Richard Watson's New Theory of Life as a Song: Resonance & Harmonic Relationships in Living Systems

Prof. Richard A. Watson
Institute for Life Sciences/ Department of Computer Science (Agents, Interaction and Complexity group), University of Southampton
"Hello, I am a scientist, academic lecturer, author and…a human - doing their best to live a life well.
My research expertise links evolutionary biology and computer science with a desire for personal and societal well-being. I investigate big questions about life, learning, evolution, cognition and love."

Timestamps follow these links to Richard's theory set forth in five episodes:
Episode 1:    • Songs of Life and Mind: Part 1a  
Episode 2:    • Songs of Life and Mind: Part 1b,c  
Episode 3:    • Songs of Life and Mind: Part 2  
Episode 4:    • Songs of Life and Mind: Part 3a  
Episode 5:    • Songs of Life and Mind: Parts 3b,c  

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:20 Richard's background.
02:18. The algorithm of evolution by natural selection cannot explain the origin of life, the evolution of evolvability, and the transitions in individuality.
16:00 Dominance (serving the focal point) produces unity in art.
18:18 The physics of guitar strings, frequency, vibrations and the synchronized movement of the molecules.
23:00 The role of context and environment in shaping the dynamics of living systems. The role of tension and stress in living systems
31:00 Placebo and Healing
36:00 Exploring the idea of life as a song, discussing how stress and tension can lead to transformation and growth, and creativity in natural selection.
40:30 The Creative Engine of Evolution, The tension between optimizing and harmonizing within a structure of possibility space.
57:37 Viscoelastic Connections in Natural Induction Networks
1:00:00 The connection between learning and the adjustment of relationships in a system
1:10:15 The possibility of resonance and harmonic relationships in living systems suggests a top-down causation story and heritability of a dynamical process.
1:26:17 The shape and form of an organism resonates with the song that the genes were singing.
1:33:06 A calculus that links shape, form, geometry, computation, optimization, and learning using the language of songs and harmonies.