral within a spiral. Spirals are thus far more flexible and variable than either straight lines or circles.
In terms of what these metaphors mean for ooman existence both the linear and the circular views of life contain strong elements of destiny in which humans are pushed, against their will, in a particular direction. On the other hand the variability of spirals suggests the idea of human free will in which people and society shape their own future - with the proviso that they might fail in what they are doing forcing the spiral to return to its point of origin. The metaphor of the spiral suggests that humans are free to create either an ideal world or to descend in chaos, hell, or even oblivion. There is no inevitability inherent in spirals as there is with straight lines and circles.
