Quantum Mechanics vs. Consciousness - A Perspective

 

Quantum Mechanics vs. Consciousness - A Perspective

Does quantum mechanics (QM) represent reality? Can QM explain consciousness, free will, and spirituality ?

So long as the inner workings of QM remain a black box devoid of a mechanistic/physical understanding, its mysteries, paradoxes, and internal inconsistencies would keep it paralyzed to represent the ultimate reality and consciousness/spirituality.

Recently, there have been active discussions as part of the Renee Reeser Zelnick’s - April 23, 2007 IB post related to the SCIENCE & CONSCIOUSNESS conference in Santa Fe as well as the Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR) posts by DK. The following perspective on QM and its strengths and weaknesses may be helpful in addressing these discussions.

Quantum Mechanics: Richard Feyman (1918-1988):

“I think it is safe to say that no one understands Quantum Mechanics.” (Richard Feynman)
“One does not, by knowing all the physical laws as we know them today, immediately obtain an understanding of anything much.” (Richard Feynman, Quantum Mechanics)

“The more you see how strangely Nature behaves, the harder it is to make a model that explains how even the simplest phenomena actually work. So, theoretical physics has given up on that.” (Richard Feynman, Quantum Mechanics)

Quantum mechanics (QM) is a great theory that has revealed the inner details of the inanimate matter allowing us to make great materialistic advances and electronic gadgetry such as cell phones, HDTV, computers, internet etc. However, QM’s application to consciousness and spirituality is highly questionable because of the following fundamental inconsistencies and flaws as presented in my book - “The Hidden Factor: An Approach for Resolving Paradoxes of Science, Cosmology, and Universal Reality.” The deficiencies and incompleteness (as Einstein noted) in QM formulations are the root causes that fail quantum mechanics to predict 96% of the universe limiting its successes to only predicting the classical matter (4%). This is also evidenced by the fact that quantum mechanics predictions of the vacuum energy (the cosmological constant) of the empty space are in error by horrendous 120 orders of magnitude. The deficiencies in QM are as follows:

1. The Heisenberg Uncertainty, which forms the basis of quantum mechanics, is commonly but mistakenly understood as the basis for consciousness or free will. This uncertainty is not inherent in nature but an artifact of the chosen measurement method by science that is applicable or accurate only for measurements in the classical or fixed space and time.

The errors inherent in this method for measuring the behavior of common heavier particles such as atoms and molecules are small and hence have contributed to the known successes of quantum mechanics in everyday technological applications in the material world.

However, the errors get amplified to almost infinite amounts when applied to the very small new and allusive fundamental particles proposed for high energy physics investigations, wherein the relativistic effects become extremely important.

Because of these errors and inconsistencies, the physics of the very small remains allusive leading to the still unresolved paradoxes of quantum mechanics at the most fundamental level such as the Measurement or Observer Paradox and the quantum gravity. Since the phenomenon of consciousness operates at very small scales (below Planck’s scale), quantum mechanics arguments are inappropriate for its description.

2. Counter to the common knowledge and assumptions, uncertainty can never be the basis for the free will. A free will can exist only in conjunction with certainty and eternity of the natural laws of the universe. For example, one cannot walk up straight at own free will if there is no certain and unchanging law of gravity. A randomly varying and uncertain law of gravity would deny the free will to be able to walk up straight.

3. Quantum mechanics relies upon the observations of a conscious observer without which there would be no quantum reality or quantum mechanics. However, there is no scientific description of the observer that brings quantum mechanics into reality or existence. The vicious circular logic that is often used by experts in science and other fields is that on one hand quantum mechanics is often used as a basis to explain consciousness, while quantum mechanics itself relies on the consciousness of the observer.

4. One of the fundamental assumptions made by quantum mechanics and quantum cosmology is that the net mass-energy of the universe is zero. The standard Big Bang model is based on this completely arbitrary assumption. The artifact of this very assumption (mistakenly) leads to the presumed existence of anti-matter that is nowhere to be found, to cancel out the net positive energy of matter in the universe. And, similarly the anti-particles, again not observed as yet as a stable entity in the same amount as the real matter, have to be presumed to cancel out the actual particles. Ultimately, one mistake leads to another, and a whole virtual world has to be (mistakenly) created that represents the so-called virtual world.

Bottom line, symmetry arguments are only artifacts of mistaken assumption of the zero wholesome energy of the universe (since the mainstream science believes that the universe is nothingness because some religious folks and scriptures said so) and not the underlying reality of nature. Truth or spirituality can be founded only on the basis of reality and not myths or mistaken assumptions.

Mainstream quantum mechanics particle physics theories are incomplete (as Einstein said too), and appropriate for applying to spirituality and consciousness. The quantum mechanics is marred with serious unexplained and unresolved paradoxes such as -quantum gravity, dark energy, dark matter, Big Bang or black hole singularity, and unseen or inexperienced multiple universe and multi-dimensions beyond 4 space-time dimensions etc.

The mainstream science has gracefully failed to advertise these embarrassing failures of quantum mechanics and have been able to hide them under the beautiful rug of its successes in the domain of matter and particles on local scales, and in electronic gadgetry and toys mesmerizing the common folks. Unfortunately, these material successes fail badly to explain consciousness and concepts needed for describing spirituality. It is impossible to use a mystery or black box to explain another bigger mystery.

Using QM to explain consciousness is like using blindness to explain light. The Quantum Observer or Measurement paradox assures the blindness of QM to the extent that it even makes the existence of the universe an unexplained mystery or myth in itself.

A more consistent scientific basis of consciousness and free will is shown to be the spontaneous decay of the particles or masses via converting to the zero-point energy wherein the space-time dilates to zero representing the eternity and omnipresence. This new innovative approach to consciousness, defined herein as the Holistic Relativity, is also shown to resolve the current paradoxes of quantum mechanics, general relativity, and cosmology. Unfortunately, the mainstream science is too overwhelmed with its materialistic mainstream theories and not ready as yet to open up to such a new innovative out-of-the-box approach.