Re: [asa] Quantum quackery

This may have something to do with the so-called "Consciousness causes
collapse" interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, which you can read about at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consciousness_causes_collapse

I think that quite a number of high profile physicists have some quite weird
theories of consciousness and quantum mechanics, possibly because
consciousness is an unsolved problem. One notable proponent of theories of
consciousness, tying it in with possible theories of quantum gravity, is the
British mathematician Roger Penrose (author of "The Emperor's New Mind", and
also a long time collaborator with Stephen Hawking).

A friend of mine, who is an evangelical Christian, and also has a PhD in
theoretical physics and keeps up with what is going on in physics in
general, says he thinks a paradigm shift is underway, and whereas now the
idea is that consciousness is an emergent property of the fundamental laws
of nature, it may be in the future that consciousness is regarded as the
fundamental property from which the physical laws emerge. It does of course
sound like just the sort of stuff that would interest a New Ager. However,
some of the brightest physicists seem to be moving that way. Apparently,
Lee Smolin, a prominent critic of String Theory, has proposed an alternative
called "Quantum Loop Gravity", which supposedly leads directly to this view
of consciousness as fundamental. I'm afraid it's all a bit beyond me, but
it has something to do with the microstructure and connectedness of the
universe at distances of order of the Planck length being similar to the
structure of the brain.

That's about as much as I know. It doesn't sound as though it's "quackery"
except that in my experience, speculations about the nature of Quantum
Mechanics always end up in hours of metaphysical discussion that never seems
to lead anywhere.

Regards,
Iain

On 9/19/07, Brent Foster <bdffoster@charter.net> wrote:
>
> I am following a discussion on another list. It's in the off-topic section
> of a forum that has nothing to do with science or faith. OK it's a dog
> forum! Anyway one of the regular posters is in the habit of infusing
> discussions with New Age b.s. The latest is that, because of the
> Copenhagen interpretation of QM, all matter is concious. I don't even know
> where to start. After a little net research I figure she may have picked up
> that belief from some popular books or movies. I am not getting involved
> with the discussion; I would be fighting against a deeply entrenched world
> view. But it has opend up a whole new fascinating realm of intellectual
> garbage that I didn't know was out there. Anybody on the list have any
> dealings with QM - Quantum Mysticism that is.
>
> Brent
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
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