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Quantum Mechanics and an Ontology of Intersubjectivity: Perils and Promises
Open Theology 2018; 4: 325–341 Intersubjectivity and Reciprocal Causality within Contemporary Understanding of the God-World Relationship Marc A. Pugliese* Quantum Mechanics and an Ontology of Intersubjectivity: Perils and Promises https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2018-0025 Received March 29, 2018; accepted August 3, 2018 Abstract: Contemporary theology has realized the importance of integrating what we know from the “new physics”—quantum mechanics and relativity theory—into the metaphysical and ontological categories used by theology to consider God, the world, and the God-world relationship. The categories of subjectivity and relationality have risen to prominence in these discussions. Both academic and popular presentations can obscure the vital distinction between what physicists agree on concerning quantum mechanics and the contested interpretation of quantum mechanics, or what quantum mechanics reveals about reality. After (1) summarizing the significant distinction between quantum mechanics per se and the interpretations of quantum mechanics and (2) the agreed upon quantum mechanical experimental procedure and its attendant mathematical formalism, as well as a few of the foremost interpretations, this paper (3) attempts a minimalist culling of some rudimentary but clear ontological principles and categories from what is agreed upon in quantum mechanics, without appeals—tacit or explicit—to one of the many controversial interpretations or to contestable philosophical assumptions and deductions, and these are: experience, subjectivity, -
Doubting Conventional Reality: Visual Art and Quantum Mechanics Lynden Elizabeth Stone BA LLM BFA (Hons) Queensland College Of
Doubting Conventional Reality: Visual Art and Quantum Mechanics Lynden Elizabeth Stone BA LLM BFA (Hons) Queensland College of Art Arts Education and Law Griffith University Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 2013 2 Synopsis Quantum mechanics give significant cause to doubt conventional reality. This exegesis answers the question of how visual art, in engaging with quantum concepts, can enable a viewer to doubt conventional reality. I argue that visual art can do this by an artwork’s capacity to provoke unconventional thinking in the viewer and by the artist’s prudent considerations of materials and metaphor. I discuss my own artworks and those of others to assess the capacity of such works to cause ruptures of expected reality and so enable a viewer to doubt conventional reality. In particular, I argue that my three ‘mind works’ projects (the Metaphase Typewriter revival project, the Mind Lamp project and the Mind dispenser) are successful (even just on a metaphoric level) in enabling a viewer to doubt conventional reality. Specifically, this is because they provide the viewer opportunities to interact with events of quantum superposition, using only consciousness, to arguably affect or even create material reality. 3 4 Statement of Originality This work has not previously been submitted for a degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is -
Rüdiger Vaas Institute of Philosophy, University of Stuttgart Posener Str
Why Quantum Correlates of Consciousness Are Fine, But Not Enough Rüdiger Vaas Institute of Philosophy, University of Stuttgart Posener Str. 85, D – 74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany [email protected] Abstract The existence of quantum correlates of consciousness (QCC) is doubtful from a scientific perspective. But even if their existence were verified, philosophical problems would remain. On the other hand, there could be more to QCC than meets the sceptic's eye: • QCC might be useful or even necessary for a better understanding of conscious experience or quantum physics or both. The main reasons for this are: the measurement problem (the nature of observation, the mysterious collapse of the wave function, etc.), ostensibly shared features of quantum phenomena and conscious phenomena (e.g., complementarity, nonspatiality, acausality, spontaneity, and holism) and connections (ontology, causation, and knowledge), the qualia problem (subjectivity, explanatory gap etc.). But there are many problems, especially questions regarding realism and the nature and role of conscious observers; • QCC are conceptually challenging, because there are definitory problems and some crucial ontological and epistemological shortcomings. It is instructive to compare them with recent proposals for understanding neural correlates of consciousness (NCC). QCC are not sufficient for a quantum theory of mind, nor might they be necessary except perhaps in a very broad sense; • QCC are also empirically challenging. Nevertheless, QCC could be relevant and important for the mind- body problem: QCC might reveal features that are necessary at least for behavioral manifestations of human consciousness. But QCC are compatible with very different proposals for a solution of the mind-body problem. -
Quantum Physics in Consciousness Studies
Quantum Physics in Consciousness Studies Dirk K. F. Meijer and Simon Raggett Review/Literature compilation: The Quantum Mind Extended* Contents: Introduction in Quantum aspects of brain function, p 1-19 Quantum approaches to neurobiology: state of art, p 19-31 David Bohm: Wholeness and the implicate order, p 30-39 Henry Stapp: Attention, intention and quantum coherence, p 39-44 Roger Penrose: Consciousness and the geometry of universe, p 45-54 Stuart Hameroff: Objective reduction in brain tubules, p 55-68 Hiroomi Umezawa and Herbert Frohlich: Quantum brain dynamics, p 69-72 Mari Jibu & Kunio Yasue: Quantum field concepts, p 72-76 Johnjoe McFadden: Electromagnetic fields, p77-80 Gustav Bernroider: Ion channel coherence, p 80-85 Chris King: Cosmology, consciousness and chaos theory, p 85-92 Piero Scaruffi: Consciousness as a feature of matter, p 92-94 Danko Georgiev: the Quantum neuron, p 94-98 Andrei Khrennikov: Quantum like brain and other metaphoric QM models, p 98-102 Hu and Wu/ Persinger: Spin mediated consciousness, p 103- 106 Chris Clarke: Qualia and free will, p 106- 109 Herms Romijn: Photon mediated consciousness and recent models, p, 110-114 Stuart Kauffman: Consciousness & the poised state p, 114-116 Post-Bohmian concepts of an of a universal quantum field, p 117-121 Dirk Meijer: Cyclic operating mental workspace, p 121-131 Amit Goswami: The vacuum as a universal information field, p 132-146 Simon Raggett: A final attempt to a theory on consciousness p, 146-157 Note on cited sources, p 158 References, p 158-175 Internetsites, p 175 1 Introduction in quantum aspects of brain function Since the development of QM and relativistic theories in the first part of the 20th century, attempts have been made to understand and describe the mind or mental states on the basis of QM concepts (see Meijer, 2014, Meijer and Korf, 2013,). -
CLASSICS Quantum Theory and Quack Theory
CLASSICS Scientific theories must always safeguard against pseudoscientists who think that the debates in science reflect the fact that the theory itself is incorrect. One example is the use of valid debates on the mechanism of evolution (natural selection, for example) to conclude that evolution itself is invalid, or debatable at best. And to claim therefore that bogus theories like creationism should get equal time in school textbooks. Another example are the paradoxes of Quantum Mechanics resulting from the postulate of wavefunction collapse in a measurement, which leads to a close connection between the observer and observed. This has led to many pseudoscientific theories about how parapsychological phenomena could be explained by QM. Wheeler's essay on why this is a quack theory, which resulted in his address to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) that it should reconsider its decision to “to dignify parapsychol- ogy by giving its researchers an affiliate status in the association”, is reproduced below. Vasant Natarajan Quantum Theory and Quack Theory May 17, 1979 Martin Gardner and John Archibald Wheeler Earlier this year, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Dr. J.A. Wheeler startled his audience by asking the AAAS to reconsider its decision (made ten years ago at the insistence of Margaret Mead) to dignify parapsychology by giving its researchers an affiliate status in the association. Here is the background to Wheeler’s explosive remarks. John Archibald Wheeler, director of the Center for Theoretical Physics at the University of Texas, is one of the world’s top theoretical physicists. -
Psi Possibilities
Psi Possibilities Hannah Jenkins Masters (Hons) Philosophy University of New South Wales 2003 Abstract This thesis undertakes an analysis of the current status of the evidence for psi. It argues that the current situation could indicate that modern science is in a crisis stage of a Kuhnian scientific revolution. This is based on an analysis of the nature of the dispute between those who maintain that psi does not exist and those who believe that psi is a possibility. In the course of this discussion the thesis looks at the representation of psi in general philosophy texts. It is shown that when psi is mentioned (often it isn't) the evidence is usually dismissed as insubstantial, this is contrasted with the growing field of academic inquiry into psi effects and the evidence presented for psi. Finally, some comm~nts are made about areas for future research in philosophy if psi is accepted as a possibility. Psi Possibilities: Abstract Contents Psi possibilities Introduction Chapter 1 What is Psi? 11 Chapter 2 What evidence is there for psi? 39 Chapter 3 What is being done with the evidence for Psi? 75 Chapter4 How can philosophy help? 95 Chapter 5 What are the psi possibilities? 114 Psi possibilities Conclusion 146 Psi possibilities Bibliography 151 Psi Possibilities: Contents Psi Possibilities: Introduction Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored Aldous Huxley The study of psi is a little-known and much maligned area of inquiry into the anomalous phenomena more commonly known as extrasensory perception and psychokinesis. It is also a fascinating field of investigation into phenomena which may hold the key to a new understanding of time, space, causality and consciousness. -
Psychokinesis
Psychokinesis “Telekinesis” redirects here. For other uses, see 1 Etymology Telekinesis (disambiguation). Psychokinesis (from Greek ψυχή “mind” + κίνησις The word 'psychokinesis’ was coined in 1914 by Amer- ican author Henry Holt in his book On the Cosmic Relations.[21][22][23] The term is a linguistic blend or portmanteau of the Greek language words ψυχή (“psy- che”) – meaning mind, soul, spirit, or breath – and κίνησις (“kinesis”) – meaning motion, movement.[1][2] The American parapsychologist J. B. Rhine used the word 'psychokinesis’ in 1934 in connection with experiments that were conducted to determine whether a person could influence the outcome of falling dice.[8][24] The word 'telekinesis’, a portmanteau of the Greek τῆλε (“tēle”) – meaning distance – and κίνησις (“kinesis”) – meaning motion[4] – was first used in 1890 by Russian psychical researcher Alexander N. Aksakof.[25][26] 'Psychokinesis’ in parapsychology, fictional universes and New Age beliefs refers to the influence of human thought, emotion or mental concentration on physical systems and objects,[5][6][7] while 'telekinesis’ adds the factor of dis- tance to the movement and/or levitation of physical ob- jects by purely mental force.[27][28] 2 Belief In September 2006, a survey about belief in various re- ligious and paranormal topics conducted by phone and mail-in questionnaire polled 1,721 Americans on their Artist conception of alleged spontaneous psychokinesis from belief in telekinesis. Of these participants, 28% of male 1911 French magazine La Vie Mysterieuse. participants -
Archetypes, Neurognosis and the Quantum Sea
Journal of Scientijic Exploration, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 375-400, 1996 0892-33 10196 0 1996 Society for Scientific Exploration ESSAY Archetypes, Neurognosis and the Quantum Sea Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KIS 5B6 Abstract - C.G. Jung left a great deal of ambiguity surrounding the onto- logical status of the archetypes and the collective unconscious. He did so be- cause of the inadequacy of the science of his day. Modern developments in the neurosciences and quantum physics - especially the new physics of the vacuum - allow us to develop Jung's understanding of the archetypes fur- ther. This paper analyzes the salient characteristics of Jung's concept of the archetype and uses modern biogenetic structural theory to integrate archetyp- al psychology and the neurosciences. The paper reviews some of the evi- dence in favor of direct neurophysiological-quantum coupling and suggests how neural processing and quantum events may interpenetrate. In religious matters it is a well-known fact that we cannot understand a thing until we have experienced it inwardly, for it is in the inward experience that the connection be- tween the psyche and the outward image or creed is first revealed as a relationship or correspondence like that of sponsus and sponsa. - C.G. Jung, Psychology and Alchemy Individual consciousness is only the flower and the fruit of a season, sprung from the perennial rhizome beneath the earth; and it would find itself in better accord with the truth if it took the existence of the rhizome into its calculations. For the root matter is the mother of all things. -
Interpreting Quantum Mechanics
Interpreting Quantum Mechanics: The Subjective Object or the Objective Subject? Robert Breckinridge Friday, April 22, 2011 Haverford College Department of Philosophy Senior Thesis Readers: Ashok Gangadean and Danielle Macbeth Abstract No theory in physics has been more successful than Quantum Mechanics (QM), or more perplexing. The two most puzzling aspects of QM are that it predicts probabilities rather than determinate outcomes, and it seems to suggest entities that act like waves and particles, but never both simultaneously. Consequently, scientists have been unsure of what the laws of QM imply for our conception of reality. In section I, I demonstrate how the two primary interpretations of QM—the Copenhagen Interpretation and the Many Worlds Interpretation—align with the Cartesian modalities of subjectivity and objectivity. After section II, which outlines the measurement problem, I argue in section III that the Copenhagen Interpretation commits us to a subjective ontology, and in section IV, I argue that the Many Worlds Interpretation commits us to an objective ontology. In section V, I further contend that the Many Worlds Interpretation entails epiphenomenalism, while the Copenhagen Interpretation cannot avoid idealism. Finally, in the last two sections I conclude that our standard conceptions of these modalities must be reconceived, as they are inadequate for interpreting Quantum Mechanics, and thus reality. I. The Quantum Ice Cream Pop and the Double Slit Experiment Before diving into the weird world of Quantum Mechanics (QM), we must remind ourselves of our normal manners of interpreting the world—namely the subjective and objective manners of thinking. Grasping our normal conception of subjectivity and objectivity will illustrate why the primary interpretations of QM are the 2 way they are. -
JAMES RANDI's Particular
the Skeptical Inquirer Ancient Antarctica Maps? Claims vs. Evidence 220 210 200 190 180 170 160 ISO 140 Faith Healers Exposed / Folk Remedies Fringe Dentistry / Air, Ions and Electricity Pseudoscience About the Past / Ghostbusting Woodbridge UFO / Boulder Conference Vol. XI No. 1/Fall 1986 $5.00 Published by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal Skeptical Inquirer THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is the official journal of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. Editor Kendrick Frazicr. Editorial Board James E. Alcock, Martin Gardner, Ray Myman, Philip J. Klass, Paul Kurtz, James Randi. Consulting Editors Isaac Asimov, William Sims Bainbridge. John R. Cole, Kenneth 1. Feder. C. E. M. Hansel. E. C. Krupp, Andrew Neher, James E. Oberg, Robert Sheaffer. Steven N. Shore. Managing Editor Doris Hawley Doyle. Public Relations Andrea Szalanski (director), Barry Karr. Production Editor Betsy Offermann. Business Manager Mary Rose Hays. Systems Programmer Richard Seymour. Data-Base Manager laurel Geise Smith. Typesetting Paul E. Loynes. Audio Technician Vance Vigrass. Staff Beth Gehrman, Ruthann Page, Alfreda Pidgeon. Laurie Van Amburgh. Cartoonist Rob Pudim. The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal Paul Kurtz, Chairman; philosopher. State University of New York at Buffalo. Lee Nisbet, Special Projects Director. Fellows of the Committee James E. Alcock, psychologist, York Univ., Toronto; Eduardo Amaldi, physicist. University of Rome. Italy. Isaac Asimov, biochemist, author; Irving Biederman, psychologist, SUNY at Buffalo; Brand Blanshard, philosopher, Yale; Mario Bunge, philosopher, McGill University; Bette Chambers, AHA.; John R. Cole, anthropologist. Institute for the Study of Human Issues; F.