Mind and Matter VI Trying to Make Sense of it All The new physics uncovered a bizarre and magical underworld. It showed physicists a new meaning for the word order. This new order...was not found in the particles of matter. Rather it was found in the minds of the physicists. Fred Alan Wolf, Taking the Quantum Leap (1981)

Quote The next great frontier of human exploration is not outer space, but inner space—the awakening of consciousness. Peter Russel

Quote from Stanley Kripal in Chronicle of Higher Education (2014) We are in the ridiculous situation of having conscious intellectuals tell us that consciousness does not really exist as such, that there is nothing to it except cognitive grids, software loops, and warm brain matter. If this were not so patently absurd and depressing, it would be funny.

Two major Challenges to Prevailing Mainstream Thought 1 - Mind in Physiology The data are in conflict with the theory that physiological processes, including disease and healing, are physical MPD, Siddhis, etc. 2 - Quantum Mechanics Many theories have been proposed, none widely accepted "Anyone not shocked by quantum mechanics has not yet understood it."                                             Niels Bohr "Nobody understands quantum mechanics."                                                         Richard Feynman

Physics and Reality Physicists may have told you things about the world that seem to defy reason, particularly in the area of entanglement and Heisenberg uncertainty.  The world may contain extra dimensions, and Schrödinger’s cat may be both alive and dead inside that box.  This has led at least one physicist to note, “Let’s get rid of the word 'reality'. It gets in the way. It conjures up things that are rarely helpful.”   James Pomerantz

“It’s a crazy world we live in” Quantum mechanics and common sense contradict each other; in almost all cases, when physicists are able to test which is “correct”, quantum mechanics wins and common sense loses. It’s a crazy world we live in. One gets the idea that we are missing something fundamental in our understanding of the universe. Alex, of Indiana, posted to NYTIMES.COM (Science Times, NYT, 3 June 2014)

Wolf’s view Our minds may enter into nature in a way we had not imagined possible. . . . Perhaps much of what is taken to be real is determined by thought. The order of the universe may be the order of our own minds. Fred Alan Wolf Taking the Quantum Leap (1981:6)

Alternatives to the Copenhagen interpretation Many have been proposed None of them widely accepted Some of them very bizarre For example, The “Many Worlds” Interpretation

The “Many Worlds” Interpretation Accepts what quantum theory says literally The wavefunction does not collapse after all Into one or the other possibility Instead, we get both, but in different worlds The electron (or photon or atom) is both wave and particle But in different worlds The cat is alive in one world and dead in the other

Many Worlds: Richard Henry’s comment Every observation with two possible outcomes results in the creation of an additional entire universe. Many observations have an infinite number of possible outcomes, so infinitely many universes (complete with a you in it) are made very often indeed. [Ronenblum & Kuttner] say “there is no single reality, which is essentially equivalent to no reality.” At the “Science and Ultimate Reality” meeting in 2002 in Princeton, Bryce DeWitt (the most influential advocate of this interpretation) sat down next to me at lunch, and told me that those other versions of the universe are as real as ours … and that in his opinion we will eventually communicate with them (I am not making this up)..”

The Henry Interpretation (I) “Do you find any of these interpretations satisfactory? I certainly do not. And [Rosenblum & Kuttner] clearly do not. So, let me offer the Henry interpretation: There is no actually existing universe at all. The universe is purely mental.” from Henry’s review of Rosenblum & Kutttner (on course website) Richard Conn Henry (1940-) Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University

The Henry Interpretation (II) “If you prefer to do so, you may call this the Eddington-Jeans interpretation.” Eddington’s view: The external world of physics has thus become a world of shadows. In removing our illusions we have removed the substance, for indeed we have seen that substance is one of the greatest of our illusions. —Sir Arthur Eddington (The Nature of the Physical World, 1928)

The Henry Interpretation (III) “The only reason that it is difficult to accept the Henry interpretation is that few except Henry believe it. We are social creatures, with a herd mentality. But, Malcolm Gladwell has educated me that there can come a “tipping point,” and I take it on myself to push toward broad acceptance of my simple thesis.”

The Henry Interpretation (IV) “Let me ask my readers, does your own mind actually exist? Note that I am not talking about your brain, I am talking about your mind. Well, of course it does! Cogito ergo sum. After all our convoluted and ultimately entirely unsuccessful attempts to tease something, anything, REAL out of quantum mechanics and out of the observations (the so-called “universe”), here, first crack out of the box, we have…a solid and irrefutable success! Something that is real. And, it is a success that you cannot arrive at from physics, because physics does not treat of consciousness at all!”

Mental activity “...since the activity of our mind is the only part of Nature directly known to us, its laws are the only ones that we can justifiably call laws of Nature.” Jakob von Üxkull Theoretical Biology (1926), p. 16

The Henry Interpretation (V) Summarizing the next points of Henry’s argument . . Having accepted that your mind exists, You must now decide whether other minds also exist This requires a leap of faith If you don’t accept other minds, you are left with solipsism If you do accept the existence of other minds, then you are accepting the existence of a whole lot of Mind For more, see Henry’s review of Rosenblum & Kuttner, Quantum Enigma (2007) (accessible on the website for this course under Readings)

The Information Theoretic Interpretation Ron Garrett’s version Garrett proposes an Information Theory Interpretation Related to the Ithaca interpretation of David Mermin (Cornell U) Garret: “… the structure of the theory describes a world where (apparently) physical entities literally do not have physical properties until those properties are measured.” Garret observes that the mathematics of the quantum wave function looks a lot like that of Shannon’s Information Theory After the mathematical argument, he concludes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEaecUuEqfc 53:20 – 55:20

More Ron Garret: Quantum Information Theory (QIT) “… this story extracts a certain toll on our intuition because it insists that we abandon our usual notions of physical reality. The mathematics of quantum information theory tell us unambiguously that particles are not real.” “So Mermin was on the right track, but he didn’t get it quite right: not only is the moon is not really there when nobody looks, but it isn't really there even when you do look! ’Physical reality’ is not ‘real’, but information-theoretical reality is. We are not physical entities, but informational ones.”

Three points we can rely on Classical (Newtonian) physics is not a valid theory of reality Quantum mechanics The world view provided by our senses and perceptual systems is wrong Including our notions about the substantial nature of matter Mind exists It is the only thing we experience directly

A letter to NYT Science Times Perhaps the $4.5 billion focus on the brain is misdirected. It is consciousness that is the real mystery, and the assumption that consciousness is a byproduct of the brain may be erroneous. We may be looking in all the wrong places. —Shelli Joye (Northern California) posted to NYTimes.com Science Times, November 18, 2014

Mind/Consciousness as basic physical as secondary The “real world” that we have believed in because of our sense perceptions is not like what we perceive Conceivably, it is not even real at all Maybe it is a mental construct built by our minds

Max Planck’s opinion “I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.” Interview with The Observer, London, Jan. 25, 1931 Max Planck 1858-1947

Materialism, Dualism, and Idealism MIND is reducible to brain Dualism A person is made up of two components: BODY and PSYCHE (or CONSCIOUSNESS or SPIRIT) MIND is in two parts (1) Reducible mind (part of body) (2) Irreducible mind—PSYCHE/CONSCIOUSNESS Idealism A person is made up of one component: PSYCHE The body is an illusion Mind tends to identify with brain and body It has the choice of identifying instead with Psyche

A comment on materialism In my view, the physicalist camp exerts an influence disproportionate to the merits of its position; it should moreover be noted that physicalism is metaphysics, not science; an interpretation of matters of fact, not itself a matter of fact. Michael Grosso Kelly et al. 2015

More on Idealism The Basic Tenet: Only mind is real Most people also think they have a body but it is illusory, part of a dream, along with other physical objects The mind has the job of choosing between spirit and body The mind of many people is convinced not only that the body is real, but also that spirit is illusory (Materialism)

Two ways of applying Reductionism Matter & energy as the basis, mind/consciousness as reducible to brain Mind/consciousness as the basis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIS6qWxFk08 (32:14-33:30)

The mental universe “The stream of knowledge is heading toward a non-mechanical reality; the universe begins to look more like a great thought than like a great machine. Mind no longer appears to be an accidental intruder into the realm of matter, we ought rather hail it as the creator and governor of the realm of matter. Get over it, and accept the inarguable conclusion. The universe is immaterial—mental and spiritual.” Sir James Jeans (“The Mental Universe”) James Jeans 1877-1946

Idealism in world thought Idealism (the philosophical term) Idealism in Eastern philosophy A Buddhist Viewpoint Idealism in Western philosophy

Idealism in Eastern philosophy Hinduism Adi Shankara (early 8th century) Writings built upon older thought The Upanishads (ca. 800-500 BCE) Brahma Sutras (ca. 450-200 BCE) Bhagavad Gita Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (ca. 200-400 CE) Vedanta—based on Shankara Ramakrishna (1836-86), Vivekananda (1863-1902) Still an active movement world-wide The Vedanta Society https://youtu.be/EiXts6Te1BU Buddhism

Quote from Adi Shankara (8th century) “In the dream state where there is no object, mind on its own creates everything; and it also creates everything seen when awake as well. There is little difference between the two states. Everything we see is a creation of the mind.”

Buddhist Viewpoints “Buddhism challenges the traditional belief in an external, observable reality. Instead, it teaches that our reality is created by our own projections; it is thinking that creates the external world beyond us.” Francisca Cho (2008) “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make our world.” (from the Dhammapada, a collection of sayings of the Buddha)

Idealism in Western philosophy Plato (& Socrates) The Neoplatonists Especially Plotinus (204-270) German idealism Leibniz, Kant, Schopenhauer, … British Idealism George Berkeley (1685-1753) David Hume (1711-1776) American Idealism Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Charles Sanders Peirce (1835-1914) Contemporary version: A Course in Miracles (1976)

Ralph Waldo Emerson Dream delivers us to dream, and there is no end to illusion. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Experience from Essays: Second Series (1844) We lie in the lap of immense intelligence, which makes us receivers of its truth and organs of its activity.

P. P. Quimby Not an academic philosopher But he promoted a form of idealistic thinking “Eternal Wisdom teaches us that all matter is in itself a shadow and is no barrier. Matter is dense darkness. Spirit is light.”

Similar views now coming from Physics Our minds may enter into nature in a way we had not imagined possible. Perhaps much of what is taken to be real is determined by thought. The order of the universe may be the order of our own minds. Fred Alan Wolf Taking the Quantum Leap (1981:6)

Some More Quotes The stuff of the universe is mind stuff. Arthur Eddington …one must reject materialism, as there is no material. Richard Conn Henry Positing the preexistence of mind is a metaphysical game-changer. It may at first seem like an extreme position, but the idea that mind “emerges” from brain is really no less extreme and fantastic. Michael Grosso

Two Great Revolutions in Thinking The Copernican Revolution Before the revolution, Of course the Sun revolves around the earth. It’s obvious! Anyway, that’s what all the authorities believe. The Idealism Revolution Now getting underway Of course matter is real. It’s obvious!

More from Professor Henry I really do not understand how it can be, that so little attention is directed to what is acknowledged to be the deepest discovery ever in human intellectual history: one that has changed our understanding of our own nature far more than did the Copernican Revolution. Richard Conn Henry (review of Rosenblum & Kuttner) When, not so long ago, I grew baffled that there was no concise and clear public statement concerning the most important philosophical discovery, ever, in the history of science; and, I decided, therefore, that I must make such a public statement myself⎯and I did so, in an essay in Nature, “The mental Universe,”⎯I knew that no such negative response could possibly occur in my case, because of the fine character of my great university; and … indeed, there was none.

The world according to idealism Māyā ‘illusion’ Term from Indian philosophy Like a dream “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes”. —Carl Gustav Jung

Mind vis-à-vis the Physical World: Two points The “real world” that we have believed in because of our sense perceptions is not only unlike what we perceive, it is not even real at all It is a mental construct, built by our minds If consciousness has reality apart from body, then It does not have to be bounded by the body In that case, the consciousness (or some aspect of the mind) of one person is not necessarily separate from those of others Cf. Carl Gustav Jung, “collective unconscious”

If mind is non-physical it need not be confined to the body Mind may extend beyond the body Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) The collective unconscious Larry Dossey, M.D., several books: Non-local consciousness Transpersonal consciousness Distant healing Dean Radin Supernormal (2013)

Collective psyche and telepathy Psyche/Consciousness independent of body Therefore, not bounded by the body not necessarily separate from those of others In that case, we have an easy way to explain telepathy

The physical world as a dream: Objection Objection: Why would everybody dream the same dream? Response, Part I The dream is not really the same for all Edward Sapir: “People who speak different languages live in different worlds” Response, Part II One aspect of the dream is the perceived separation Collective mind means that our minds are shared It is a collective dream

Understanding collective consciousness/psyche (I) We usually understand things by visualizing But visualization only works for physical objects If psyche is non-physical it can’t be visualized Can’t be understood by any conventional means Therefore, we need unconventional means ”You cannot understand consciousness. You can only be consciousness” Eckhart Tolle

Understanding collective consciousness/psyche (II) Unconventional paths toward understanding Expansion of consciousness “[T]he world is not to be narrowed till it will go into the understanding … but the understanding to be expanded and opened till it can take in the image of the world as it is in fact” —Francis Bacon Meanwhile, we can approach understanding via metaphor

Three metaphors Islands in a sea Leaves on a tree Mushroom(s) We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep. —William James Leaves on a tree Mushroom(s) Likewise, grass, banana tree(s)

More on collective psyche Our individual minds are surface growths that appear separate and distinct but whose roots lie in a deeper psychic underground; there we are mutually entangled and part of a more extended mental system. Michael Grosso Kelly et al. 2015

Methods for “expanding consciousness” What is needed Ordinary intellect can’t do it Intellect is a product of the physical brain We need instead to increase the potential of psyche The mind has to choose psyche over body and has to stop believing in the reality of illusions The goal is to get beyond faith, to direct experience How to do it Meditation Mental exercises to alter misperception

Meditation …simply by sitting and breathing, people can begin to disengage from the normal run of desires and disappointments, and come to grasp that the self whom the sitter has been serving so frantically, and who is suffering from all these needs, is an illusion. Set free from the self’s anxieties and appetites and constant, petulant demands, the meditator can see and share the actualities of existence with others. The sitter becomes less selfish and more selfless. Adam Gopnik What meditation can do for us, and what it can’t The New Yorker, August 7 & 14, 2017

Exercises for expanding consciousness Exercises of the Workbook of A Course in Miracles They change misperceptions Exercises and meditations in The Upanishads: ‘vidyas’ Meditative exercises of Kashmiri Śaivism ‘Vijnana Bhairava’ 112 meditations In Yoga, various additional methods

T h a n k s f o r y o u r a t t e n t i o n !