WHAT DOES WHAT DOES Jonathan Robison PhD, MS QUANTUM PHYSICS HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

WHAT DOESWHAT DOES

Jonathan Robison PhD, MS

QUANTUM PHYSICS

HAVE TO DO WITH IT?HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

17th CENTURY WORLDVIEW17th CENTURY WORLDVIEW

Mechanistic: Mechanistic: universe as machineuniverse as machine

Reductionist: Reductionist: whole whole = = sum of its partssum of its parts

REDUCTIONISMREDUCTIONISM

Whole = Sum of Its PartsWhole = Sum of Its Parts classical Newtonian Physicsclassical Newtonian Physics

matter as discrete particlesmatter as discrete particles

atomic / subatomic building blocksatomic / subatomic building blocks

standard for scientific investigationstandard for scientific investigation

foundation for all human systemsfoundation for all human systems

1717thth CENTURY LEGACY CENTURY LEGACY

Only those things that can be Only those things that can be measured and quantified are realmeasured and quantified are real

Anything else is considered to be Anything else is considered to be unworthy of scientific investigationunworthy of scientific investigation

The purpose of science is to The purpose of science is to dominate & control the natural worlddominate & control the natural world

1717thth CENTURY LEGACY CENTURY LEGACY

“ “ What is being studied exists external What is being studied exists external

to and is independent of the scientist, to and is independent of the scientist,

who discovers and characterizes its who discovers and characterizes its

properties and behavior.”properties and behavior.”

Dr. George Engel, Psychother Psycosom, 1992

“ “CARTESIAN” CERTAINTYCARTESIAN” CERTAINTY

““All science is certain, evident All science is certain, evident

knowledge. We reject all knowledge knowledge. We reject all knowledge

which is merely probable and judge that which is merely probable and judge that

only those things should be believed only those things should be believed

which are perfectly known and about which are perfectly known and about

which there are no doubts.”which there are no doubts.”Rene DescartesRene Descartes

20th CENTURY WORLDVIEW20th CENTURY WORLDVIEW

OrganicOrganic: : living, spiritual in natureliving, spiritual in nature

HolisticHolistic: : whole whole >> sum of its parts sum of its parts

EcologicalEcological: connected “: connected “web of life”web of life”

PartnershipPartnership: : feminine & masculine feminine & masculine values honored values honored

20th CENTURY CHALLENGE20th CENTURY CHALLENGE

Anthropology / Archaeology Anthropology / Archaeology

PsychoneuroimmunologyPsychoneuroimmunology

Quantum PhysicsQuantum Physics

Chaos TheoryChaos Theory

QUANTUM REALITYQUANTUM REALITY

““No one understands quantum mechanics.No one understands quantum mechanics.

Do not keep saying to yourself... ‘But how Do not keep saying to yourself... ‘But how can it be like that?’ can it be like that?’ Because you will go ‘down the drain’ into a Because you will go ‘down the drain’ into a blind alley from which nobody has yet blind alley from which nobody has yet escaped. Nobody knows how it can be like escaped. Nobody knows how it can be like that.” that.”

Richard FeynmanRichard Feynman


““All my attempts to adapt the theoretical All my attempts to adapt the theoretical

foundation of physics to this knowledgefoundation of physics to this knowledge

failed completely. It was as if the ground failed completely. It was as if the ground

had been pulled out from under one, withhad been pulled out from under one, with

no firm foundation to be seen anywhere.”no firm foundation to be seen anywhere.”

Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein


Principle of ComplementarityPrinciple of Complementarity

Subatomic entities exist Subatomic entities exist

simultaneously as both simultaneously as both

waves & particleswaves & particles


Uncertainty PrincipleUncertainty Principle

Wave & particle nature Wave & particle nature

cannot be accurately measured cannot be accurately measured

at the same timeat the same time

Quantum UncertaintyQuantum Uncertainty

“ “ The exact properties of the duality The exact properties of the duality must always elude any measurement must always elude any measurement we might hope to make. The most we we might hope to make. The most we can hope to know about any given can hope to know about any given wave packet is a fuzzy reading of its wave packet is a fuzzy reading of its position and an equally fuzzy reading position and an equally fuzzy reading of its momentum.”of its momentum.”

Zohar, The Quantum Self

Quantum UncertaintyQuantum Uncertainty

“ “ This essential fuzziness…replaces the This essential fuzziness…replaces the old Newtonian Determinism, where old Newtonian Determinism, where everything about physical reality was everything about physical reality was fixed, determined and measurable with fixed, determined and measurable with a vast “porridge” of being where... a vast “porridge” of being where... everything remains indeterminate, everything remains indeterminate, somewhat ghostly and just beyond our somewhat ghostly and just beyond our grasp.”grasp.”


The Double-Slit ExperimentThe Double-Slit Experiment

““All of quantum physics can be All of quantum physics can be gleaned from carefully thinking gleaned from carefully thinking through the implications of this through the implications of this single experiment”single experiment”


Participatory UniverseParticipatory Universe

““What is being studied is inseparableWhat is being studied is inseparable from the scientist, who devisesfrom the scientist, who devises mental constructs of his/hermental constructs of his/her experiences with it as a means of experiences with it as a means of characterizing his/her understandingcharacterizing his/her understanding of its properties and behavior”of its properties and behavior”

Einstein, Heisenberg


Participatory UniverseParticipatory Universe

““The act of observing alters theThe act of observing alters the properties of what is being observed.properties of what is being observed. Whether an electron acts as a particleWhether an electron acts as a particle or a wave actually depends on how or a wave actually depends on how we look at (measure) them.”we look at (measure) them.”


““ Isolated material particles are Isolated material particles are

abstractions, their properties being abstractions, their properties being

definable and observable only definable and observable only

through their interaction with other through their interaction with other

systems”systems”Niels BohrNiels Bohr

ConnectednessConnectedness


Sub-atomic entities are actually best Sub-atomic entities are actually best

described not as “things” but as described not as “things” but as

interconnections or relationships interconnections or relationships

between “things”between “things”

Niels BohrNiels Bohr



““Ultimately, the entire universe (with all its Ultimately, the entire universe (with all its ‘particles,’ including those constituting ‘particles,’ including those constituting human beings) has to be understood as a human beings) has to be understood as a single undivided whole, in which analysis single undivided whole, in which analysis into separately and independently existent into separately and independently existent parts has no fundamental status.”parts has no fundamental status.”

David BohmDavid Bohm



NonlocalityNonlocality

Subatomic particles that once Subatomic particles that once

have been in contact retain an have been in contact retain an

instantaneous connection no instantaneous connection no

matter how far apart they arematter how far apart they are

IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

Complementarity Complementarity both / and vs. either / or

ParticleParticle Wave WaveBodyBody Spirit / Mind Spirit / MindMasculine Masculine Feminine FeminineHealthHealth Disease DiseaseScienceScience Spirituality Spirituality

SCIENCE & RELIGIONSCIENCE & RELIGION

““Science without religion Science without religion

is lame,is lame,

Religion without science Religion without science

is blind.”is blind.”

Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein


““Cartesian” CertaintyCartesian” Certainty

““Twentieth-century physics has shownTwentieth-century physics has shown us very forcefully that there is nous very forcefully that there is no absolute truth in science, that all our absolute truth in science, that all our concepts and theories are limited andconcepts and theories are limited and approximate.”approximate.”

““Quantum” UncertaintyQuantum” Uncertainty

Fritjof CapraFritjof Capra


Scientific ObjectivityScientific Objectivity

““There is no such thing as objectivity.There is no such thing as objectivity.

We all interpret our perceptions in theWe all interpret our perceptions in the

light of our beliefs and expectations.”light of our beliefs and expectations.”

Daniel Benor, Spiritual HealingDaniel Benor, Spiritual Healing


Scientific ObjectivityScientific Objectivity

According to quantum physics there is no such thing as objectivity

Facts and scientific data are created in the act of observation

Zukav, The Dancing Wu Li MastersZukav, The Dancing Wu Li Masters

Stevens et al., NEJM 1998;338:1-7

The Effect of Age on the Association Between Body-Mass Index and Mortality

“An extremely important health

problem…reinforces the hazards of

body weight”

Mortality risk of obesity “is slight

…and nonexistent for the elderly”

Stevens et al.,, NEJM 1998;338:1-7

““OBJECTIVE” EVALUATION?OBJECTIVE” EVALUATION?

“ “ Uninfluenced by emotion, Uninfluenced by emotion,

surmise, or personal prejudice.”surmise, or personal prejudice.”

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE


““Measurement Mania”Measurement Mania”

“ “ Not everything that can be countedNot everything that can be counted

counts and not everything thatcounts and not everything that

counts can be counted.”counts can be counted.”

EinsteinEinstein


“ “Rather than ignore things we can’t Rather than ignore things we can’t

measure we begin to see them as themeasure we begin to see them as the

true foundations of our being andtrue foundations of our being and

our health.”our health.”

Michael D, World Future Society Bulletin, 17(1), 1-6.Michael D, World Future Society Bulletin, 17(1), 1-6.


““Outcome Obsession”Outcome Obsession”

DescartesDescartes - - Gain knowledge by Gain knowledge by eliminating uncertaintyeliminating uncertainty

BaconBacon - - Eliminate uncertainty by Eliminate uncertainty by controlling naturecontrolling nature

“ “OUTCOME OBSESSION”OUTCOME OBSESSION”

““When we’re in complete control, everything When we’re in complete control, everything will be fine. We’ll have fusion power. No will be fine. We’ll have fusion power. No Pollution. We’ll turn the rain on and off…Pollution. We’ll turn the rain on and off…We’ll turn the oceans into farms. We’ll We’ll turn the oceans into farms. We’ll control the weather. No more hurricanes, no control the weather. No more hurricanes, no more tornados, no more droughts…All the more tornados, no more droughts…All the life processes of this planet will be where life processes of this planet will be where they belong - where the gods meant them to they belong - where the gods meant them to be - in our hands.” be - in our hands.” Daniel Quinn, IshmaelDaniel Quinn, Ishmael

LINEAR CAUSALITYLINEAR CAUSALITY

Disassemble natural processes Disassemble natural processes

Apply appropriate universal laws Apply appropriate universal laws

Predict and control future changesPredict and control future changes

CHAOS: CHAOS: The Science of ChangeThe Science of Change

“ “Complex” Systems Complex” Systems

Nonlinear CausalityNonlinear Causality

Everything Affects Everything Everything Affects Everything


Outcome ObsessionOutcome Obsession

““Chaos theory tells us that our Chaos theory tells us that our

interventions are limited and that their interventions are limited and that their

outcome is always, to a certain crucial outcome is always, to a certain crucial

degree, unpredictable.”degree, unpredictable.”

Briggs & Peat, Seven Lessons of Chaos, 1999Briggs & Peat, Seven Lessons of Chaos, 1999

CHAOS & CHANGECHAOS & CHANGE

““The simple laws of cause and effect do not The simple laws of cause and effect do not sufficiently explain the life changes one sufficiently explain the life changes one experiences. We do not totally understand the experiences. We do not totally understand the complex feedback mechanisms at work in men complex feedback mechanisms at work in men and women. Nevertheless we can learn to rely and women. Nevertheless we can learn to rely more on our intuitive, creative capacities in the more on our intuitive, creative capacities in the face of disorder and uncertainty, even though we face of disorder and uncertainty, even though we may not “know” the mechanisms of cause and may not “know” the mechanisms of cause and effect.”effect.”

Gelatt, Chaos and Compassion,Counseling & Values 1995Gelatt, Chaos and Compassion,Counseling & Values 1995


““We can never be sure how important our We can never be sure how important our own individual contribution will be. Our own individual contribution will be. Our action may be lost in the chaos that action may be lost in the chaos that surrounds us, or it may join with one of surrounds us, or it may join with one of those many loops that sustain an open, those many loops that sustain an open, creative community. On rare occasions it creative community. On rare occasions it may even be taken up and amplified until it may even be taken up and amplified until it transforms the entire community.”transforms the entire community.”



““We may never know if or how or when We may never know if or how or when our influence will have an effect. The our influence will have an effect. The best we can do is act with truth, best we can do is act with truth, sincerity, and sensitivity, remembering sincerity, and sensitivity, remembering that it is never one person who brings that it is never one person who brings about change but the feedback of about change but the feedback of change within the entire system.”change within the entire system.”



Distant HealingDistant Healing Intercessory Prayer Intercessory Prayer Precognitive & Shared Dreams Precognitive & Shared Dreams Intuitive DiagnosisIntuitive Diagnosis Telesomatic Events Telesomatic Events

Nonlocality Nonlocality

““HOLISTIC” SCIENCEHOLISTIC” SCIENCE

““Scientists will not need to be reluctant Scientists will not need to be reluctant to adopt a holistic framework, as they to adopt a holistic framework, as they

often are today, for fear of being often are today, for fear of being unscientific. Modern physics can show unscientific. Modern physics can show them that such a framework is not only them that such a framework is not only scientific but is in agreement with the scientific but is in agreement with the most advanced scientific theories of most advanced scientific theories of

physical reality.”physical reality.” Fritjof CapraFritjof Capra

HUMAN SPIRITUALITYHUMAN SPIRITUALITY

““A feeling of belonging, of A feeling of belonging, of

connectedness to each other, connectedness to each other,

to nature, and to the cosmos to nature, and to the cosmos

as a whole” as a whole”

SCIENCE & SPIRITUALITYSCIENCE & SPIRITUALITY

““The main reason science is useful is that itThe main reason science is useful is that it

attempts to solve our human problems.attempts to solve our human problems.

The main reason spirituality is useful isThe main reason spirituality is useful is

that it helps to solve our human problems.that it helps to solve our human problems.

It’s time that we recognize that theIt’s time that we recognize that the

solutions science and spirituality offer aresolutions science and spirituality offer are

one and the same” one and the same” The Spiritual Universe, Fred Alan Wolf, PhDThe Spiritual Universe, Fred Alan Wolf, PhD


“ “The world thus appears as aThe world thus appears as a

complicated tissue of events, incomplicated tissue of events, in

which connections of differentwhich connections of different

kinds alternate or overlap orkinds alternate or overlap or

combine and thereby determinecombine and thereby determine

the texture of the whole.” the texture of the whole.” HeisenbergHeisenberg


““The material object becomes…The material object becomes… something different from what we something different from what we

now see, not a separate object on the now see, not a separate object on the background or in the environment ofbackground or in the environment of the rest of nature but an indivisiblethe rest of nature but an indivisible part and even in a subtle way an part and even in a subtle way an

expression of the unity of all that weexpression of the unity of all that we see.”see.” Yoga MasterYoga Master


“ “ An elementary particle is not anAn elementary particle is not an

independently existing unanalyzableindependently existing unanalyzable

entity. It is, in essence, a set of entity. It is, in essence, a set of

relationships that reach outward torelationships that reach outward to

other things.” other things.”

PhysicsPhysics


“ “ Things derive their being andThings derive their being and

nature by mutual dependence andnature by mutual dependence and

are nothing in themselves” are nothing in themselves”

Buddhism in Capra – Tao of Physics, 138Buddhism in Capra – Tao of Physics, 138


““A Chinese tale tells of some menA Chinese tale tells of some men sent to harm a young girl who, uponsent to harm a young girl who, upon

seeing her beauty, became herseeing her beauty, became her protectors rather than her violators.protectors rather than her violators. That’s how I felt seeing the Earth forThat’s how I felt seeing the Earth for

the first time. I could not help butthe first time. I could not help but love and cherish her.”love and cherish her.”

Robert Keck, Sacred EyesRobert Keck, Sacred Eyes


““The most beautiful and profound The most beautiful and profound

emotion that we can experience is the emotion that we can experience is the

sensation of the mystical. It is the sower sensation of the mystical. It is the sower

of all true science. He to whom this of all true science. He to whom this

emotion is a stranger, who can no longer emotion is a stranger, who can no longer

wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good

as dead.”as dead.” EinsteinEinstein


““There are two ways to live your life.There are two ways to live your life.

One is as though nothing is a miracle. One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is aThe other is as though everything is a

miracle.”miracle.”

EinsteinEinstein

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WHAT DOES WHAT DOES Jonathan Robison PhD, MS QUANTUM PHYSICS HAVE TO DO WITH IT?