Recently I’ve posted stories about religious concepts via quantum mechanics and also Deepak Chopra’s championing of spirituality via new science. So here’s a worthy link to complete the set (the Trinity, if you will…): Deepak Chopra interviewing Stuart Hameroff on theories of quantum consciousness. It’s another mind-bending excursion into the building blocks of ‘reality’ (whatever that even means these days) and the mysteries of consciousness. Hameroff:
I don’t necessarily ascribe to any particular religion, but I think through quantum physics, three essential components of spirituality can have a plausible scientific explanation. Namely, these are first, interconnectedness among living beings via quantum entanglement. Second is guidance by Platonic wisdom. Penrose also embedded Platonic values in spacetime geometry which can guide our actions, and be viewed as following the way of the Tao, or divine guidance, or whatever you want to call it. And finally, even conceivably the possibility of afterlife or consciousness outside of the body. Because if consciousness is happening in the spacetime geometry, normally in the brain, then when the blood, oxygen and metabolic energy stop driving the classical auto-pilot activity, the quantum information extending to spacetime isn’t destroyed, but can perhaps leak out or dissipate in a more holographic distribution, but remained entangled. So it’s possible that a soul could exist afterwards in Planck scale geometry. There could be reincarnation. I don’t have any proof, and I’m not saying this necessarily happens, but if it does, here is a plausible scientific explanation.
The interview is a long and detailed one, though it’s easy enough to read (especially given the concepts, and Stu Hameroff’s predilection for conducting conversations at a very high level). Not so easy is the contemplation that comes with it – some strange (and it must be said, not necessarily correct) concepts to digest. Nevertheless, it’s well worth checking out for the numerous ideas covered, from the ‘consciousness’ of paramecium through to Penrose’s Platonic ideals. No doubt plenty of subsequent Googling to do though…
Previously on TDG:
