Transcript File

MIND, BODY, AND QUANTUM
MECHANICS
STUART KAUFFMAN
1) Descartes Res cogitans and Res extensa substance dualism.
2) Newton’s 3 laws, gravitation, differential equations, integration,
entailment, determinism.
3) The Stalemate: if brain is classical physics, there is nothing for mind
to do, no way for mind to do it. Due to causal closure of classical
physics. Allows epiphenomenal mind.
4) Further stalemate: Actualism, the present could not have been
different, no counterfactual statements can be true. Contra the
possibility of free will.
5) Break causal closure of classical physics and no counterfactuals
with QM.
6) Quantum Biology is exploding so QM may apply to us.
7) QM, Two Slit, sea wall, superpositions, Schrodinger equation.
8) Von Neumann, process 2 and process 1.
9) Counterfactuals are an ontological requirement for free will:
10) No state of the matter before measurement, Schrodinger cat.
11) Null measurements: electron prepared to be in box 1 and also in
superpostion in box ; we look in box one, not there, then electron is in box
two, a null measurement Bomb experiment. Counterfactuals have real
consequences.
12) Ontological requirement for free will is met: present can have been
different.
13) Answering Descartes: Break causal closure of classical phyiscs with
QM.
14) No known mechanism for measurement since 1927, evidence there IS
no deductive mechanism. Plus Strong Free Will theorem. No mechanism
for measurement, electrons have free will if we do.
15) Poised Realm:
16) Decohrence to classicality fapp.
17) Decohrence is Acausal.
18) Recoherence, Shor theorem, recoherence in light harvesting molecules.
Phonons.
19) X and Y axes. Y axis real.
20) X axis is also real: order, criticality chaos, 1000 molecules measured
by distribution of energy levels, half ordered, half CRITICAL, a few chaotic.
Proteins, often, are quantum critical, with fractal wavefunction.
21) Critical proteins are sometimes conducting! Possible Cooper pairs,
high temperature superconductivity.
22) Luca Turin’s experiment: anesthetized flies more free electrons
flowing. Spin echo. Select for resistance to anesthetics fewer free
electrons flowing!
23) Might consciousness be associated with superconductivity???
MAYBE testable, far out.
24) Consciousness associated with MEASUREMENT?
25) Radin results. If /Radin experiment should work from Mars to
earth, consciousness is non local so surely associated with quantum,
doable experiment next 50 years.
26) Select resistance to or sensitivity of flies to anesthetics and see where
mutant proteins are in body, eg synapses, and if mutation alters quantum
behavior. Eg, loss of superconductivity? A doable experiment now.
27) Quantum varaibles co-measure one another; emergent classiclity via
Quanum Zeno Effect, and may measure consciously: Panspychism.
28) DWAVE and Trans Turing Systems vs Algorithmic Turing Machines
Summary: QM needed for an account of mind body. Poised
Realm real, counterfactuals are real. Measurement may be
associated with consciousness us and quantum varaibles ?
superconductivity and quantum criticality. Trans Turing Systems
constructable and evolvable.