Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness
In trying to understand the atom, physicists built quantum mechanics and found, to their embarrassment, that their theory intimately connects consciousness with the physical world. Quantum Enigma explores what that implies and why some founders of the theory became the foremost objectors to it. Authors Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kuttner explain all of this in non-technical terms with help from some fanciful stories and anecdotes about the theory’s developers. They present the quantum mystery hones
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Review by Harold McFarland for Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness
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Quantum mechanics is one of the most tested and verified theories of modern physics. However, there are several parts of quantum mechanics that can only be described as bizarre. Of course the physicists discuss and argue the implications of the strange behavior of the quantum world but very few average people fully understand the problems. In Quantum Enigma the authors explain the history of quantum mechanics, how it was developed over the years, and why it is both the most cohesive theory of modern physics and at the same time the most controversial in its application. What makes their book exceptional is how easy it is to understand. Using simple language they are masters at taking a complex subject and explaining it in a way that anyone can understand. Quantum Enigma is highly recommended to anyone who wants to understand the basics of quantum mechanics including the various problems that come along with it.
Review by Stephen Balbach for Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness
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“Quantum Enigma” opens with a colleague’s objection to the book: “Though what you are saying is correct, presenting this information to non-scientists is the intellectual equivalent of allowing children to play with loaded guns.”
Visualizing the quantum enigma is not difficult, the authors reveal it with stories and diagrams that any careful reader can understand. It is a lot like watching a magic show: the rabbit disappears – it is an enigma. But a disappearing rabbit we all know is a trick with some reasonable explanation that resolves the enigma. In the case of the quantum enigma, it is no trick, but an experimental fact, and the enigma remains unresolved. This creates a metaphysical crises once you really grasp the meaning of it, which is what makes this book so difficult, the implications and what it could mean. The authors call it physics’ “skeleton in the closet”, or a “loaded gun”, because it is so strange in its implications and how it can be interpreted, it transcend physics, which makes many uncomfortable.
Beyond the quantum enigma and how scientists came to discover it, the book discusses consciousness studies and suggest, intuitively, that there is a connection between the quantum enigma and consciousness – perhaps understanding one can lead to the other. I found this the most provocative, and also the most difficult part to understand. The last 50-pages took nearly as long to read as the first 150 and I am still not on firm ground – but that may be the point, no one is. The implication that we are creating the universe as we discover it (John Wheeler’s eye looking backwards) is great fun and makes paraphenomena and “law of attraction” and “what the bleep” stuff look small-minded when considering the possibility!
My only regret is I can not take the University of CA (Santa Cruz) course this book came out of as there are some areas that I just don’t understand and could use further help with. It may be asking too much but some authors have web sites with FAQs, or forums, or even interact through Amazon. In any case hope to see and read more about this subject in the future.
Review by Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty for Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness
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First, I want assure readers who are not physicists, and even those who are not science-enabled, that they have nothing to fear in reading “Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness.” The book is written for the ordinary literate reader and no understanding of physics or general science is assumed by the authors (both physicists). And it is a fascinating read!
I should like to think that virtually everyone is somewhat familiar with the term “quantum theory” (or quantum mechanics). Unless one has been living under a rock from birth, with no access to television, newspapers, or magazines, it is hard to escape from having some general idea of quantum physics and the contributions it has made to our modern technological environment. As the authors point out in Chapter Eight: “Quantum mechanics works well in science, but how important is it practically? In fact, one-third of our economy involves products based on quantum mechanics.” For those who like percentages instead of fractions, that’s 33 and 1/3 percent! That’s a lot of products, including such common items as “lasers,” transistors, and the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines one hears about in hospital commercials all the time. Have a DVD player? Thank quantum mechanics. Have a new TV, cell phone, or microwave oven? Thank quantum mechanics. When one looks around at all the neat technological devices we have today, it is not difficult to see that “one-third of our economy involves products based on quantum mechanics.”
Now that we have the importance of quantum mechanics out of the way, why was this book written in the first place? Well, for some physicists at least, the theory, in its deepest understanding, presents a situation which the authors refer to as the “quantum enigma.” This “situation” may also be important to us ordinary thinking mortals as well and could be especially so for professional philosophers and students of philosophy. Why? Because the “situation” raises a fundamental question regarding the nature of what we commonly call “reality.” But before we get into that matter, we need to ask: What is an “enigma”?
My Webster’s New World Dictionary defines an enigma this way: “(1) a perplexing statement; riddle; hence, (2) a perplexing, baffling, or seemingly inexplicable matter…,” — and “mystery” may be an appropriate synonym. I think this definition is right on the mark for how the authors use the word “enigma” in their book. But what is the “enigma” discussed by the authors? Quantum mechanics (or theory) is part and parcel of an empirical science we know as “physics” and physics is considered a “physical” or “natural” science, a science which depends on such things as observations, quantitative measurements, systematic experimentation, testable hypotheses, and so on. The job of empirical scientists is to study phenomena “out there” in the natural (or physical) world without regard to any “nonphysical” entities which may or may not actually exist. They deal with “physical reality,” an objectively-defined reality which exists “independently” of our observations or wishes. Or so it is supposed.
What would happen, however, if this supposition turns out to be not quite true or correct? What would happen if it turns out that quantum theory forces us to believe that “physical” reality is actually “created” by our observation of it? What would happen if quantum mechanics, supposedly a “physical” theory within a “physical” science, was shown to be “intimately connected” with “consciousness,” a decidedly “nonphysical” phenomenon traditionally held to be within the domain of psychology, an academic discipline not usually categorized as a “physical” science (except for those who belong to the school of Behaviorism, of course — once popular, now without much influence in the academy according to my sources). In other words, what happens when “physics encounters consciousness”? Hence the subtitle for this book and the “enigma” discussed.
The problem basically is this, as the authors explain: “Quantum theory … tells us that observing an object to be someplace ’causes’ it to be there. … [A]ccording to quantum theory, an object can be in two, or many, places at once — even far distant places. Its existence at the particular place it happens to be found becomes an actuality only upon its (conscious) observation. … This seems to deny the existence of a physically real world independent of our observation of it.” So, at this point, physics seems to encounter consciousness. And this seems to be the problematic “enigma” and it is, according to the authors (and some other physicists), a kind of “skeleton in the closet” for modern physics.
Now, this proposal that “observation creates reality” is not exactly new. In fact, it has been considered a traditional “philosophical” problem and discussed by philosophers for millennia. “To be is to be perceived” (or some variation thereof) is a proposition promulgated by philosophers who are “metaphysical idealists” or “epistemological idealists” (depending on whether “being” or “knowledge of being” is emphasized) and this philosophical position has always been the bane of more “realistic” philosophers, including yours truly, who falls entirely within the tradition of Classical Philosophical Realism and supports a position within that tradition called “contextual realism.” I don’t have a problem with the “enigma” that many physicists (and apparently the authors) do have. Unfortunately, space prohibits me from getting into this matter in any detail.
Although “Quantum Enigma” did not challenge my philosophical position, it was interesting to read about the various ways that physicists are attempting to deal with the “enigma.” The authors note that their book is “controversial” and, indeed, I suspect that would be true among physicists and philosophers who hold to a philosophy of “scientific materialism.” I found the book easily readable, although some may have to read the chapter about Schrödinger’s cat more than once (can a cat be both dead and alive at the same time?). Thankfully, the authors provide a list of additional readings for both the general reader and advanced student and also a detailed index of topics. All in all, highly recommended.
Review by B. Sandler for Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness
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This book is by far one of the most concise and simplest elucidations of various quantum phenomena… treating Copenhagen interpretation, the famous EPR paradox, Bell’s theorem & inequality and more. Since I am not a physicist or physics major, I found their approach welcoming and I cannot critique the physics of the book, but I do have some major qualms with Quantum Enigma.
My prime objection to this book is that the authors implicitly believe in the reality & truth of free will throughout the text. I was a student in Bruce Rosenblum’s class at UC Santa Cruz so I was able to ask questions to one of the authors of the book. The issue of free will was one that Rosenblum was not a fan of discussing, often dismissing the nearly uniform proclamation of the natural sciences that free will (i.e. our conscious control of choices) is an illusion.
This is may not seem like a profound objection to a book about physics, but Rosenblum & Kuttner insist themselves on the importance of free will to their book: “the existence of a quantum enigma depends crucially on free will.” (p.168) If this is true, one would expect a substantial discussion of this concept yet the authors devote less than 2 pages to it. In these 2 pages, the authors admit, “Though it is hard to fit free will into a scientific worldview, we cannot ourselves, with any seriousness, doubt it. J.A. Hobson’s comment seems apt to us: `Those of us with common sense are amazed at the resistance put up by psychologists, physiologists, and philosophers to the obvious reality of free will.'”
This quotation is essentially saying that Rosenblum and Kuttner cannot accept the notion that free will is an illusion because of “common sense.” Physicists of all people should know that our so-called “common sense” and our intuitions are often skewed and sometimes totally incorrect. Quantum mechanics is a perfect example of this – as is Copernicus’ discovery that we live in a heliocentric system – yet this notion of not trusting our “common sense” seems to not occur to Rosenblum and Kuttner in relation to free will. Often in the Quantum Enigma course (Physics 75), Bruce Rosenblum would simply say, “I know I have free will” – a statement that should make any philosopher, physicist, or biologist cringe – and presumably anyone who values empirical data over subjective “intuitions.” Why should we trust our intuitions and “common sense” over the empirical data in this one case of our apparent free will?
The quotation above also belies a major problem with Quantum Enigma, where physics supposedly meets consciousness. The views of those fields named in the quotation above – psychologists, physiologists, and philosophers – are notably absent from Rosenblum and Kuttner’s book. In Quantum Enigma where “physics meets consciousness,” David Chalmers’ book from the 80s is invoked often; they also mention Libet’s studies from the 1980s. The problem with this is that an immense amount of research has been done since the 1980s in the blossoming field of neuroscience, which relate directly to our notions of intention, free will, consciousness, and self-representations. None of these findings are even mentioned even in passing in Quantum Enigma.
Patricia Churchland, a philosopher and neuroscientist, states in her book Brain-Wise, “So far, there is no evidence at all that some neuronal events happen without any cause… Importantly, even were uncaused neuronal events to be discovered, it is a further, substantial matter to show that precisely those events constitute choice.” From a biological perspective, there appears to be no room for free will. Rosenblum and Kuttner even admit as much when they begin the quotation above with the phrase, “Though it is hard to fit free will into a scientific worldview…” If free will is hard to fit into a scientific worldview, and “the existence of a quantum enigma depends crucially on free will,” would it not seem practical to devote a little more than two pages to the discussion of free will? Wouldn’t it be necessary to understand the views of biologists, psychologists, neuroscientists, and philosophers on these issues of consciousness and free will to have a full, accurate, scientific picture of the situation?
Certainly physics can expect to “encounter” consciousness because physics intends to find a holistic explanation of the universe, and consciousness is obviously part of the universe physics intends to explain. In our search to understand both quantum mechanics and consciousness, we must be honest and open to all sides of the story. Unfortunately, Rosenblum and Kuttner leave out the arguments from biology, psychology, neurology, and some physicists when discussing the quantum enigma where “physics encounters consciousness.” This is an overwhelming handicap, especially because of the authors’ supposedly “common sense” presupposition that humans have free will. I admit that there is certainly a quantum enigma that presents itself in what we know as the “measurement problem,” and Rosenblum and Kuttner should be congratulated to attempt to bring this to light to combat pseudoscience. But to understand the Quantum Enigma, we cannot start with presupposed truths, especially including the notion that we have free will.
With this in mind, I give the book 3 stars for its extraordinary conciseness with which it explains the phenomena of physics but the lack of biology, philosophy, neuroscience, etc. severely handicaps their interpretations and conclusions.
Review by M. L Lamendola for Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness
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For a long time, I’ve been felt a bit guilty because I don’t understand quantum mechanics and soon feel dizzy after a short foray into the Theory of Relativity. To my delight, I discovered early in this book that even Albert Einstein didn’t readily understand this stuff. Hmm. Score one for these authors.
The basic premise of Quantum Enigma is that Quantum Mechanics–which is hugely important to modern civilization and the technology we enjoy—presents some intriguing questions that appear to have their answers beyond science. Those questions center around the idea of consciousness.
Rosenblum and Kuttner present and explore these questions, taking the reader on a ride that is sometimes exciting, sometimes tedious, and frequently mind-boggling. The tedious parts last only a moment and you shoot right past them.
What about the mind-boggling parts? Those are probably where Quantum Enigma most earns its cover price. Rosenblum and Kuttner don’t pretend to have pat answers. What they do is present a particular aspect of the enigma (there are several to look at) and seemingly rotate it around so you can see all sides of it. You’re often left with more questions than you started with, but that is apparently the point. And it puts you in good company–count among your co-questioners such celebrity physicists as Niels Bohr, Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, and Erwin Schrodinger.
One technique they use to present a particular aspect of the enigma is they tell a story. For example, we first go to a fictional place called Neg Ahne Poc. That’s Copenhagen spelled backwards. The reason for that name becomes very clear in the book. We go there through the eyes of a fictional physicist, who is the one actually going there in the story. We observe the physicist engage in an experiment conducted by the Rhob of the village. Rhob is Bohr, as in Niels Bohr, spelled backwards. There’s a lot of this cute stuff in the book, which shows the authors do try to keep from taking themselves and other physicists too seriously.
It’s interesting to know how an author came to write a particular book. In this case, the authors had been teaching a course by the same name as this book. So, Quantum Enigma makes use of that experience, including the reactions of students. It provides quite a bit of interesting information, going back to Copernican physics and highlighting the differences between (and commonalities of) classic physics and modern physics.
The book itself is controversial, because many people feel polite scientists aren’t supposed to discuss these kinds of things. They especially aren’t supposed to discuss them with non-scientists. Why the concern? The world is full of pseudo-science, false claims, and downright whacky notions. When physics looks at the non-physical, purveyors of whacky notions may gain credence and deceive even more people. So, “crossing the line” from physical particles to non-physical consciousness makes physicists uncomfortable.
Rosenblum and Kuttner are not only comfortable discussing the link between physics and consciousness, they are adept at it. If you want something that will stimulate your intellect without frying your brain, Quantum Enigma–at barely over 200 pages–is just the thing.