What is unorthodox in this book? Much has happened in the last few years, especially in terms of the somewhat surpris­ ing rate at which the theories presented herein have been gaining increasing acceptance and support even by the most skeptical professionals. Nevertheless, the purpose of this up-dated Preface is not to tell the biographical and acceptance story behind this book, but to bring together some non-physical and non­ technical conclusions for those readers who find the physico-mathematical sections of this book too difficult to follow. A secondary purpose is to present here some newer conclu­ sions, especially in general philosophy and in aesthetics. Yet, the main physico­ philosophical conclusions presented in this book are not to be summarized here. For that purpose one must tum to the text itself. * * * The theories presented here have been developed in total isolation. They were never presented in "professional conferences", as most current writers do. Whether or not that was important remains to be seen. Hence, all I can state to critics and enthusiastic follow­ ers alike is the fact that I do not belong to any ''formal discipline'', ''pressure group'', or ''pro­ fessional organization''.

What is unorthodox in this book? Much has happened in the last few years, especially in terms of the somewhat surpris­ ing rate at which the theories presented herein have been gaining increasing acceptance and support even by the most skeptical professionals. Nevertheless, the purpose of this up-dated Preface is not to tell the biographical and acceptance story behind this book, but to bring together some non-physical and non­ technical conclusions for those readers who find the physico-mathematical sections of this book too difficult to follow. A secondary purpose is to present here some newer conclu­ sions, especially in general philosophy and in aesthetics. Yet, the main physico­ philosophical conclusions presented in this book are not to be summarized here. For that purpose one must tum to the text itself. * * * The theories presented here have been developed in total isolation. They were never presented in "professional conferences", as most current writers do. Whether or not that was important remains to be seen. Hence, all I can state to critics and enthusiastic follow­ ers alike is the fact that I do not belong to any ''formal discipline'', ''pressure group'', or ''pro­ fessional organization''.

What is unorthodox in this book? Much has happened in the last few years, especially in terms of the somewhat surpris­ ing rate at which the theories presented herein have been gaining increasing acceptance and support even by the most skeptical professionals. Nevertheless, the purpose of this up-dated Preface is not to tell the biographical and acceptance story behind this book, but to bring together some non-physical and non­ technical conclusions for those readers who find the physico-mathematical sections of this book too difficult to follow. A secondary purpose is to present here some newer conclu­ sions, especially in general philosophy and in aesthetics. Yet, the main physico­ philosophical conclusions presented in this book are not to be summarized here. For that purpose one must tum to the text itself. * * * The theories presented here have been developed in total isolation. They were never presented in "professional conferences", as most current writers do. Whether or not that was important remains to be seen. Hence, all I can state to critics and enthusiastic follow­ ers alike is the fact that I do not belong to any ''formal discipline'', ''pressure group'', or ''pro­ fessional organization''.