Christopher Langan is a man with a very high IQ. I mean INCREDIBLY high. He has an IQ of around 195, which is considered to be genius level. He is known to be one of the smartest people in the country, and in the world. Based on my reading, Langan has an advanced understanding of mathematics, philosophy and logic. He has also worked as a bouncer for many years.
It's hard to imagine someone with a genius IQ working as a bouncer. But Langan is a unique individual. I suppose he is not so interested in the traditional trappings of success. (Well, that, and there were many logistical challenges for him to be able to use his mental gifts in a way that would make sense for him). Apparently, he would rather spend his time thinking about big ideas and helping others understand his mental processes.
The CTMU
Langan has written extensively about philosophy and cosmology. He is the author of the Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU). This theory focuses on mind and reality, and self-simulation. He discusses reality as self-configuring and self-processing. His theory is his way of describing absolute truth, The Theory of Everything, and God. It is described as a meta theory, as it discusses how theories are made. Based on my research, he doesn’t subscribe to a religion in a way that’s similar to how most people practice their religious beliefs. I think the way he uses his mind to tackle difficult problems could be a spiritual practice in itself.
His published work can be found on various sites, and there is a wiki devoted to this theory. The CTMU community wiki page provides an extensive number of links about the theory and other resources. This wiki page provides a very basic discussion of the theory. Langan has gained many followers for his work, and he seems passionate about using his intelligence to arrive at a novel understanding of topics that have deep significance.
Is His Theory Earth Shattering or Difficult to Prove, Or Both?
The CTMU is a theory of everything that attempts to unify all of the known laws of physics, mathematics, and philosophy into a single coherent framework. Langan argues that the CTMU is a self-organizing system, that is constantly evolving and changing. He also argues that the CTMU is capable of creating new information and that it is the source of consciousness. Various intellectuals have been fascinated with aspects of it, and found it to be inspiring. Others have found it to have some logical issues. Yet it is difficult to know if they are understanding it as much as they could be.
Criticism of the CTMU
The CTMU has been criticized by some for being too complex and for lacking empirical evidence. However, Langan has defended the CTMU, arguing that its complexity is necessary to account for the complexity of the universe. Langan has also argued that the CTMU is not falsifiable, meaning that it cannot be disproven by any experiment. So, my question is: is this a cult, or is this work of historic importance written by someone who seems to have four brains compacted into one? That’s not for me to determine.
The Future of the CTMU
It remains to be seen whether the CTMU will be accepted by the scientific community. However, Langan is a passionate advocate for the CTMU and he continues to work on developing and refining it. He believes that the CTMU has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the universe and our place in it. His writings have been published and brief summaries are available online. I don’t recommend trying to read his work without gaining familiarity with the basics, since it is so intellectually daunting. There are summaries and explanations of Langan’s writings online.
A Non-Traditional Background
Christopher Langan was born in San Francisco, and the family moved quite a bit. He was raised by a single mother. He lived on an Indian Reservation for awhile, then he lived in Nevada, and after that Montana. He had a very difficult childhood. His mother married four times, and he was often bullied at school. He grew up with severe financial hardships. Economic and logistical issues prevented him from advancing academically at his pace (which was very fast), or having the resources he needed. He skipped grades, yet he often had to study on his own, and he pursued his own intellectual interests. Apparently, he would flip through books in minutes and understand the content of it. He easily passed his exams with stunning results.
He didn’t complete college because of various issues with him being challenged, being able to attend, and finding a program that was worthwhile to him. His academic journey is kind of humorous in a dark way – he probably could have taught the college classes after browsing the textbooks over a few days or weeks. But Langan never gave up. He worked hard towards his personal goals, and he eventually gained recognition for his mental talents.
For how smart and rare he is, he seems to be humble. He has worked as a construction worker, farmer and a rancher. He had ordinary concerns and lifestyle priorities. Given the extensive difficulties in his upbringing, I don’t think he had the opportunities to pursue academic professional goals. However, even then, he probably would have surpassed many highly educated colleagues studying and working at universities. He used his intelligence in his own way, and lived like everyone else.
Luckily, there are High IQ societies that have provided a sense of a social network for Langan. He appears to be intrigued by IQ test challenges. He became an active participant in the very select community, the Ultra High IQ group –The Mega Society. I can only imagine what people in this group discuss! It’s probably extremely mentally challenging. The topics might include logic problems, math theories, the universe, space and time, the humanities, civilizations, what it’s like to be High IQ, and more. (That’s my average guess on what their discussions and writings could be about).The Neosis publication features work by people in this group.
Langan’s interests over the years have included physical fitness, research, as well as writing about his theories. He maintained an impressive fitness regimen over the years. He also owns a small ranch with his partner, who has an advanced degree in neuropsychology. They live in Missouri and seem to have a down-to- earth lifestyle. There are some videos on YouTue that show him on his ranch property – surrounded by his gym equipment, computer and white boards, discussing his interests in interviews.
So there you have it. The smartest bouncer in America. A man with a genius IQ who lives like anyone else, and has struggled with the bills. Langan is a reminder that intelligence is not just about book smarts. It's also about compassion, humility, and a willingness to challenge oneself. In my view, it is tragic that he didn't receive more advanced education support for his gifts during his upbringing from the city, state, or from schools around the country. In many ways, he is a persistent individual. He found his own ways to use his cognitive talents to offer unique contributions to society.
If you would like further information about Langan, visit these sites: