Light, Wave-Mechanics, and Consciousness

Bertrand Wong

The paper describes the relation between quantum particles, consciousness, the unified field theory and relativity. According to Dirac, light can be treated as waves or particles. In fact, in quantum mechanics, particles are regarded as waves. The behaviour of these particles can be predicted, as it were, and, they are thus known as probability waves or Dirac wave particles. There is a wave/particle duality here. When the particle is not observed (when consciousness is not present), it remains a wave (a probability wave), but upon being observed (when consciousness is present) it becomes a particle. Hence, the evident importance of the part played by consciousness in quantum mechanics. A number of scientists had postulated that there must be a “cosmic consciousness” pervading the universe; objects spring into existence when measurements are made, measurements which are made by conscious beings, which implies that there must be cosmic consciousness that pervades the universe determining which state we are in - some scientists, e.g., Nobel laureate Eugene Wigner, had argued that this is proof of the existence of God or some cosmic consciousness. Wigner had remarked that it was not possible to formulate the laws of quantum theory in a fully consistent way without reference to consciousness. Consciousness or “mind-force” is evidently a potent force in nature. The mind is part, an indispensable part, of nature. Scientists such as David Bohm and Werner Heisenberg, as well as many other scientists, evidently understood this fundamental aspect. Classical philosophers such as Berkeley and Hume had wondered whether the existence of any object was independent of the existence of the mind or consciousness: If I had never seen (never been aware of) an object, does that object exist? Thus, even if a unified field theory or theory of everything were obtained, it will still not give a complete picture of nature if consciousness were excluded. There should therefore be a complementary General Theory of Consciousness. This General Theory of Consciousness will be a very important aspect in our search for the ultimate truth. Many scientists, e.g., David Bohm, Wolfgang Pauli, John von Neumann, Arthur Eddington, Roger Penrose, George Wald, etc., had declared that the universe is mind-stuff. The capabilities of the human mind are so unique that no intelligent

Varanasi Ramabrahmam

Attemp;ts are being made to use quantum mechanics as a probe to unravel the mysteries of consciousness. This paper examines this probe, quantum mechanics and its usefulness in getting an insight of working of human consciousness. The formation of quantum mechanics based on certain axioms, its development to study the dynamical behavior and motions of fundamental particles and quantum energy particles moving with the velocity of light, its insistence on wave functions, its probability approach, its dependence on uncertainty principles will all be critically discussed. The result of this discussion will be presented. Its limitations in unraveling the form, function and biological nature of consciousness will be presented. The alternative probe available and being used - the translation of Upanishadic insight and Advaita philosophy into cognitive science elements in delineating the definition, form and function of Consciousness will be given. The usefulness of this modeling and analysis in understanding the consciousness, mind and its functions in cognitive science and theory of human language acquisition and communication will also be presented. The physic-chemical nature of ideas, senses, thoughts, feelings, utterances will be grossly dealt with. The functions of consciousness and mind, in knowledge and language acquisition and communication will be dealt with.

Richard A. Mould

William Seager

David Bohm is famous for inventing a ‘hidden variables’ interpretation of quantum mechanics, in which particles possess definite positions and momenta, but nonetheless preserve distinctively quantum phenomena perfectly in line with orthodox quantum mechanics. Bohm achieved this by interpreting the quantum wave function as a kind of universal ‘guidance wave’. But his particulate model does not represent the lesson which Bohm thought quantum mechanics was trying to teach us. Bohm had a much more radical metaphysical vision in which the world was, in some difficult to understand sense, an undivided whole. In this paper, I explore a compelling confluence of thought between William James and David Bohm. Arriving from very different starting points and proceeding in very different ways, they share a vision of a unitary world, undivided and ‘beyond’ all the categories of thought and perception. This vision is intrinsically interesting, not least because of the light it shines on the problem of consciousness. It both addresses and presents an entirely novel solution to the famous ‘hard problem of consciousness’.

Max R. Bennett