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 "e;professional conferences"e;, 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 "e;professional conferences"e;, 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'.