Quantum Determinism
With the convergence of the spheres of science, philosophy and spirituality there emerges a new informed belief. A belief reflecting an attempt to explain life and the universe based upon available data and the application of a mind-set free of existing bias and prejudice. Quantum Gnostics is my contribution to that end.
This discussion examines the prevailing theory of evolution both from a chemical-biological perspective as well as from a theoretical physics perspective. Thereafter creationistic factors are integrated and a new hypothesis proposed which the author believes is more probable in explaining the origin and perpetuation of the species.
Classical evolutionary theory proposes that:
Life as we understand it in the present time is characterized by the following traits:
Existence - Living organisms are defined as utilizing energy from metabolism to germinate and develop. In the case of animals they also move within and between environments. Organisms both co-operate and compete within complicated ecosystems. All existence is dependant upon and modified by the greater universal environment (meteorological, geological and marine).
Persistence - All organisms are driven to complete identifiable life cycles and/or life spans. Termination of the integrity of the living organism is often heralded by traits of degeneration (functionally and anatomically), inefficient or pathological metabolism (pre-terminal traits). In the human and indeed in some other animals, pre-terminal traits may be preceded by an identifiable mind state. This is becoming more apparent in the developing science of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI).
Perpetuation - All organisms are driven to multiply their genome molecular structures whether they be uni-or multicellular.
The origin of these traits of life should be identifiable in the processes associated with the origin of life as well as during periods of speciation.
Let us assume that against all reasonable probability a polypeptide/protein was to develop spontaneously from the primordial soup. Let us further assume that this protein configured into a functional enzymatic entity. Would it "know" that it could perpetuate itself if it configured DNA and RNA components? Why would it "want" to persist and perpetuate itself?
Clearly even if protein had to come into existence spontaneously and fortuitously and further develop a configuration compatible with enzymatic function, it is most improbable that enzymatic function would fortuitously develop into appropriate polymerases required for protein synthesis.
Improbability multiplies with the required existence and appropriate "grouping" of substrate required to establish the primordial organism. When we consider that the primordial organism, probably virus-like in nature, requires a host for perpetuation (multiplication), the improbability of existence, persistence and perpetuation becomes an impossibility.
Let us now accelerate forward in time to observe amoebae as representing early unicellular organisms. These organisms together with a whole host of other uni-cellular organisms, have remained essentially unchanged over several millions of years. This is despite the pressures brought to bear upon them to select out. Evolutionary theory states and/or implies that unicellular organisms evolved into co-operative multicellular/syncitial entities. Why would competing unicellular entities "agree" to co-operate when all were competing for survival? Did some organisms evolve into sting cells, others into phagocytes and still others into neuronal-like co-ordinating cells, coming together fortuitously and spontaneously to evolve into a hydra?
Once again it should be emphasised that improbability multiplies with the need for the spontaneous occurrence of other multiple components for evolutionary speciation. In these cases the improbability equates to impossibility. Furthermore, the theory has failed to provide a satisfactory answer in regard to the concept of driven existence, persistence and perpetuation in the context of spontaneous and fortuitous origins.
Evolutionists often cite in utero development as illustrative of the full spectrum of evolution. Here we observe a constant genome manifesting in the full spectrum of speciation. Thus it is concluded that our genome incorporates and in fact represents a map of all previous mutations which were pivotal in the process of natural selection.
The opposing argument is equally compelling. The complete animal (human) genome which remains constant throughout the gestation period, manifests as both a lower phenotype of organism as well as the highly evolved animal phenotype. The complete genotype could then quite feasibly have been in existence at the origin of the species with subsequent desuppression of appropriate segments of the genotype in subsequent environments.
I propose therefore that the more probable scenario is the presence of the complete genome at the time of the origin of life. This necessarily implies the existence of a creationistic catalyst and is thus deterministic in nature. The intrinsic drive to desuppression of sequential segments of genome would harness natural selection as one of the processes of evolution. Different segments of the genome would be selected out by differing environmental circumstances. The process of sequential desuppression of the genome could also be seen to provide the impetus for existence, persistence and perpetuation as well as providing the template for the complex interlocking of the ecosystem.
Differing phenotypes reflect appropriate suppression or de-suppression of the genome. I propose that segments of the genome that are permanently suppressed may atrophy and cease to exist/attain phenotypic expression in the specific organism (? "junk" DNA, pseudogenes). In this way the specific genome would differ from the "universal" one.
By implication one would expect the human genome to incorporate segments of the entire plant and animal genome spectrum. I propose that the synthesis of appropriate enzymes related to digestion (of plant and animal tissue) as well as those synthesized in relation to the immune system reflect the expression of "lower" genome segments.
Champions of the theory of evolution have conveniently steered away from incorporating concepts of theoretical physics into biological evolution. Yet all biological entities comprise molecules and subatomic particles/photons. It is therefore imperative to extrapolate certain theoretical physics concepts to biological theories, specifically those which address processes occurring over protracted periods of time. In fact the very concept of time is questioned. Some argue that time is an artificial concept having very little significance in a more absolute quantum-physical environment.
We have now come to realize that the world around us consists of more than is portrayed by our five senses. Through our five senses we perceive a reality which represents a very narrow spectrum of a far greater environment. This greater environment we shall call the quantum dimension as opposed to the five-senses based environment which we shall refer to as the physical dimension.
This dimension is true to all that our five senses have conveyed to us. We recognize individual entities, both living and non-living, all having specific traits in terms of colour, shape, mass, texture, smell and taste. In many cases there is also a characteristic sound. Individual entities however enjoy unique space and are separated from each other by distance. The progression of time also brings about recognizable changes in the individual entities. Associations between entities both living and non-living also become discernable. This is the environment that we are familiar with.
In the context of this dimension, following the "Big Bang", life is seen to have evolved fortuitously in terms of natural selection from a fortuitous beginning characterized by fission and fusion of early chemicals (abiogenesis). And behold there was life! Life then becomes a matter of moving towards pleasant and stimulating environments and away from noxious or threatening ones, procreating (and recreating!), maturation and death.
The evolving study of quantum physics has shed light on the existence of a whole new reality in which you and I and indeed the entire universe has representation.
Matter exists simultaneously in both a physical/particle form as well as in an energy/photon form. All matter appears to be connected not only across space but also across the gulf of time. Furthermore, matter appears to retain a memory of previous interactions between photons. This latter phenomenon is absolutely fundamental to the belief that will shortly be postulated. By retaining memory of previous interactions which is instantaneously communicated, photons/particles develop properties which have remained constant to the present time. Photon/particle "A" interacts with "B" resulting in "C". When extrapolated to a chemical level, we observe that the chemical properties of matter remain constant and predictable. Chemical "A" when mixed with chemical "B" results in chemical "C" throughout time and space.
Photons represent specific "packets" or quanta of energy (one quantum, hence the name quantum physics). Just as a vibrating tuning fork stimulates another tuning fork of similar vibrational frequency (or harmonic thereof) through the phenomenon of resonance, so similar energy quanta may activate each other through resonance. This is most likely the medium of instantaneous mutual activation of photons/particles which manifests as a connectedness. It may be stated further that resonance between similar photons across time and space results in predictable grouping which ultimately gives rise to the constant and predictable properties of matter in the universe.
Quantum theory describes matter as conforming to wave configurations. The wave configuration is a statistical description of the expected behaviour of any photon/particle. The wave configuration of any photon/particle therefore serves as a predictor of possible outcomes of any interaction involving the specific photon/particle. Once an event has occurred, there are no further possibilities regarding outcome predictors as the event has moved from possibility to actuality. As events actualise, the wave of possibility "collapses".
Traditionally quantum theory is biased in favour of indeterminism. In other words, anything is possible as based upon the infinite range of wave statistics. But in this situation we would have expected the properties and nature of matter to change through the progression of time. Possibly even a gradual, spontaneous slide into greater entropy. This as we know is not the case. The nature and properties of matter remain remarkably constant and predictable.
Clearly the wave was "collapsed" at the outset. Matter is programmed for constancy and the result is determinism through grouping. It is inevitable that if we were able to collate all the variables associated with all matter, we would gain insight into the associations and interactions of all photons/particles and thereby gain a window into the workings of the universe. The point that needs to be emphasized is that the intrinsic organization of matter in a quantum sense comes about as a result of resonance of similar photons across the gulf of time and space. This is instantaneous. Furthermore the process is self-perpetuating and does not require intervention or maintenance.
The multitude of changes that have occurred to biological entities through evolution have been based upon constant physical properties of matter. I propose therefore that the potential for supporting the full spectrum of biological evolution must have been and remains "programmed" within the very fundamental atomic/subatomic substance of life because properties have remained constant while biological structure and function have evolved enormously. Said in another way, the intrinsic properties of matter at the quantum level are programmed with a timeless organizing influence which supports evolutionary processes to a finite end.
All that has manifest in physical reality and all that is yet to manifest must by definition reflect the intrinsic "programming" of quantum flux (resonance and grouping).
As a result of the phenomenon of grouping we may observe similar occurrences manifesting synchronously at the same time in different places or in the same place at different times. We may also observe manifestations appropriate for a person's state of mind. In other words, a specific mind-set becomes associated with a specific materialization that is synchronous with itself. These phenomena are thus referred to as synchronicity. This is in fact very similar to the synchronicity described by C. G. Jung. In Jung's model the collective unconsciousness is equivalent to quantum flux while his archetypes are equivalent to the concept of grouping as described above. [The interaction of archetypes was shown to be often predictable.] The collective unconsciousness and quantum flux are in turn analogous to David Bohm's implicate order.
We are all the products of those determinants which were operative before we came into being. These determinants include our genetics, the maternal environment when we were in utero and most importantly, the timeless-spaceless quantum domain of which we are all part. Furthermore, on reaching the mature adult stage, we are still very much part of the orchestrating quantum flux.
Clearly in absolute terms, the choices we make reflect who we are and from whence we have come. And because there were clear determinants, our choices are often a reflection of these determinants. In the case of totally random or impulsive decision making, the outcome will only be sustainable if it is supported by the intrinsic quantum program (resonance and grouping).
These include:
Any theory which proposes the incorporation of deterministic factors would need to allude to the determined purpose of the entire evolutionary process.
It would seem apparent that consciousness, or more specifically, human consciousness, is the end stage of this biological process. Consciousness is tissue-based within the brain and ceases to function when the organ is devitalised.
Human consciousness is unique in that it is able to objectively reflect upon the environment (including itself) and is further able to think about thought and the process of consciousness itself. In this way it is able to accurately abstract and create. We thus become co-creators of our environment.
At this stage we have evolved sufficiently to be able to re-create whole new environments and so perpetuate the propagation of further numbers of humans bearing consciousness-producing potential.
The success of the process of evolution however is not merely to produce numbers within species but more so to produce traits of greater efficiency and life perpetuation. In this vain it would seem appropriate that the ultimate stage of evolution would be characterised by the ability to disconnect human consciousness from the biological organ.
To achieve this stage however, we need to have evolved in terms of our consciousness to be able to:
Once we have evolved to this level we would be in a position to re-initiate the entire evolutionary process which culminates in the emergence yet again of all-knowing consciousness. However falling short of this mark relegates us to a physical-biological based existence until we self-destruct through over-populating and/or destroy our very life supporting substrate.
Copyright © 1999-2002 Dr Ian Weinberg