Vertical Causation and Consciousness Fundamentals

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop talks with Aaron Lowry about the shifting landscape of attention, technology, and meaning—moving through themes like treasure-hunt metaphors for human cognition, relevance realization, the evolution of observational tools, decentralization, blockchain architectures such as Cardano, sovereignty in computation, the tension between scarcity and abundance, bioelectric patterning inspired by Michael Levin’s research, and the broader cultural and theological currents shaping how we interpret reality. You can follow Aaron’s work and ongoing reflections on X at aaron_lowry.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00:00 Stewart and Aaron open with the treasure-hunt metaphor, salience landscapes, and how curiosity shapes perception.
00:05:00 They explore shifting observational tools, Hubble vs James Webb, and how data reframes what we think is real.
00:10:00 The conversation moves to relevance realization, missing “Easter eggs,” and the posture of openness.
00:15:00 Stewart reflects on AI, productivity, and feeling pulled deeper into computers instead of freed from them.
00:20:00 Aaron connects this to monetary policy, scarcity, and technological pressure.
00:25:00 They examine voice interfaces, edge computing, and trust vs convenience.
00:30:00 Stewart shares experiments with Raspberry Pi, self-hosting, and escaping SaaS dependence.
00:35:00 They discuss open-source, China’s strategy, and the economics of free models.
00:40:00 Aaron describes building hardware–software systems and sensor-driven projects.
00:45:00 They turn to blockchain, UTXO vs account-based, node sovereignty, and Cardano.
00:50:00 Discussion of decentralized governance, incentives, and transparency.
00:55:00 Geopolitics enters: BRICS, dollar reserve, private credit, and institutional fragility.
01:00:00 They reflect on the meaning crisis, gnosticism, reductionism, and shattered cohesion.
01:05:00 Michael Levin, bioelectric patterning, and vertical causation open new biological and theological frames.
01:10:00 They explore consciousness as fundamental, Stephen Wolfram, and the limits of engineered solutions.
01:15:00 Closing thoughts on good-faith orientation, societal transformation, and the pull toward wilderness.

Key Insights

1. Curiosity restructures perception. Aaron frames reality as something we navigate more like a treasure hunt than a fixed map. Our “salience landscape” determines what we notice, and curiosity—not rigid frameworks—keeps us open to signals we would otherwise miss. This openness becomes a kind of existential skill, especially in a world where data rarely aligns cleanly with our expectations.
2. Our tools reshape our worldview. Each technological leap—from Hubble to James Webb—doesn’t just increase resolution; it changes what we believe is possible. Old models fail to integrate new observations, revealing how deeply our understanding depends on the precision and scope of our instruments.
3. Technology increases pressure rather than reducing it. Even as AI boosts productivity, Stewart notices it pulling him deeper into computers. Aaron argues this is systemic: productivity gains don’t free us; they raise expectations, driven by monetary policy and a scarcity-based economic frame.
4. Digital sovereignty is becoming essential. The conversation highlights the tension between convenience and vulnerability. Cloud-based AI creates exposure vectors into personal life, while running local hardware—Raspberry Pis, custom Linux systems—restores autonomy but requires effort and skill.
5. Blockchain architecture determines decentralization. Aaron emphasizes the distinction between UTXO and account-based systems, arguing that UTXO architectures (Bitcoin, Cardano) support verifiable edge participation, while account-based chains accumulate unwieldy state and centralize validation over time.
6. Institutional trust is eroding globally. From BRICS currency moves to private credit schemes, both note how geopolitical maneuvers signal institutional fragility. The “few men in a room” dynamic persists, but now under greater stress, driving more people toward decentralization and self-reliance.
7. Biology may operate on deeper principles than genes. Michael Levin’s work on bioelectric patterning opens the door to “vertical causation”—higher-level goals shaping lower-level processes. This challenges reductionism and hints at a worldview where consciousness, meaning, and biological organization may be intertwined in ways neither materialism nor traditional theology fully capture.