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Quantum Physics

Skeptics not in tune

While sharing some views with a neuroscientist on the ResearchGate website, I received a thank you for pointing her in the direction of this article "DNA Waves and Water" (pdf) with reference and links included in the "Congruent Solutions to Zeno's Paradoxes" article.

It wasn't until I reread the conclusions section, that something rather important occurred to me.

Specifically, that "the DNA Waves and Water (pdf) gives some linkages between mind and its effect upon chemical processes in the body (e.g. the em frequency of 7Hz of both DNA and the nervous system -- and that entered by (not in the article) deep meditative states! As I recall, light meditation (Alpha) changes brain activity to just under 14Hz, and Theta (deep meditation), changes brain wave frequency down to around 7Hz)."

Interesting to see that 7Hz figure, which is not as easily achieved in meditation. Most schools (meditative practices) are largely focused on Alpha, but for medical issues, 7Hz (Theta) states would be required, it seems!

And that's important in medical circles on issues of health and wellbeing: It's not just a matter of wishful thinking to, say, reverse cancer -- it requires deep meditative practices!

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The SEP field is alive and strong

I recently thought to set straight on a forum the nonsense arguments concerning solutions to Zeno's Paradoxes. Quick fillin -- Zeno's Paradoxes are a set of paradoxes concerning the (theoretical) impossibility of physical movement. Obviously we routinely experience physical movement in our daily lives. No problem there. The theory however of how things move, is ... shall we say 'problematic'.

Anyway, the reason for the forum post (see this Hubpages hub) was that after another hub thread started deleting my reasoned responses, I decided to post my own.

What has been interesting is to observe how Douglas Adams' SEP field is alive and strong on this topic.

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Predicting the same responses

Dear me. It's so predictable.

According to an article in the New Scientist1, a highly respected psychologist has done experiments that reveal a slight ability to 'feel the future' (as in precognition).

"A year ago ... Daryl Bem, a well-respected psychologist at Cornell University, New York, reported some positive (precognition) results in the Journal of Personal and Social Psychology (vol 100, p407). 'When Daryl speaks, we listen,' says Jeff Galak, of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania."

The article details the experiments, revealing that people will make choices of pictures, words or objects that -- more often than chance --  will be of those that later had been pre-arranged to be presented to them.

What is interesting about the article is not the experimental evidence itself. That's a done deal many times over. Princeton's PEAR laboratories had around 30 years of consistent research to confirm mind-matter and precognitive abilities, before it closed up shop, citing no need to continue because ...

The enormous databases produced by PEAR provide clear evidence that human thought and emotion can produce measureable influences on physical reality. The researchers have also developed several theoretical models that attempt to accommodate the empirical results, which cannot be explained by any currently recognized scientific model.

And of course "not mentioning" Wheeler's Delayed Choice experiments showing a much more substantial experimental basis within deep reality of future influences effecting the past (or more correctly, present choices effecting which past is experienced).

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If you are not shocked ...

Some years ago I read that Nobel Laurette and physicist Niels Bohr reportedly remarked that "Anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it".

In more recent times Prof. David Albert of Columbia University similarly explained that

There's something really indescribably strange about the picture that we're presented with of ourselves by -- especially by fundamental physics. And it's a picture that we just don't know how to fully take in. And I think it's very, very, very disturbing.

So what's so disturbing about quantum theory.

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The many benefits of quantum physics

Dialoguing with various participants on a LinkedIn forum, I was mindful to explore some of the benefits of understanding the deeper principles (not necessarily the mathematics) of quantum physics.

As Einstein demonstrated perhaps unwittingly, being too focused on the mathematics can take one away from one's intuitive feel for the deeper rhythms and connections in life.

The following (with shortened urls, including those that link within this site) will be posted to the LinkedIn group "The Pythagorus Portal", topic "Does God Exist?".

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It behoves me, rather than to simply pull the rug from underneath all of you, to advise each of you to a). focus on the irrationality and inconsistency of your beliefs, which then could or should lead you to consider a fuller world view.

and most importantly b). explore methods (e.g. meditation) by which to gain greater 'intuitive awareness' of the world around you, and ahead of you, in time.

I can genuinely assure each of you that there are immense benefits to doing so.

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Men are particles, women are waves

When writing Be and Become during the latter half of the 90's, the various revisions of the manuscript1 included chapter (Nine) titled as "Men are particles, women are waves".

However, prior to publication I had the thought (contrary to my better instincts) that the chapter would best be titled differently, to what is now "Material men, wonderful women". It was, I thought, less likely to be dismissed as 'stereotyping' people, even though I felt at ease with the "Men are particles ..." title.  "Men are particles, women are waves" quite adroitly and succinctly expresses the inherent dynamics of life towards individualism, and collectivism -- men and male animals do (as a general rule!) bias themselves towards the hard, physical, individualistic side to life (characteristic of particles). Women do bias themselves towards the soft, interconnective, cooperative, relationship side to life (characteristic of waves and fields).

Stereotyping?

Hardly -- walk down any street asking everyone encountered their occupation.  Then note the gender percentages of those in the 'hard-sciences', engineering and Information Technologies, compared with those in care services, humanities and communications.

The bias is not because men or women are 'pushed' into the various professions, or due to restrictions such as 'glass ceilings'. There's been plenty of attempts to get more women into IT, but they simply just aren't as interested ... as a GENERAL rule!. Yes, there's always exceptions, but we're talking 'bias' in numbers, of percentages, not of exceptions.

Anyway, this all goes to remind me of the need to follow my intuition, not what the naysayers might say, or what I think might be best in terms of my work.

It doesn't pay to second-guess that which is beyond modeling or explanation -- the intuitive.

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Science - religiously late

Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire ActionIn his entertaining TED presentation Simon Sinek1 explains what it means to be a laggard (they're the late late-adopters): "The only reason these people buy touch tone phones is because you can't buy rotary phones anymore."

A curious phenomenon is occurring. And it is extraordinarily fascinating to be in the middle of it, observing it live, as we speak! What's so fascinating is that the great bulk of scientific theory is now lagging well behind the advances in quantum fact.2 But for those who are lagging none of this is at all fascinating. Not in the least. Indeed, it's something else entirely.{C}

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It "must be" about time

While chatting to a psychologist recently I happened to explain a bit about my work.

I explained that while I'm happy to dig into the nitty-gritty of quantum theory and experiment, not that many people seem too interested. So I recounted how, talking with a photographer friend, I explained some of the practical benefits of quantum physics -- such as speeding with safety.

Now, I explained to this particular lady that with the benefits of quantum physics we now have sufficient evidence to draw some remarkable conclusions. And that is that (to quote someone I expect is way smarter than me) ...

any correct model of reality has to incorporate explicit non-local connections. No local reality can explain the type of world we live in. Furthermore, (since that model) is based on experimental facts, it is independent of whether quantum theory is correct or not.1

in other words ...

Whatever reality may be, it must be non-local.2

I explained that most of us are as a general rule locally-focused so we don't pay much attention to the nonlocal signaling that's ever-present, ubiquitous and vitally supports our ability to live life (more on that vitality and necessity another time -- hint: Dr Damasio's work with frontal lobe-damaged patients).

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Timeless knowledge

Voices of the dayWhile visiting a friend in Barkandji Country (Aboriginal country around Wilcannia, and along the Darling River), I was given a book "Voices of the first day", by Robert Lawlor. It contains concepts and ideas which are highly congruent with my basic model of The Theory of One and All. In fact the language and ideas are strikingly similar.

In Be and Become I recounted how I'd learned via meditation courses to 'sense' the inside-ness of materials such as copper and iron, and that of plants and other materials. This has quite a practical benefit, in that by being able to 'sense' inside the material things of life, we can, for example, be more aware of the dynamics of a motor vehicle -- sensing when it needs maintenance, or when it is approaching some mechanical problems (highly pertinent when in the middle of no-where without mobile phone coverage, and other circumstances, as explained in more detail here :). The awareness is only limited to the direction in which we focus it.

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on the subject of ''free will'

While emailing back and forwards to a friend who's scientifically minded (and credentialed), we got into the nitty-gritty of the interpretations of quantum mechanics, and what it all means as far as 'free will' is concerned, and our daily lives.

My friend doesn't believe in any 'genuine' free-will, in that the choices we make are all, in a sense, 'determined' by forces or systems beyond ourselves (technically speaking, by downward causative influences).

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The Belief Doctor’s approach

As explained on the About page, my focus as The Belief Doctor®1 is to work with people and provide examples and information that reveals the power and productive benefits gained from combining "masculine" and "feminine" energies in one coherent approach to life, in all areas of life. This combination – of effectively combining both 'head' with 'heart' to enable intimate, powerful and rewarding personal, business and social relationships – is recognised by leading thinkers as being crucial to ease, wellbeing, intimacy, creativity, productivity, innovation, health, wealth, fulfillment and happiness.

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Do Atheism and Religion rely on ignorance?

Last night I attended a philosophers' meeting, in which the merits of atheism was discussed.

There was a talk given on "The new atheists" - as the email alert of the event explained, "The new atheists are Dawkins along with Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett and Sam Harris. The Four Horsemen they call themselves and they can be found on the web. Adding in Michel Onfray and his recent publication, The Atheist Manifesto only extends the concern that they are all barking up a dead end canal."

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The travesty of modern science

Overview

There are many who argue in various scientific circles and forums that mathematical theories based on unending, contiguous numerical continuity (infinite-series, calculus) are able to explain a series of perplexing theoretical dilemmas dating back nearly 2,500 years.

Those dilemmas, widely known as Zeno's Paradoxes raise issues relating to the apparent impossibility of everyday physical movement, which is assumed to occur continuously and smoothly.

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Psychic abilities and skeptics

Being sceptical is perhaps one of the easiest means by which to protect ourselves from silliness, naivety and from being enlisted into the ranks of 'space cadets'.

Scepticism (or skepticism) naturally motivates one to question, to devise experiments, or thought-experiments to test the credibility of ideas. And asking questions is, in my opinion, one of the most noble, useful and valuable tools anyone can possess. It could be argued that a healthy scepticism amongst the populace and judiciary would have seen off some of the more pernicious superstitions and crowd behaviours in times past, such as the executions of those suspected of being witches during the Salem witch trials.

But from my experience the not-so-good side to being sceptical far outweighs the benefits. Being quick to dismiss claims of religious, spiritual, or psychic experience leaves one closed to possibility, and closed to finding deeper congruent frameworks of belief. As I have found, that closed-mindedness can result in quite debilitating health issues. 

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