THE FOUR SEASONS OF QUANTUM MYSTICISM The article offers a historical genealogy of the so-called “quantum mysticism” argument, i.e. the tendency to consider quantum mechanics in accordance with issues coming from Eastern mysticism or New Age spirituality. Specifically, the article retraces the four historical phases of the debate on quantum consciousness, namely, the idea that consciousness (the human mind) plays a determining role in the process of quantum reduction, showing how the debates within the scientific community and the pseudoscientific drifts in mass culture are closely intertwined
THE FOUR SEASONS OF QUANTUM MYSTICISM The article offers a historical genealogy of the so-called “quantum mysticism” argument, i.e. the tendency to consider quantum mechanics in accordance with issues coming from Eastern mysticism or New Age spirituality. Specifically, the article retraces the four historical phases of the debate on quantum consciousness, namely, the idea that consciousness (the human mind) plays a determining role in the process of quantum reduction, showing how the debates within the scientific community and the pseudoscientific drifts in mass culture are closely intertwined
This paper argues that a European controversy over a 'mystical' hypothesis, one assigning the mind a role to play at the material level of reality, shaped much of the debate over the interpretation of the quantum equations. It traces back the controversy to the past two decades, beginning in the late 1920s—birth of quantum theory—and concluding with Erwin Schrodinger's lectures published as 'Mind and Matter'. Becoming aware of the issues at stake can help us understand the historical, philosophical and cultural background from which today's physics emerged.
The purpose of this article is to analyze through a critical, dialectical and analytical (scientific) debate "quantum consciousness" supposedly manifested in quantum experiments, in order to check the correctness of current speculations on the subject. The "quantum consciousness" is being propagated by some quantum physicists, by laymen and by speculators. The existence of this consciousness is the "holy grail" for a specific group of speculators, the "quantum prophets." For them a new theology begins to be created aiming to give a scientific nature to their old belief systems, religious or mystical, or, more radically, establish a new scientific-religious system.
Mystical powers of consciousness, including the direct vision of truth and management a reality, are believed to exist. Various directions of spiritual knowledge, including world religions, deal with these phenomena. Many people are persuaded that mystical events cannot be explained by scientific methods, that they contradict to science. Suggested by the present author Quantum Concept of Consciousness, or Extended Everett Concept, proves that mystical powers have their origin from what is known in quantum mechanics as quantum reality, and therefore are inherent part of science. Therefore, the “mystical” aspect in the sphere of consciousness is a common part of science and spiritual knowledge.
This text exposes, from a general historical perspective, the emergence and recent development, within the western scientific community, of the so-called “Quantum Theories of Consciousness” (QTC). A brief explanation is carried out attending, in chronological order of first publication, to the main QTC proposals that address the so- called “hard problem of consciousness”, starting from postulates of philosophy and quantum physics, theoretical springs that maintain an open and transversal dialogue with other disciplines such as neuroscience, chemistry, biology, psychology or cognitive sciences. Keywords: Mind-matter, philosophy of mind, neuroscience, chemistry, biology, psychology, cognitive sciences, quantum physics, consciousness, neuroquantum analogy.
Over the past decade, discussions of the roles that quantum mechanics might or might not play in the theory of consciousness/mind have become increasingly sharp. One side of this debate stand conventional neuroscientists who assert that brain science must look to the neuron for understanding, and on the other side are certain physicists, suggesting that the rules of quantum theory might influence the dynamics of consciousness/mind. However, consciousness and mind are not separate from matter. Submicroscopic world of the human brain give rise to consciousness, mind. We are never able to make a sharp separation between mind and matter. Thus ultimately there is no “mind†that can be separated from “matter†and no “matter†that can be separated from “mindâ€. The brain as a mixed physical system composed of the macroscopic neuron system and an additional microscopic system. The former consists of pathway conduction of neural impulses. The latter is assumed to be a quantum mechanical many-body system interacting with the macroscopic neuron system.
Over the past decade, discussions of the roles that quantum mechanics might or might not play in the theory of consciousness/mind have become increasingly sharp. One side of this debate stand conventional neuroscientists who assert that brain science must look to the neuron for understanding, and on the other side are certain physicists, suggesting that the rules of quantum theory might influence the dynamics of consciousness/mind. However, consciousness and mind are not separate from matter. Submicroscopic world of the human brain give rise to consciousness, mind. We are never able to make a sharp separation between mind and matter. Thus ultimately there is no “mind” that can be separated from “matter” and no “matter” that can be separated from “mind”. The brain as a mixed physical system composed of the macroscopic neuron system and an additional microscopic system. The former consists of pathway conduction of neural impulses. The latter is assumed to be a quantum mechanical many-body system interacting with the macroscopic neuron system.