This article was originally published in Dopeness Economics.
For some time, I’ve been looking for a word that sums up the betterment of life on Earth in a way that holds cultural appeal. Although I operate from a distinctive mindset relative to the average human and have little regard for conventional norms, I do care that my work ultimately benefits society. At my best, I am idealistic and radical without fear of being authentic — however unusual or disruptive I might be. On a good day, this free-spirited nature inspires others to embrace their own freedom and individuality. The challenge that I navigate in my work is to successfully convey impactful ideas without disregarding the pressures of conformity. In other words, I operate within the paradox of shattering regressive paradigms while building rapport and trust with others.
Enter the concept of Dopeness. Most people will intuitively understand what this word means, even though there is no formal definition. There are few colloquial terms that have held such visceral meaning through consecutive generations, especially in North America. Whether a person is elderly or pubescent, uttering the words dope or dopeness will evoke something in them. What makes this expression so fascinating is that the breadth of meanings spans from defamation to exaltation and the moods it conveys range from stoic to excited. Herein lies the magic of this word — overflowing with meaning, it grants each individual the freedom of interpreting it for themselves within their own context.
Figure 1: Evolution of the word “dope” towards positive connotation
The powerful feelings evoked by the words dope and dopeness are highly context-dependent. When used as an adjective, the word dope almost always signifies excellence and approval. The noun dopeness is complimentary, given that the word is derived from the adjective dope rather than the noun or verb. For decades, Black communities have been the wellspring of linguistic innovation, where everyday expressions are imbued with a rich, transformative history that shapes modern language. The positive connotation of dopeness began in the 1970s, when the adjective “dope” was embraced in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and subsequently popularized within hip-hop and street culture by artistic visionaries such as Tupac Shakur and Queen Latifah. Even in this positive context, dope and dopeness retain some degree of edginess beyond the ordinary due to their historically controversial vestiges dating back to the 1800s. This sparks curiosity and draws in consciousness, setting the stage for a renaissance in the linguistic presence of the term dopeness.
dopeness (noun)
i. Noun formation from the adjective “dope”, which was popularized in the 1970s from jazz and later hip-hop culture with a predominantly positive connotation. In modern colloquial usage, “dopeness” refers to a quality or state of being remarkable or impressive.
ii. An emergent quality of exceptional creativity, innovation, and intrinsic value that transcends its constituent parts. For example, a co-created human system such as the Burning Man experience that exhibits economic utility far exceeding the sum of inputted energy and resources.
iii. The signature of high-order coherence in the quantum structuring of reality itself. An exaltation of awe-inspiring possibilities emerging from the unified quantum field reflecting the degree to which the unfolding of existence retains its connection to the deeper generative intelligence of wholeness.
From my experience, the sense of dopeness emerges when I witness something that is almost too good to exist. To encounter dopeness feels like touching the ineffable, thus transcending the ordinary. Triggered by resonance with a phenomenon that is simultaneously unexpected yet deeply “right”, my brain and body come alive with intense pleasure—reward circuits firing, heart quickening, awareness sharpening into crystal clarity. Emotions such as surprise, awe, and joy bring about a refreshing sense of freedom and draw from me the impulse to exclaim “that is dope!” My encounter with this novel aspect of creation expands the possibilities in my universe and instills within me the deepest conviction that my life matters.
Fundamentally, I understand dopeness as a metaphysical phenomenon— the tangible result of harnessing “quintessence”, which represents a ubiquitous, intangible field of possibility that underlies all aspects of reality. In a practical sense, “harnessing quintessence” refers to tapping into deeper layers of existence—beyond currently visible forms of energy or matter—in ways that unlock latent potential and allow novel possibilities to emerge. In other words, I am suggesting that there is something more fundamental than the physical reality we can directly observe, and that this “something more” can imbue our lives, endeavors, and creative expressions with extraordinary qualities (i.e. “dopeness”).
The etymology of the word “quintessence” is rooted in the Medieval Latin term quinta essentia, which means “fifth essence/being”. In his dialogue Timaeus, the Greek philosopher Plato connected each of the four classical elements (fire, earth, air, water) with the initial four Platonic solids (tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, and icosahedron respectively), while associating the dodecahedron with the arrangement of the cosmos itself. Later, Aristotle proposed the concept of aether as a fifth element or “quintessence”—an incorruptible substance that filled the heavenly spheres beyond the terrestrial realm of the four elements. Medieval Renaissance philosophers would eventually synthesize these ideas, associating the dodecahedron with the element of aether.
Figure 2: Platonic solids, stellation, and quintessence
The geometry of a stellated dodecahedron provides a helpful visualization for my understanding of quintessence. Stellation is the process of extending the faces or edges of a three-dimensional solid beyond their original boundaries until they intersect to form an expanded, often star-like, figure. Starting from the original dodecahedron, which Plato used to describe the structure of the whole cosmos, the stellated dodecahedron could be seen to represent an exaltation of the physical Universe—an infusion of quintessence, or aether, that expands all existence. Interestingly, theoretical mathematicians would argue that stellating a dodecahedron technically does not increase its volume because of “signed volume” related to self-intersection. Naïvely, I visually observe an obvious physical expansion that calculates to roughly 55.5% more mass and which appears to align closely with the Golden Ratio. This mathematical twist has fascinating parallels with the dynamic tension between hidden order and emergent potential manifesting in the physical world.
In modern physics, quintessence represents a hypothetical form of “dark energy” that might explain why the Universe’s expansion is accelerating. While this scientific concept shares some interesting parallels with my metaphysical notions of quintessence, the differences are significant. The quintessence field in cosmology operates primarily on extremely large scales, affecting the fabric of spacetime across billions of light-years. The effects of this quintessence would be virtually undetectable at human scales, let alone “harness-able” in any meaningful way. However, the mathematical framework of quintessence modeled as a scalar field that pervades space and influences cosmic evolution provides an evocative metaphor for understanding how subtle underlying fields might shape reality.
This brings us to the work of theoretical physicist David Bohm, whose remarkable journey through the golden age of physics placed him at the center of both scientific breakthroughs and Cold War politics. As a doctoral student at Berkeley under J. Robert Oppenheimer, Bohm made crucial contributions to the Manhattan Project through his work on plasma physics and the scattering of protons and deuterons—though ironically, his leftist political views led to him being denied security clearance to access his own classified research. Bohm’s mastery of quantum mechanics led him to Princeton, where he formed a deep intellectual friendship with Albert Einstein. Together they grappled with the fundamental nature of reality, sharing a profound dissatisfaction with the conventional Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics.
Figure 3:
HH the Dalai Lama has referred to David Bohm as his “science guru”
Building on insights gained from his early work in plasma physics—where he observed electrons behaving as part of an interconnected whole rather than as individual particles—David Bohm developed a fundamentally new way of understanding quantum mechanics and the nature of reality itself. He introduced a unified quantum theory by which the observable world of space and time (explicate order) unfolds from a deeper, more fundamental level of reality (implicate order). This implicate order is similar to what Lao Tzu named the Dao—a fundamental wholeness beyond duality, from which all things emerge in a dynamic unfolding process. In essence, the implicate order is the enfolded wholeness from which potential realities emerge, dynamically shaping our manifest world.
The interplay between implicate and explicate orders is a continuous dance between the visible and invisible realms, where the explicate order doesn’t simply arise from the implicate but maintains an ongoing “dialogue” with it through simultaneous unfoldment and enfoldment in the now. Just as waves arise from and return to the ocean, manifest reality perpetually emerges from and dissolves back into wholeness, creating a dynamic interplay that sustains the cosmos. This continuous exchange reveals reality as a living, breathing process rather than a static manifestation—and herein we find a scientific framework to explore the fundamental principles of “harnessing quintessence” to realize dopeness.
A key concept in Bohm’s theories is the quantum potential—a mathematical expression that governs the behavior of subatomic particles in a way that defies classical physics. Unlike familiar forces such as gravity or electromagnetism that weaken with distance, the quantum potential is fundamentally nonlocal and exists outside of time. Its influence remains constant regardless of spatial separation or temporal duration, suggesting an intrinsic interconnectedness where every point in the Universe is intimately influenced by the whole across both space and time. This quantum potential functions as an informational field that guides the unfolding of explicate reality according to deeper patterns within the implicate order. Rather than seeing particles as isolated entities randomly colliding through space, Bohm’s framework reveals them as expressions of an unbroken, holistic movement orchestrated by an active, structuring intelligence embedded within the implicate order itself—termed the Holomovement.
Dopeness, viewed through the lens of David Bohm’s scientific framework, is not merely a personal or cultural phenomenon—it is the signature of high-order coherence in the quantum structuring of reality itself. It reflects the degree to which the unfolding of existence retains its connection to the deeper generative intelligence of wholeness. In the moments where dopeness is present, reality is not merely happening—it is singing, resonating in harmony with the most exalted possibilities within the implicate order. To participate more fully in this reality-expanding unfolding, we can explore twelve fundamental principles that operate not as sequential steps but as interconnected aspects of a single movement, applying equally to individual consciousness and collective human systems.
Unfolding: Emergence from implicate wholeness
- Authenticity
Being fully connected to one’s unique essence, such that what emerges from the self is the most natural, pure, and radiant expression possible. - Embodiment
Being fully present with one’s experience in the now, from the most subtle to the most intense aspects, such that the entirety of emergence is expressed. - Curiosity
Being proactively receptive to all emergence, such that natural creative potential unfolds in a playful, unrestricted, and spontaneous manner. - Equanimity
Being non-attached to all matters of pleasure and pain, such that the present moment is experienced with full acceptance amid continuous change.
Becoming: Co-creation with explicate reality
- Calibration
Perceiving the reality as it is without biases, distortions, or illusions, such that what arises from action resonates with the most coherent possibilities. - Boundaries
Honoring self and other by practicing sensitivity, respecting sovereignty, and being honorable, such that individual parts of the whole remain in coherence. - Responsiveness
Interacting with other from an engaged, sincere, and accountable disposition, such that the confluence of energies gives rise to creative possibilities. - Reciprocity
Giving and receiving as one unconditional movement, such that energy circulates freely in generative cycles that expand possibility for all parts.
Enfolding: Reconciliation with implicate wholeness
- Complexity
Embracing that reality unfolds in ways that are non-linear, interdependent, and stochastic, such that there is space for the mystery to express itself fully. - Magnificence
Appreciating beauty as a fundamental force rather than superficial aesthetics, such that structural harmony naturally reveals the whole beyond the parts. - Benevolence
Choosing to exist in a Universe that is intrinsically and ultimately supportive of Life, such that all may be the reflection of safety, trust, and surrender. - Interconnectedness
Fathoming that every part contains the whole, such that every thought and action ripples through all as a single holistic movement of consciousness.
Dopeness is our birthright. Few species on Earth channel art, discovery, and transcendence the way humans do. The twelve principles above are remedies for the destructiveness that arises when our powers of imagination, inquiry, and ingenuity spring from separateness rather than wholeness. Dopeness is a microcosm of ineffable macrocosmic wonders—a call to embody wholeness with our presence, thoughts, and actions. We each get to express the kernel of our unique relationship to existence through our shared engagement with others and the collective zeitgeist, woven as one holistic movement of consciousness unfolding in real time. In this cosmic narrative, dopeness stands as a central theme—the burst of pure potential forever weaving itself into form.
