Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

CRC Press eBooks

Epilogue: No “Marketplace”

Sadri Hassani

Published May 7, 2010• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum physics and relativity are the two pillars of modern physics. Often in this context, the word “modern” is misused as an antonym of “classical.” The abstract and mathematical nature of both quantum and relativity theories makes them easy target for abuse in the hands of the purveyors of mysticism. We shall see some detailed examples of the abuse of quantum theory in Chapter 35. It will be shown there how New Age authors misrepresent quantum physics to their readers and use some twisted interpretation of the theory to advocate a parallel between quantum physics and Eastern mysticism.

DOI
10.1201/9781439882849-40

Related papers

Epilogue: No “Interpretation”

Sadri Hassani

Quantum mechanics has given scientists valuable lessons in how science works. Unfortunately, it has also been misinterpreted and misrepresented by pseudoscientists and portrayed as an antipode of classical physics. As a result, the majority of the educated public is confused about both the quantum theory and classical Newtonian physics and the relation between the two. We postpone the examination of the misrepresentation of the quantum theory in pseudoscience until Chapter 35. This chapter concentrates, in part, on the characteristics of the theory and how it is similar to (and different from) the classical theory.

CRC Press eBooks•May 7, 2010•0 citations

Eastern mysticism and the alleged parallels with physics

Eric R. Scerri

The claims for parallels between modern physics and Eastern mysticism are critically examined in view of their possible educational impact. The overall nature, as well as specific examples of parallelism, are considered in order to emphasize the problems faced in trying to maintain the validity of such claims. The role of analogies within physics is briefly discussed.

American Journal of Physics•Aug 1, 1989•12 citations

The New Vision of Reality: Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism

Fritjof Capra

I am a physicist, and my main interest over the past fifteen years has been in the dramatic change of concepts and ideas that has occurred in physics during the first three decades of the century. These are still being elaborated in our current theories of matter. The new concepts in physics have brought about a profound change in our world view: from the mechanistic world view of Descartes and Newton to a holistic and

•Jan 1, 2016•1 citation

Quantum theory and its interpretation

Alexander E. Wendt

Introduction Chapter 1 dealt with one of the deepest mysteries in modern science: how to explain consciousness. This Part deals with another mystery: how to make sense of quantum mechanics. Both involve a problem of reconciliation with the classical worldview, which is one hint that the two mysteries might be related. A second is that, unlike classical physics, which makes no reference to or allowance for consciousness, quantum theory raises the issue of consciousness and its relationship to the physical world in a very direct way. These hints do not necessarily mean there is a connection between the two mysteries, but by the end of this Part I hope to have shown why it would be natural to look for one. My more immediate aim here is to give the social scientific reader an introductory understanding of the experimental findings of quantum theory, its key concepts, and the debates about its interpretation. The discussion assumes no prior knowledge of quantum physics and makes no use of mathematics. Quantum theory without equations might seem like an oxymoron, and certainly reading this Part will not enable anyone to use quantum theory. But to a perhaps surprising degree it is possible to understand quantum theory without being able to use it. Its findings can be communicated in ordinary language, and the same goes for its main concepts and interpretive debates. One consequence of this has been the emergence of a virtual cottage industry of books on quantum theory for a lay audience. Most are written by physicists, and many are quite good. However, it is not just popular treatments that do without equations: much of the professional philosophical literature does as well. (I draw on both kinds of literature below.) Philosophers of physics are trained to understand the math, of course, which is necessary for a full appreciation of the issues.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Apr 20, 2015•55 citations

Modern Physics: From Crisis to Crisis

Jimena Canales

The first decades of the twentieth century were marked by two revolutionary scientific accomplishments, the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, with repercussions still felt today. Relativity theory and quantum mechanics became the two most important branches of “Modern Physics” that emerged as an alternative to “Classical Physics” (a term often used interchangeably with that of “Newtonian” or “Galilean” physics). No field of science (from astronomy to the life sciences), no field of knowledge (from philosophy to sociology), and no artistic practice (from architecture to the fine arts) was left untouched by these investigations into the nature of our physical universe.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Aug 29, 2019•0 citations

О ПАРАЛЛЕЛЯХ МЕЖДУ МИРОВОЗЗРЕНИЕМ ДРЕВНЕГО ВОСТОКА И ТЕОРЕТИЧЕСКОЙ ФИЗИКОЙ

С Б Булекбаев, Кабыл Халыков

In the article, the authors, based on the latest achievements of transpersonal and quantum psychology andmodern non-classical physics, reveal Parallels that were once noted not only by the great physicists of thetwentieth century, starting with Einstein, but also by other physicists and the twenty-first century. Interestin analogies between the ideas of modern science and the ideas of Eastern wisdom is also caused by thefact that a number of major discoveries of quantum-relativistic physics, psychology, and other Sciences, astime has shown, can not be explained within the framework of the traditional Newtonian-Cartesian model ofthe world, which was based on materialistic philosophy. Moreover, it was revealed that quantum relativisticphysics and relativity theory are based on a worldview very similar to that of a Hindu, Buddhist, or Taoist.This similarity is especially enhanced if the two theories are combined to explain the phenomena of themicroscopic world: the properties and interactions of the elementary particles that make up all substance(matter). Here, the Parallels between modern physics and Eastern mysticism are not only noticeable, butsometimes it is almost impossible to distinguish whether they are made by physicists or Eastern mystics.

Central Asian Journal of Art Studies•Apr 14, 2020•0 citations
Quantum physics and relativity are the two pillars of modern physics. Often in this context, the word “modern” is misused as an antonym of “classical.” The abstract and mathematical nature of both quantum and relativity theories makes them easy target for abuse in the hands of the purveyors of mysticism. We shall see some detailed examples of the abuse of quantum theory in Chapter 35. It will be shown there how New Age authors misrepresent quantum physics to their readers and use some twisted interpretation of the theory to advocate a parallel between quantum physics and Eastern mysticism.
Quantum mechanics has given scientists valuable lessons in how science works. Unfortunately, it has also been misinterpreted and misrepresented by pseudoscientists and portrayed as an antipode of classical physics. As a result, the majority of the educated public is confused about both the quantum theory and classical Newtonian physics and the relation between the two. We postpone the examination of the misrepresentation of the quantum theory in pseudoscience until Chapter 35. This chapter concentrates, in part, on the characteristics of the theory and how it is similar to (and different from) the classical theory.
Introduction Chapter 1 dealt with one of the deepest mysteries in modern science: how to explain consciousness. This Part deals with another mystery: how to make sense of quantum mechanics. Both involve a problem of reconciliation with the classical worldview, which is one hint that the two mysteries might be related. A second is that, unlike classical physics, which makes no reference to or allowance for consciousness, quantum theory raises the issue of consciousness and its relationship to the physical world in a very direct way. These hints do not necessarily mean there is a connection between the two mysteries, but by the end of this Part I hope to have shown why it would be natural to look for one. My more immediate aim here is to give the social scientific reader an introductory understanding of the experimental findings of quantum theory, its key concepts, and the debates about its interpretation. The discussion assumes no prior knowledge of quantum physics and makes no use of mathematics. Quantum theory without equations might seem like an oxymoron, and certainly reading this Part will not enable anyone to use quantum theory. But to a perhaps surprising degree it is possible to understand quantum theory without being able to use it. Its findings can be communicated in ordinary language, and the same goes for its main concepts and interpretive debates. One consequence of this has been the emergence of a virtual cottage industry of books on quantum theory for a lay audience. Most are written by physicists, and many are quite good. However, it is not just popular treatments that do without equations: much of the professional philosophical literature does as well. (I draw on both kinds of literature below.) Philosophers of physics are trained to understand the math, of course, which is necessary for a full appreciation of the issues.
The first decades of the twentieth century were marked by two revolutionary scientific accomplishments, the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, with repercussions still felt today. Relativity theory and quantum mechanics became the two most important branches of “Modern Physics” that emerged as an alternative to “Classical Physics” (a term often used interchangeably with that of “Newtonian” or “Galilean” physics). No field of science (from astronomy to the life sciences), no field of knowledge (from philosophy to sociology), and no artistic practice (from architecture to the fine arts) was left untouched by these investigations into the nature of our physical universe.
In the article, the authors, based on the latest achievements of transpersonal and quantum psychology andmodern non-classical physics, reveal Parallels that were once noted not only by the great physicists of thetwentieth century, starting with Einstein, but also by other physicists and the twenty-first century. Interestin analogies between the ideas of modern science and the ideas of Eastern wisdom is also caused by thefact that a number of major discoveries of quantum-relativistic physics, psychology, and other Sciences, astime has shown, can not be explained within the framework of the traditional Newtonian-Cartesian model ofthe world, which was based on materialistic philosophy. Moreover, it was revealed that quantum relativisticphysics and relativity theory are based on a worldview very similar to that of a Hindu, Buddhist, or Taoist.This similarity is especially enhanced if the two theories are combined to explain the phenomena of themicroscopic world: the properties and interactions of the elementary particles that make up all substance(matter). Here, the Parallels between modern physics and Eastern mysticism are not only noticeable, butsometimes it is almost impossible to distinguish whether they are made by physicists or Eastern mystics.