RealityShifters | Honor Wisdom

Quantum Theory and Free Will:
How Mental Intentions Translate Into Bodily Actions
by Henry P. Stapp

Free Will is Alive and Well
http://amzn.to/2gR92y3

Henry Stapp presents an interpretation of quantum physics that explains how the intrinsic functionality of quantum theory is attributable to free will. What Stapp proposes in place of currently popular mechanistic classical theory is a quantum alternative. Stapp envisions "a mind-matter dualism in which our minds, by virtue of their capacity to freely choose probing questions, combined with nature's Born-Rule-restricted reply, allow us to tend to actualize the bodily actions that we mentally intend!" (p. 44) Stapp then presents an 'orthodox' formulation of quantum mechanics based upon John Von Neumann's two-process approach, providing us with a way to play an almost unlimited game of twenty questions with nature in a succession of Yes/No questions. Free choice enters the picture with respect to where, how, and when we choose to direct our attention--which is received by nature as one in a series of questions that can be answered. Nature then responds in such a way that we then receive our observed measurement, so we can thus rest assured that our minds really do matter for our well-being, purpose and survival. Quantum Theory and Free Will arrives at a time of inflamed debate between materialists who subscribe to the primacy of material realism, and advocates championing the primacy of consciousness. While materialists claim all of reality can be described in terms confined to what can be measured, consciousness and free will proponents point out that certain fundamental qualities ofquantum physics demand inclusion of consciousness and free will. In fact, as Stapp points out, “There is no science-based justification to believe that the behavior of the brain of a conscious person can be understood in terms of the concepts of classical physics: The 'promise' in what Sir Karl Popper called 'Promissory Materialism' conflicts with contemporary basic science.” (p. 60) Stapp begins his investigation into free will by addressing the origins of a quantum conception of man. Stapp describes how realistically-interpreted orthodox quantum mechanics works, from the perspective of the mind-matter connection being a quantum effect. There is an advantage in considering Von Neumann's view of quantum mechanics, since it allows for observers to play an active role when it comes to mind affecting matter. Through interacting with another level of consciousness, such as nature, observers make free choices as to which measurements to actually perform. Stapp explains, "The observer's 'free choices' are thus non-physical inputs into the physical dynamics! Our minds are not mere side effects of material processes: Our Minds Matter!" (prologue x) Quantum Theory and Free Will challenges some of the recently developing scientific philosophies that assert that free will is dead and consciousness has no role in science. We as yet have no way to detect, create, measure, destroy, or predict consciousness. Stapp responds to these assertions through various arguments and proofs in this book, including a delightful philosophical discussion about the way human beings are perceived in relation to nature. Stapp points out that adopting a materialistic viewpoint of classical mechanics must include the existence of the thoughts we experience, while acknowledging that such viewpoints provide "absolutely no logical foundation, or even tiny toehold, for any rational understanding of how human consciousness or feelings can arise from the logical foundation provided by the materialistic precepts of classical mechanics." (pp. 4-5) English mathematician and philosopher Alfred North Whitehead emphasized the importance of "potentialities for future experiences" when considering how quantum potentialities can become 'actuality' through some other process--and Stapp points out that in this fashion, we leave the future "open" to be influenced by free will. Stapp describes quantum potentialities as, "images of what the future perceptions might be," with the state that carries them as being, "more like 'an idea' about something, which rapidly changes like an idea does, when new information becomes available, than like a material substance of classical mechanics that tends to endure." (p. 71) This is in sharp contrast with the classical view which precludes any possibility of mental intentions or efforts having any effect, while in alignment with the work of cognitive neuroscientists such as Jerome Busemeyerand Peter Bruza demonstrate through utilization of mathematical models, how “the wave nature of an indefinite state captures the psychological experience of conflict, ambiguity, confusion, anduncertainty; the particle nature of a definite state captures the psychological experience of conflict resolution, decision, and certainty. (Busemeyer, Jerome H. and Bruza, Peter D., “Quantum Models of Cognition and Decision,” Cambridge University Press, 2014:3.)” While Stapp acknowledges that adopting a material realist perspective can be seductive, he encourages us to consider four big problems with assuming materialistic relativistic classical mechanics to be the sole ontological foundation of reality: (1) material realism provides no rational roots for the existence of conscious thoughts, ideas and feelings; (2) the connection between material reality and our knowledge of it cannot be any simple action of direct knowing; (3) faster-than-light transfers of information cannot be banned; and (4) building blocks of reality cannot be solid. Stapp delves into such topics as the Quantum Zeno Effect and the Einstein Podolsky Rosen EPR paper in order to most fully explore the arguments in physics he makes, and those he challenges. He also shares the work of Benjamin Libet and American psychologist William James, when delving into the aspect of how human intention and will enters into the picture in the process of asking nature questions. References to the scientific experiments of Benjamin Libet and Daryl Bem are included, with Stapp's perspective provided as to the signficance of seeming back-ward-in-time or reverse causation effects of human observational choices. Almost half of Quantum Theory and FreeWill is comprised by appendices, which serve the important purpose of stating Stapp's case for logical proofs of such things as: (A) information must sometimes travel faster than light; (B) there does exist a non-atom-based part of a person (his thinking ego) that has free will; and (C) there exists a 'Principle of Sufficient Reason' such that no definite state of affairs can come into being unless there is sufficient reason why that particular thing should happen instead of something else. Quantum Theory and Free Will presents a scientific framework for a mechanism by which consciousness can play the role quantum mechanics demands, and in so doing, raises the bar by which all future work in this area will be done.

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