About the Missive Project

A reboot manual ... needs to nurture the recovery of scientific investigation and provide the most worthwhile kernels of knowledge to begin exploring.
-- From The Knowledge by Lewis Dartnell


I'm one who believes that global civilization is likely to fail catastrophically in the reasonably near future, ushering in a very dark age.

The purpose of this blog is exploration toward the creation of a Missive -- a memeplex transmitting kernels of our present knowledge of the universe and ourselves (wisdom) for the use and benefit of future generations.

By kernels, I mean succinct formulations foundational to present knowledge. Ideally, these should orient future investigators on sure footing along pathways which - as they are followed - reveal the rest.

In its finished form, it must be a) transmissible across troubled times, and b) accessible to those who would use it as a starting point for reconstructing knowledge. I feel that its language must be simple, beautiful, easily memorized and transcribed and, preferably, useful at any point along the route of transmission.

In this pursuit, I have been inspired by the Seldon Plan within Asimov's Foundation Trilogy, purposing to shorten the dark age between the fall of one civilization and the rise of the next. By Lovelock's A Book for all Seasons, purposing to embody all current knowledge. By Dartnell's The Knowledge, which purposes to provide both survey and introduction to key technologies underpinning civilization's reconstruction. By Feynman's Single Sentence approach, which purposes to seed future investigation by providing key, initial information.

As I see it, the project goals are to:

• Assemble Missive text transmitting wisdom, useful information and procedures, kernels of knowledge for eventual 'unpacking', and such historical information as seems helpful.
  
• Render Missive text in simple, poetic language, accessible to persons living in  near feral conditions, culturally removed from our current givens.
  
• Embody Missive text (and/or illustrations) in book form (and possibly others), which is beautiful, durable and compact.
• Distribute the Missive widely, and provide it a social foothold. 

This blog will primarily consist of drafts, 'notes to self' and a 'scratch pad' for various approaches. While I hope it may converge on at least semi-final draft versions, the results may only be used to attract and inform more able wordsmiths. At each point, kernel content is provisional and subject to review.

I'd be glad for thoughtful reader input, and I thank you in advance for any comments you care to share. Unfortunately, I'll only be able to respond selectively, if at all.

I'm particularly interested in hearing of pithy encapsulations of a branch of knowledge. It should be self-contained (or build on concepts already provide by the project) and provide a starting point which will 'unfold' as it is pursued. Feynman's Single Sentence is a fine example.

Thanks for participating!

Dave Z