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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: quantum physics: philosophy
« on: 28/07/2006 12:19:06 »
Thank you for your opinions, they have been helpful.
I should clarify a little what I am trying to get a sense of: The current accepted position (not that I assume that makes it unquestionably the most correct one) regarding how the observer influence the collapsing wave to create a singular observation from a large probabilities of other observations due to the unknown superposition.
What I am being told is that quantum physics can resolve the debate that the mind can exist beyond the brain state. Or in other words, that consciousness and the mind can willfully change the brain (ie. the mind is more then merely the parts of the brain).
The first view, that the observer plays a lead role in collapsing the wave function can be used to support the theory or emergent materialism that the mind is more then the product of the brain and cannot be merely reduced to neuronal firing and neurotransmitters etc. And thus consciousness would be able to directly influence and change the physical brain.
While the second view supports Functionalism and Epiphenomenalism that the mind may exists but its capacity is limited to what the brain dictates as the mind is created by the brain and therefore cannot alter its physical state. Or, the observer has no role in the collapse of the wave function to create a singular observation.
My knowledge of both quantum physics and neuroscience/philosophy are very limited and I hope I have not incorrectly summarized!
Thanks again
I should clarify a little what I am trying to get a sense of: The current accepted position (not that I assume that makes it unquestionably the most correct one) regarding how the observer influence the collapsing wave to create a singular observation from a large probabilities of other observations due to the unknown superposition.
What I am being told is that quantum physics can resolve the debate that the mind can exist beyond the brain state. Or in other words, that consciousness and the mind can willfully change the brain (ie. the mind is more then merely the parts of the brain).
The first view, that the observer plays a lead role in collapsing the wave function can be used to support the theory or emergent materialism that the mind is more then the product of the brain and cannot be merely reduced to neuronal firing and neurotransmitters etc. And thus consciousness would be able to directly influence and change the physical brain.
While the second view supports Functionalism and Epiphenomenalism that the mind may exists but its capacity is limited to what the brain dictates as the mind is created by the brain and therefore cannot alter its physical state. Or, the observer has no role in the collapse of the wave function to create a singular observation.
My knowledge of both quantum physics and neuroscience/philosophy are very limited and I hope I have not incorrectly summarized!
Thanks again