Quantum theory and consciousness

Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 11:46:04 -0800
From: Roger S. Jones <jones001@maroon.tc.umn.edu>
To: quantum-d@teleport.com
Subject: QUANTUM-D: Quantum theory and consciousness

Apropos of the discussion of "theories of everything" and consciousness, 
there is an interesting book--"The Self-Aware Universe," in which the 
author and physicist Amit Goswami claims that all of the quantum 
paradoxes can be resolved if we begin from a monistic idealist 
philosophy (as opposed to a monistic or dualistic material one).  
Goswami attempts to demonstrate (with some success, in my opinion) 
that assuming a ground of consciousness as the basis of all existence 
can "explain" the collapse of the wave function, nonlocal phenomena, 
the combined existence of matter and mind, and even the evolution of 
the eye as a kind of "collapsed state" of many creative and potential 
"designs."  It is a fascinating and potentially seminal book that 
deserves a reading from all those interested in the future of physical 
science and its relationship to consciousness.

Roger S. Jones
School of Physics & Astronomy
University of Minnesota