One of my favorite scientific constructs is the idea of model-dependent realism. Essentially that many theories can explain the same observable phenomena, all can be true, some simply more complex than others.

I love finding clear spiritual concepts explained in hard science and vice versa. I’ve written this basic article on model-dependent realism and a more advanced article on the paradigm shifts that occur during a spiritual awakening.

“The goldfish view is not the same as our own, but goldfish could still formulate scientific laws governing the motion of the objects they observe outside their bowl. For example, due to the distortion, a freely moving object would be observed by the goldfish to move along a curved path. Nevertheless, the goldfish could formulate laws from their distorted frame of reference that would always hold true. Their laws would be more complicated than the laws in our frame, but simplicity is a matter of taste.”
— Stephen Hawking & Leonard Mlodinow The Grand Design

The term model-dependent realism was coined by physicists attempting to explain theoretical work to the public. (Although I love this little book, I think that Chris Langan covered this territory more accurately and conclusively in his interview with Spike Jonze.)

Basics of model-dependent realism

I want to do the concept justice so I highly recommend you read Hawking’s book, or at least the portion dealing with this concept. Hawking and Mlodinow invented the term “model-dependent realism” to explain the idea of how multiple physics theories might interact to.a lay audience. They suggest that when there are multiple models to explain the same phenomena, they are all true, but some are more complex than others.

For instance, a fish in a fishbowl might have to come up with increasingly elaborate models to predict the strange curved behavior of the world around him. A simpler algorithm that takes into account that he lives in a curved environment would also explain the phenomena he observes, only do it more simply — elegantly so to speak. (This isn’t my metaphor, its Hawkings, and this drawing is too priceless not to include.

Over time, and with increased resignation, I can heartily conclude that a spiritual awakening is just a replacement of the strange curved behavior of my life, with increasingly simple concepts such as tat tvam asi, memento mori, and ho'oponopono.

Model-dependent realism and skeptics

If you’re a skeptic, model-dependent realism is one place we might be able to meet in the middle. Quantum physics allows for all kinds of nonlinear behavior from matter.

Much of what psychic people claim to experience is reality occurring outside of time and space. My theories of my observable universe might be equally as true as yours are where the observable phenomena coincide.

It’s very common that I experience phenomena of very low probability. My friends who don’t have spiritual interests often observe the phenomena and comment on the unlikely and specific nature of the events. The low probability and temporal association is a shared observation.

But my friends and I interpret the phenomena differently according to our theories of life. I interpret unlikely, and convenient events this as synchronicity and direct messaging from the universe, usually in answer to a request or question I have made. But my friends just say its “weird” or “lucky”

I leave it to you to decide if my theories are simpler than yours or that of my friends. (I will however point out that Deadpool agrees with me that luck is a very valid superpower :)

Model-dependent realism and spiritual awakening

If you’re having a spiritual awakening, and you used to be a skeptic, at some point things will become too goddamn specific. You’ll say “luck”, “luck”, “luck”, “weird”, “weird”, “weird”, then “fuck you God, seriously, fuck you”.

Something sooo personal, so specific, so temporally unlikely and so unpleasant will happen to you that you will finally take it very, very personal that the universe is fucking with you.

Which is usually about the time you wake up.

This is when you will really need model-dependent realism to stay sane. You need to focus on shared observable phenomena, and let the models change as rapidly as they need to. You will have phenomena that is not shared and that can be helpful, comforting, and/or informative, but it’s not what you need to maintain track of to stay stable and functional in the physical world.

Be willing to trade a complex model for a simpler model if it fits the shared observable universe. That’s it, thats a spiritual awakening. Simpler models, still fits the shared observable facts.

Congratulations you are a sane mystic. The world needs more of us. Also remember Newton, Mark Twain and other hyper-functional luminaries of science and skepticism are fall in this category.

Model-dependent realism and spiritual awakening for skeptics conclusion

Model-dependent realism is a term coined by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow to describe to the lay public how multiple theories could overlap in physics. I think its a very clear scientific descriptor for the paradigm shifts someone undergoes during a spiritual awakening. Its also a very good tool for a skeptic undergoing a spiritual awakening to use to stay (relatively) sane and communicate effectively about their experiences with friends who are not so open.