INTRODUCTION:

Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) claimed to have heard the call from God several times, and although she troubled herself with various problems at the time of each calling, she was always drawn to what she called God's laws. In fact, she frequently referred to God's laws in her Suggestions for Thought, which was a three-volume work that presented her radical spiritual views for those who had turned away from conventional religion¹. Conversely, her work raises the following question: Did she attempt to explain the existence of God by mentioning God's laws? In the title of her work, the expression Suggestions for Thought can be either scientific or philosophical. However, in this case, it is suspected that she attempted to explain science-based instead of God-based laws. Therefore, this paper examines the relationship between God's calls, God's laws, and Nightingale's philosophy^2,3 as explained by chaos theory.

The approach for this explanation is twofold. First, the organization of Nightingale's thoughts and God's calls are explained as a process of decreasing entropy⁴ beyond the Feigenbaum point^2,3,5. Second, the relationship between chaos theory and Nightingale's in-depth philosophy is explained. Since Edward Norton Lorenz recognized chaos theory in 1961, more than 50 years after Nightingale's death, she never formally understood it. However, she did intuitively understand some aspects of chaos phenomena through her personal experiences and attempted to scientifically explain God's laws.

METHODS:

Explanation of the Chaos Theory

Definition of chaos theory

Explanation of chaos equation and definition of chaos theory were reported^3,6. "Definition of chaos theory", "Relationship of continuous covariation to chaos theory", "Relationship of Entropy to Chaos Theory", "Relationship of Entropy to Thermodynamics" and "Relationship of Entropy to Thinking" in it is outlined below.

Relationship of continuous covariation to chaos theory

A representative chaos equation is given as

(1)

In this case, Equation 1 means the same as Equations 2 and 3:

　　　　　　　　(2)

　　　　　　　 (3)

Since the calculations in Equations 2 and 3 are alternately repeated, the solutions for Z(n) and Y (n) are in an ordered spiral chaos state. According to Equation 1, as Y (n) is determined, Y (n + 1) changes. However, once Y (n + 1) replaces Y (n) in Equation 1, Y(n + 2) changes. Thus, Y (n) is unable to settle into its original pre-chaos value. This relationship means that once a variable transforms into another, it becomes unable to settle into its original value or, as defined above, a correlated variable relationship that is equivalent to covariation. Hence, the relationship between Y (n) and Y (n + 1) in Equation 1 is covariation, and this relationship must continue to sustain the chaotic state. If no correlated variable relationship exists between the variables, then a chaotic state cannot be confirmed. There are complete and converging fixed states, localized and expanded chaotic states, and random states, mathematically. Converging process is not required in complete fixed state.

Continuous covariation being correlated variable is required for the occurrence of converging fixed and chaotic phenomena⁷, and complete fixed or randomness answers are produced without covariation. Parts F, G, and H represent converging fixed, localized chaotic, and expanded chaotic states in Figure 1. Each the vertical axis and the horizontal axis are equivalent to "Y (n)" and "p" in Equation 1. An arrow is the Feigenbaum's point⁵.

Relationship of Entropy to Chaos Theory

In statistical mechanics, entropy is a random function that includes no absolute direction. As seen in Figure 1, increasing entropy is equal to the direction from Parts F to H, while decreasing entropy represents an anti-random state, which is equal to the direction from Parts H to F. Each direction is decided by the value of "p" in Equation 1.

Figure 1. A schema of fixed and chaotic states in chaos theory.

Parts F, G, and H represent converging fixed, localized chaotic, and expanded chaotic states. The arrow is the Feigenbaum point.

Relationship of Entropy to Thermodynamics

According to Styer⁴, entropy (the second law of thermodynamics) never decreases for isolated systems. In addition, many scientists incorrectly believe that the law of increasing entropy is indicated in all energies; thermal energy is not equal in all energies. Thermal energy is the energy a substance or system includes in relation to its temperature, i.e., the energy involved in moving molecules. Therefore, the second law of thermodynamics may not indicate energy without matter.

In fact, there is no phenomenon that includes increasing entropy between two different electromagnetic waves. In addition, when there is no movement of matter, the increase of entropy becomes non-absolute. The cause of increasing entropy can only be explained through the directional force of gravity, and in energy without matter, entropy may be constant^7,8.

Relationship of Entropy to Thinking

The process from the chaotic to the fixed state includes the methods of rearranging thoughts. In addition, the information randomly collected is unified into one thought by these processes; There are a number of methods of organizing thoughts, such as the SEIQoL-DW (Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life-Direct Weighting) method, the KawakidaJiro (KJ) method, Theoretical Substruction, Mind Mapping, Counseling, and Dialectics. The relationship of the chaos equation to the SEIQoL-DW method⁶, the KJ method⁹ and Counseling method¹⁰ can be explained as the direction from Parts H to F, as seen in Figure 1.

Relationship of God to Florence Nightingale

Relationship of decreasing entropy to God’s calls in Nightingale

Nightingale had heard calls from God four times¹¹. Nightingale believed she heard her first calling from God on February 7, 1837. At the time, she questioned the purpose of her life in the upper classes and pondered about the need for charity and the causes of poverty and unemployment. Seven years later, she decided to become a nurse. Because her parents were opposed to the idea of her becoming a nurse, she was troubled.

Nightingale heard the second call from God in 1851. Her father, familiar with her way of thinking, allowed her to train as a nurse. She was troubled about many problems while nursing at the military hospital during the Crimean War in 1854, when she heard the third call from God. She could believe her environmental theory by this call. Nightingale was a health consultant to the United States Army health during the American Civil War in 1861. She was bedridden due to an illness, which prevented her from continuing her work as a nurse.

Because she had to consult with no nursing practice, she might trouble herself. She heard the fourth call from God in 1861 and never stopped campaigning to improve health standards. She heard the four calls from God when she was troubled and in a chaotic state. And she was always drawn to what she called God's laws by their calls.

The calls she heard can be explained as a process of decreasing entropy beyond the Feigenbaum point. It is equivalent to a direction from Part H to Part F in Figure 1. Thus, the calls from God in Nightingale may be explained by the chaos theory.

Relationship of decreasing entropy to God’s laws in Nightingale

God's laws were used in Suggestions for Thought by Florence Nightingale¹. By suggestions for thought, she means a method to organize thoughts from a chaotic to fixed state, not as a continuous chaotic state or to a more chaotic one. Because chaos theory was recognized in 1961, after her death, by Edward Norton Lorenz¹², she was never aware of a scientific term for this organizing phenomenon. Therefore, it is thought that she used God's law to explain a process of this phenomenon.

Relationship of God's laws to God’s calls for Nightingale

Nightingale's mention of God's calls and God's laws both demonstrate decreasing entropy. This means that her thought changed from a God-based to science-based expression. She might have desired to share her perspective on the scientific process of God's laws, but without actual knowledge of entropy or chaos theory, she could only intuitively mention such aspects. In this case, it can be suggested that Nightingale believed in God's law of thought instead of God himself.

Relationship of chaos theory to God for Nightingale

For Nightingale, both God’s calls and laws can be explained as a process of decreasing entropy beyond the Feigenbaum point¹³. In addition, decreasing entropy can be explained by chaos theory as the direction from Parts H to F in Figure 1. Therefore, Nightingale's idea of God can be explained by chaos theory.

Relationship of Chaos Theory to Nightingale's Philosophy

Chaos theory had never been reported during Nightingale's life. However, she could have experienced various chaos phenomena in her lifetime, but to understand such a theoretical method would have forced her to subconsciously organize her thoughts. According to this hypothesis, her idea of God's laws becomes equal to chaos theory and correspond with God's calls in her philosophy.

RESULTS:

Continuous covariation is required in chaos phenomena, and both increasing and decreasing entropy can be explained by chaos theory. For increasing entropy in the second law of thermodynamics, there exists only the force of gravitation on mass. In regard to decreasing entropy, the phenomena exist for thinking with no mass. Nightingale's circumstantial experience with chaos phenomena would have developed her personal philosophy. Therefore, it can be suggested that she indirectly understood chaos phenomena through her personal experiences.

However, although she troubled herself with various problems at the time of each calling from God, she was always drawn to what she called God's laws. In addition, she might have subconsciously expressed scientific law as God's laws. Therefore, God's laws and calls for Nightingale may be explained by chaos theory.

DISCUSSION:

As a medical doctor who has treated many patients, this author discovered a difference between physical phenomena with mass and living phenomena. If the second law of thermodynamics is absolute, then entropy always increases⁴. However, it is an increasing cause in which there is only the force of gravitation with mass. In addition, three aspects should be noted: 1) Repulsive force does not exist in gravitation, 2) fever is a phenomenon that expresses the movement of mass, and 3) thermodynamics are also laws that express the movement of mass. Therefore, the second law of thermodynamics is not an absolute law for phenomena such as thinking without mass.

Entropy that is used in statistical mechanics has no relationship to the direction of time. However, increasing entropy is understood as a so-called arrow of time in the second law of thermodynamics. Therefore, this author hypothesizes that the second law of thermodynamics cannot be adapted to phenomena without mass^2,7 and, according to it, entropy can decrease in such phenomena. Thus, decreasing entropy is a direction from a chaotic state to a fixed state, as seen in Figure 1. Organizing thoughts in living phenomena is equivalent to decreasing entropy.

Florence Nightingale could not know chaos theory. However, although she troubled herself with various problems at the time of each calling from God, she was always drawn to what she called God's laws. It is equivalent to her organizing thoughts. Nightingale's circumstantial experience with chaos phenomena would have developed her personal philosophy. Therefore, it can be suggested that she indirectly understood chaos phenomena through her personal experiences. The dialectical method's relationship with chaos theory has already been reported¹⁴, and this author is submitting the relation of the chaos equation to dialectics. Philosophy may be explained by chaos theory.

A difference between a fixed point and chaotic state is given by changing "p" of Equation 1. Organizing thoughts is explained as changing "p" or "n" of Equation 1. Of course, it means that a law of organizing thoughts is explained as the character of some variables in the chaos equation. In many chaos equations, there is a variable such as "p" changing the state beyond a Feigenbaum point. "n" related to continuous covariation does not change the state beyond Feigenbaum point. Each "p" and "n" of Equation 1 is equivalent to human's thought and time. Many calculations such as "n" are equal to his experiences or time. The thought changing "p" can be attained only with repeated rearrangement of personal experience.

Because Nightingale did not know a word "chaos", she might have subconsciously expressed scientific law as "God's laws." It is a process of decreased entropy beyond the Feigenbaum point.

REFERENCES:

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Received on 14.07.2015 Modified on 28.08.2015

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 6(1): Jan.- Mar.2016; Page 81-84

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2016.00017.3