Integrating the Tree of Knowledge and Combogenesis Approaches to Big History

This chapter delves into the evolution of complexity from the Big Bang to the present, challenging the traditional Big History thresholds proposed by David Christian. It introduces a convergence model that integrates the Tree of Knowledge System by Gregg Henriques and the Combogenesis approach by Tyler Volk, proposing a shift towards a 'Big History 2.0' framework. The model highlights five key points of agreement, including the distinction between combogenesis and aggregate patterns of emergence, and the identification of new realms of complex adaptive behavior. These realms, characterized by novel PVSR-dynamics (propagation, variation, selection-and-retention), include the biological, animal-mental, and human socio-cultural dimensions. The chapter also explores additional considerations, such as the potential PVSR-dynamics in the emergence of the Matter dimension and the human social process of science. By offering a more comprehensive map of evolutionary dynamics, this chapter provides a compelling argument for advancing the field of Big History and invites further scholarly discourse on the process of complexification and periodization.