Nested Hierarchies: The Universal Fractal of Existence

 

 

Nested Hierarchies: The Universal Fractal of Existence

By  H.Asif

When we peer into the fabric of existence, a striking pattern emerges—a nested hierarchy that stretches from the most minute of cells to the grandest of cosmic structures, traversing existence itself and touching almost every level, leaving behind a footprint of its presence.

Let’s explore this nested hierarchical fractal or pattern in various forms existing in nature. We can start by looking at the very basic unit of life: the single cell. This pattern begins with the single cell, a microcosm of life buzzing with the synchronized dance of molecules. Each cell, in its delicate choreography, joins with others to form tissues, which in turn assemble into organs. What binds these units together, making each level more than just the sum of its parts, is communication—a dance of signals, interactions, and relationships. Within any given level, horizontal communication knits the constituent elements into a unified whole. Cells, for example, are held together by bioelectrical fields, as noted by Michael Levin’s exploration of multi-scalar intelligence, which describes how bioelectric fields create a cohesive morphospace, enabling problem-solving at the cellular level. Levin’s work reveals that cells are not just isolated entities; they are parts of a grand conversation, exchanging bioelectrical signals that allow them to operate as a single, functional unit within an organ.

But communication does not stop at horizontal exchanges. There is also a vertical interplay between the nested levels, each influencing and shaping the other. Within an organ, cells communicate through bioelectric fields, while organs themselves might connect hormonally or through neural networks, forming a nested structure of information flow. For instance, cells in the kidneys communicate with their neighbors through electrical synapses, forming the organ with its various intricate filtering functions, but the kidney as an organ speaks to the brain via hormonal messengers, which in turn might trigger a rapid neural response. This layering of communication systems creates a dynamic, multi-tiered network where each level informs and is informed by the others. These organs don’t merely exist in isolation; they interact, communicate, and collaborate, forming the body—a vessel of selfhood that hosts sensations, thoughts, and emotions. The body as a biological unit thus is composed of intricate symphonies of interconnected systems.

Now let’s get out on the surface of the body and see how this body interacts with other bodies, forming stable systems of interaction in a family unit—a more complex layer where individual selves contribute to a shared dynamic. Communication or information exchange between different members of the family remains the key component—a glue to keep them together as a family entity. It is very much like cells coming together to form an organ, sharing problem-solving responsibilities for this entity called the family. Families, in their turn, are contained within communities, and communities form the bedrock of larger societal structures—regional, national, and ultimately, global. Like Russian dolls, each layer is enveloped by the next, creating a universal tapestry where smaller units coalesce to form larger, coherent holes.

Now let’s take our curious eyes and minds to another system where our thoughts seem to mirror this hierarchy: sensory inputs fuse into images, images synthesize into concepts, and concepts combine into abstract ideas. At the top of this hierarchy is meta-cognition—our ability to reflect upon thoughts, to stand at the summit of our cognitive landscape and view the cascading layers below. Quite amazingly again we find the same principle of nesting in operation.

Now, let’s go into another closely related physiological system, our nervous system, and you might not be surprised anymore to see this fractal in operation. Take a neuron in the periphery and see how the collection of neurons in the periphery contributes to a bundle of nerves. These bundles of nerves, composed of neurons, as they rise up towards the brainstem, form nuclei by clustering and synchronizing their relays, and these nuclei form synchronous relays towards the cortex, where they enter into the hierarchical system of the cortex.  And within the six-layered cortex itself opens another nesting system—, billions of neurons stack into orderly mini-columns, forming micro-columns, which then merge into macro-columns. These macro columns coalesce into Brodmann areas, which further organize into lobes, and lobes into hemispheres.

This nested arrangement not only facilitates communication within its layers through nerve impulses but also coordinates across levels to enable the body’s full perceptual and executive capabilities—a living testament to the hierarchical design of life.

 In this light, the nervous system itself is a masterpiece of nested hierarchies, weaving together neurons, nerves, nuclei, and neural networks into a seamless whole that governs our sense of self and interaction with the world. Every perception we experience engages this entire hierarchy, each level singing in unison to create the symphony of consciousness.

This system of nested hierarchies is not confined to biological life alone; it echoes through the very architecture of the universe, where planets nest within solar systems, which themselves are part of galaxies, and within galactic clusters, the fractal pattern persists. If we stretch our imagination, we might see this fractal pattern as a universal constant—a cosmic blueprint that underpins not just the structure of physical entities but also the formation of ideas and consciousness itself.

Now, imagine applying this fractal lens to the enigma of consciousness. From a physicalist perspective, we might propose that consciousness arises from nested hierarchies of matter—where complex molecules form cells, cells build organs, and organs are nested in a cohesive body carrying somatic self our earlier primordial sense of self . this somatic sense of self  reaches its apex in the reflective, narrative self—our “I,” which emerges as the pinnacle of a multi-layered network of selves. Each level, from the rudimentary cellular self to the complex emotional and narrative self, contributes to the larger phenomenon of consciousness.

In this view, self-reflective consciousness is not merely a feature of the highest level; it is an emergent property of nested selves. Even lower levels of this hierarchy, like cells and organs, may possess rudimentary forms of awareness or responsiveness, but it is only at the topmost level that self-reflection and narrative identity come into full bloom. 

We can speculate that multiple narrative selves might coexist within us, each tuned to different aspects of our experience, converging into a higher observing self—a meta-self capable of overseeing and integrating these diverse inner voices.

This concept echoes in mindfulness practices from Eastern philosophies, where cultivating an observing awareness fosters greater coherence and flexibility within the mind. Through these practices, one learns to navigate the nested layers of self, improving the flow of information between them and enhancing overall well-being. In advanced states of meditation, practitioners report experiences of non-dual awareness, where distinctions between self and other dissolve, hinting at the possibility of accessing a higher, unified level of consciousness—perhaps the ultimate nesting level of the mind.

From an idealist perspective, one could argue that all matter, and the nested hierarchies it forms, arises from a primordial consciousness—a “mind at large.” Here, the fractal nesting is not merely a physical process but an unfolding of consciousness itself, revealing the interconnectedness of all existence. This view suggests that the hierarchical structures we observe in nature are reflections of the inner workings of this universal mind, with consciousness at every level, from the molecular to the cosmic, resonating with the pulse of existence.

Whether viewed from the lens of physicalism or idealism, the nested hierarchies emerge as a profound principle that may hold the key to understanding not only the nature of life and consciousness but the very structure of reality itself. It invites us to consider that at the deepest level, all is interconnected—each layer a reflection of a grander whole, each part a participant in the universal dance. As we explore the nested hierarchies of our own consciousness, we may find ourselves peering into the heart of existence, glimpsing the fractal design that binds the universe together in an intricate web of life, thought, and being.

References:

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