Mind, Matter and Quantum Mechanics (The Frontiers Collection)
Mind, Matter and Quantum Mechanics (The Frontiers Collection)
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Product Description
"Scientists other than quantum physicists often fail to comprehend the enormity of the conceptual change wrought by quantum theory in our basic conception of the nature of matter," writes Henry Stapp. Stapp is a leading quantum physicist who has given particularly careful thought to the implications of the theory that lies at the heart of modern physics. In this book, which contains several of his key papers as well as new material, he focuses on the problem of consciousness and explains how quantum mechanics allows causally effective conscious thought to be combined in a natural way with the physical brain made of neurons and atoms. The book is divided into four sections. The first consists of an extended introduction. Key foundational and somewhat more technical papers are included in the second part, together with a clear exposition of the "orthodox" interpretation of quantum mechanics. The third part addresses, in a non-technical fashion, the implications of the theory for some of the most profound questions that mankind has contemplated: How does the world come to be just what it is and not something else? How should humans view themselves in a quantum universe? What will be the impact on society of the revised scientific image of the nature of man? The final part contains a mathematical appendix for the specialist and a glossary of important terms and ideas for the interested layman. This third edition has been significantly expanded with two new chapters covering the author's most recent work.
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Rating
Though there is a fair amount of redundancy in this collection of papers originally published from the late 1960s to about 1990, I found the redundancy useful in coming to grips with the novel interpretations posited by Stapp. His primary thesis — stunning in its simplicity — is that consciousness can be usefully construed as the collapse of a superposition of brain states. Unlike the more mystical folks writing on quantum physics and consciousness, Stapp provides a number of highly technical examples of exactly how this process might work neurophysiologically. Essentially, his ideas are an explicit working-out of Heisenberg’s ontology joined with William James’ concepts. This brilliant and difficult book well rewards the effort necessary to master its ideas. It is, I believe, the most sophisticated attempt yet to explain consciousness in quantum mechanical terms, far superior to more naive dualist attempts such as those by Eccles and Popper.
Rating
This book is clearly written and for a general audience. Stapp presents not only his own ideas but those of other esteemed scientists in a well organized way. There are a number of anecdotes that are interesting and give insight into how the differing points of view on the quantum measurement problem developed.
The question of how to interpret quantum mechanics is not resolved and Henry Stapp has taken an approach toward it that is meant to address the question of efficacious free will and the mind/body problem. His approach is inspired by the work of John von Neumann and is neither reductionist nor solipsistic.
Some very thought provoking questions are addressed in this well written book geared for an audience with some background in science.