- "From Bohm to Chalmers: A New Understanding of Consciousness and Reality"
I am an 80-year-old learned-ignorant generalist. This is an email I have sent to unknown scientists because, as Learned-ignorant generalists, no normal scientist could ever see past the ignorant portion of learned-ignorant of my title and see the extraordinary scientist I am.
I am publishing it on Medium for you to judge if I am not an "extraordinary scientist" in opposition to "normal scientists" in Thomas Kuhn's spirit.
Guelph, Thursday, July 11, 2024
Dear Professors Emeritus,
Exploring Deeper Insights on Consciousness and Reality
My name is André Gaudreault, and I am an 80-year-old independent learned-ignorant generalist with two general BAs acquired at 27 and 37 and one M.A. in ZooSocioAnthropology at 47 from the University of Guelph. I have a deep interest in the fundamental nature of reality. As a physicist at heart, I have developed a comprehensive theory that builds on David Bohm's notion of wholism, which offers profound insights into the fabric of our universe.
In my interpretation of Bohm's wholism, the implicate order is viewed as a holistic domain composed of holographic entities. These entities contain the complete information of the entire universe at varying degrees of definition. This concept aligns with the idea of a one-electron universe, where a single electron permeates the cosmos, suggesting that space and time are not intrinsic necessities for the holomovement of reality.
In this framework, the implicate order operates in a state of eternal holomovement, where everything is interconnected and exists in holistic instants, or holoinstants, that easily explain gravitation since in these "holoinstants," all holographic entities are holistically interconnected in accord with the definition of information constituting their mass. This order is seamless and continuous until it is observed. Our observations "collapse" this holistic reality into discrete, spatiotemporal phenomena, thus creating the explicate order, the realm where space and time are perceived, and motion becomes an apparent necessity.
Below, I have outlined some of the core principles of my Cosmic Informational Theory (CIT), which builds on these ideas to offer a new perspective on the nature of light, relativity, and the fundamental structure of reality.
The Nature of Reality in CIT
In the framework of Cosmic Informational Theory (CIT), space and time do not inherently exist; instead, they are constructs of human perception. This perspective aligns with David Bohm's notion of reality as a holistic entity where everything is interconnected. According to CIT, reality is composed of holographic entities that contain the complete information of the universe at various levels of definition.
Implications for Light and Relativity
In CIT, light is not a phenomenon with a "speed" but a manifestation of the holistic nature of reality. The observed consistency of the speed of light, leading to phenomena like time dilation and space contraction in Einstein's relativity, is similar to epicycles in Ptolemaic astronomy to explain planetary motion from a geocentric perspective. Space and time are objective from the point of view of the implicate order, as the crystalline spheres and the epicycles are from the universe's point of view.
Einstein's relativistic effects are constructs that reconcile our perception of movement within the explicate order. The consistency of light is related to the discontinuity of our observations, suggesting that the perceived "speed" of light results from the mind's interpretation of holistic interactions in the implicate order. Moreover, light, as we perceive it, exists only for us. That is similar to the retrograde motion of planets existing only from the perspective of a fixed Earth.
The "species-consciousness" of all other entities in nature does not "observe" the activities of their nervous systems registering signals from the outer world but directly react to them, following the information of their genome, and thus do not require light, as our minds do to interpret as images the activities of our brains they observe. As the species-consciousness of all living entities is an emergence of their nervous system/body interrelation, our minds emerge from the brain/body interrelation, which they observe, thus creating self-consciousness, contrary to all other living entities that react to this interrelation.
Discontinuity and Perception
The discontinuity is not inherent in the reality of the implicate order but arises from our "discontinuous" observations, which create the explicate order where phenomena become perceptible. This discontinuity stems from the nature of human perception:
Wholistic Brain Function: Our brains function holistically, processing information in an interconnected manner, similar to the implicate order.
Mind's Observation: Our minds "observe" the physical activities of our brains. These observations are not of the "whole" reality but a collapse of the implicate order, as in quantum mechanics, where wavefunctions collapse upon measurement. These observations produce self-consciousness because our minds, which are many times more complex than our scientific instruments, do not collapse the observation as dots or data but as realistic images, in perfect accord, everything else being equal, to the phenomena of the explicate order.
Creating the Perception of Motion
These collapsed observations by our minds generate the perception of motion, stemming from our sensation of “permanence,” which we must explain with space and time. When not observed, permanence exists in the whole universe as eternal holomovement. In our case, however, our self-consciousness necessitates the a priori of space and time to explain the perceived continuity of our permanence. Kant considered these a priori to be independent of experience, but I will demonstrate that space and time are unconscious notions acquired by experience through millions of years of evolution and forming, with the categories, the essence of our collective unconscious. Collective unconscious, which becomes our set of a priori after having been transmitted by social osmosis during the first four years of life, while our sense of self-consciousness is unconsciously transmitted to us by osmosis by caretakers. In essence, movement is a product of the mind’s observation, through these acquired a priori, of the brain’s holistic processing rather than an intrinsic property of reality, which equates to, if you want to express that in numbers, Ancient Greeks and Eastern Philosophy 1, Normal Science 0.
In CIT, the perception of space, time, and motion arises from the mind’s discontinuous observation of the brain’s holistic activities. This observation collapses the holistic reality into discrete phenomena, creating an explicate order where movement appears to exist. This conceptual framework challenges the traditional notions of space and time as fundamental entities, suggesting they are constructs of human perception used to explain the perceived continuity of motion in a fundamentally holistic universe. Additionally, this framework can explain phenomena like quantum entanglement and other concepts in quantum mechanics that challenge conventional notions of space and time.
Here’s a simple example of how mathematics came from experience, contrary to Kant’s belief. During the two million years of our evolution as Homo, it did happen millions of times that a party of three needs to share among them two kills. They would have divided each kill into three and given each party two parts. They didn’t have to be philosophers to do that; they just needed to be fair, as all social animals are. Besides, this fairness would have made them discover the meaning of “category” too, since they wouldn’t just consider the size of the parts but also their quality.
Summary
Summary
Holistic Reality: Reality is a holistic entity composed of holographic entities containing the universe’s complete information.
Perception of Light: Light’s consistency is not about speed but the holistic nature of reality, making relativistic effects akin to epicycles. The consistency of light is related to the discontinuity in our observations, indicating that the perceived speed of light results from the mind’s interpretation of holistic interactions. Light, as we perceive it, exists only for us, similar to the retrograde motion of planets perceived from a fixed Earth perspective. All other entities in nature do not “observe” the activities of their nervous systems registering signals from the outer world but directly react to them, and thus do not require light to function “holistically” as they do in the implicate order — C.F. the many inexplicable animal behaviours, e.g., birds’ annual migration.
Discontinuous Observations: Discontinuity arises from our minds’ observation of the brain’s holistic activities, creating the explicate order.
The construct of Space and Time: Space and time are constructs necessary to explain perceived motion, not intrinsic properties of reality. This perspective also sheds light on quantum phenomena that disrupt traditional views of space and time, such as entanglement.
These ideas challenge conventional perspectives and data-driven approaches in physics. However, they offer a broader and more integrative understanding of consciousness and reality that could be crucial for addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time.
Your feedback and insights would be invaluable as I refine these concepts and prepare to present them more formally.
Warm regards,
André Gaudreault 2024 ©
— — — — — — — — — — — — -
P.S. How CIT resolve the hard problem of consciousness
Understanding the Hard Problem of Consciousness from the Point of View of Physics
The hard problem of consciousness, as defined by David Chalmers, involves explaining why and how physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective experiences or qualia. Here, I propose an explanation grounded in the scientific understanding of emergent properties and complex information processing.
Emergence of Properties in Nature
Elements and Atoms
The unique properties of chemical elements emerge from the complex interactions of atomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons) within atoms. These nuclear particles originate from quarks, further illustrating the hierarchical nature of emergent properties. For instance, the distinct characteristics of gold, mercury, and platinum arise from the arrangement and interactions of identical subatomic particles.
Compounds
The properties of chemical compounds result from the complex interactions of atoms within molecules. For example, alcohol, menthol, and glucose have different properties due to the specific arrangements and interactions of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms despite these atoms being fundamentally identical in each compound.
Species
The form and behaviour of species emerge from the complex interactions of DNA molecules within their genomes. Genetic information dictates organisms' development, structure, and behaviour, making each species unique.
The Biosphere
"The Biosphere results from intricate behavioural activities exhibited by diverse species. This interconnected web of life showcases unique characteristics from their mutual interactions and shared existence."In all these instances, the emergent properties of elements, compounds, species, and the Biosphere cannot be found in the individual components but arise from their collective interactions and complex information processing.
The Emergence of Qualia and Consciousness
Given the consistency of emergent properties throughout evolution, we can argue that:
Qualia
Our subjective experiences, such as the redness of an apple or the pain of a headache, cannot but emerge from the complex information processing of neurons within our brains. This process is analogous to how the properties of atomic elements emerge from interactions between subatomic particles, how the properties of chemical compounds emerge from interactions between atoms, and how life emerges from the physical activities within DNA molecules.
Consciousness
Our conscious mind emerges from the physical activities of our brain, similar to how species characteristics arise from genetic information. In humans, however, self-consciousness does not arise from genetic information but through social osmosis influenced by a collective unconscious generationally developed throughout millions of years of human evolution.
Babies are born as potential human beings. They become feral if they do not spend their first four years as toddlers in a nurturing family environment, which imbues them with a sense of self-consciousness. To become fully functional social beings, though, they must spend many years in a societal setting that prepares them to become functional adults.
Like the Biosphere, the Anthroposphere is a unique entity, though it functions on different timescales: the Biosphere is evolutionary, and the Anthroposphere is generational. Unlike the Biosphere, which comprises species that, despite their selfish nature, ultimately contribute to its homeostasis, the Anthroposphere is also composed of selfish individuals. However, these individuals contribute to the destruction of the Biosphere because they operate within a profit-driven economy that necessitates constant growth for survival. This starkly contrasts the Biosphere, its 'alter-ego,' which maintains a state of perpetual homeostasis."
Scientific Basis
By examining these points, we observe that emergent properties at different levels of complexity — from atomic particles to the entire Biosphere — arise through complex information processing.
Universal Mechanism
Understanding the universal mechanism that leads to these emergent properties is crucial. Just as Newton's law of universal gravitation shed light on the behaviour of matter, revealing a Universal Mechanism that governs all cosmic emergences would enable us to comprehend the universe's workings on a broader scale. While the exact nature of this mechanism remains elusive, my dissertation aims to lay the groundwork for future generations to discover it, much like 'De revolutionibus orbium coelestium' set the stage for Newtonian physics. Given the urgency of our environmental crisis, we must gain this understanding swiftly. Therefore, I am committed to writing my dissertation in a manner that is accessible and understandable to all from ages 9 to 99
Conclusion
The properties of atoms and compounds, the characteristics of species, and the structure of the Biosphere all belong to the same category as qualia, emerging from complex information processing or physical activities within their respective systems. This framework provides a scientifically grounded explanation for the emergence of qualia and consciousness, aligning with the broader principles of evolution and emergent properties.
This approach demonstrates that the hard problem of consciousness can be addressed by considering the emergent properties resulting from complex information processing. By presenting this argument, I bridge the gap between the physical activities within the brain and the subjective experiences they produce, offering a plausible solution to the hard problem of consciousness.
Preparing for a Paradigm Shift
Historically, scientific revolutions have occurred when a shift in perspective reveals new insights into previously inexplicable phenomena. For instance, Copernicus' heliocentric model provided a new framework for understanding planetary motion, challenging the geocentric views that had dominated for centuries. Similarly, Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation comprehensively explain physical interactions, unifying our understanding of terrestrial and celestial mechanics.
Addressing the Anthropocentric View
Current scientific approaches to consciousness are mostly anthropocentric, focusing on the human perspective of subjective experience. While this perspective is valuable, it can limit our understanding of the universal mechanism governing emergence at all levels. By adopting a more inclusive viewpoint that considers humanity from the perspective of this mechanism, we can achieve a deeper, more holistic understanding of emergent properties.
The Environmental Implications
Recognizing that conventional scientific paradigms have inadvertently contributed to environmental degradation is essential. By focusing solely on phenomena and neglecting the holistic nature of the Biosphere, our economic activities have disrupted the delicate balance of ecosystems. Understanding the mechanism governing emergent properties within a broader context can inform more sustainable practices and help mitigate the environmental impact of human activities.
Looking Ahead
My upcoming dissertation will present a comprehensive theory that unifies our understanding of emergent properties and consciousness. This theory will challenge conventional scientific paradigms, offering a new perspective that integrates the holistic nature of reality with the unique role of human consciousness. By shifting our viewpoint, we can address the hard problem of consciousness and foster a more sustainable and harmonious relationship with the environment.
Chalmers' Perspective
While placing qualia in a category unique to the human mind, David Chalmers couldn’t see that this category is universal. His perspective, like that of all normal science, is anthropocentric. Chalmers looks at consciousness from the point of view of humanity. However, to be scientifically objective, we should look at humanity from the perspective of the universal mechanism at the root of human consciousness, similar to how Copernicus resolved geocentrism by looking at the Earth from the Sun’s point of view.
This approach sets the stage for a revolutionary understanding of consciousness. It suggests that qualia and consciousness are essential parts of evolution, and it aligns with the view that the Anthroposphere is an extension of the same emergent principles that govern the Biosphere. My upcoming dissertation will further elaborate on this comprehensive perspective, which aims to offer a unifying theory of everything.
N.B. I must admit that I have been wrong on Chalmers. He is not “anthropocentric,” as I mentioned above, since he is the one who should be viewed as a second Copernicus. He is the one who initially perceived the problem with our understanding of consciousness. As for me, who used to see me as Copernicus, I must admit that I underestimate myself since it is not to Copernicus I should identify myself, but to Keppler since as he understood how the planet moves in ellipses around the Sun, correcting Copernicus, I figured out how consciousness evolves in time, correcting Chalmers.
That is all I have to say about that … For now!
André Gaudreault 2024 ©
I closed with this quote from Forest Gump because, from the point of view of normal scientists, my intellectual approach to reality has always been Forest Gumpian.
Also, if you have reached this point and believe that this text is significant, please forward it to your followers and to everybody you know who would benefit from it.
