Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness (Second edition)

300 Pages·2011·3.48 MB·English

by  Bruce Rosenblum

Quantum Enigma
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Quantum Enigma
Physics Encounters
Consciousness
Second Edition
Bruce Rosenblum a nd Fred Kuttner
1
1

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Copyright © 2011 by Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kuttner
Published by Oxford University Press, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rosenblum, Bruce.
Quantum enigma : physics encounters consciousness / Bruce Rosenblum and
Fred Kuttner. — 2nd ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-19-975381-9 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Quantum theory. 2. Science—Philosophy.
I. Kuttner, Fred. II. Title.
QC174.13.R67 2011
530.12—dc22 2010019465
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
We dedicate our book to the memory of John Bell,
perhaps the leading quantum theorist of the latter half
of the twentieth century. His writings, lectures, and
personal conversations have inspired us.
Is it not good to know what follows from what,
even if it is not necessary FAPP? [FAPP is Bell’s
suggested abbreviation of “for all practical purposes.”]
Suppose for example that quantum mechanics were
found to resist precise formulation. Suppose that when
formulation beyond FAPP is attempted, we fi nd an
unmovable fi nger obstinately pointing outside the
subject, to the mind of the observer, to the Hindu
scriptures, to God, or even only Gravitation?
Would that not be very, very interesting?
— John Bell
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Acknowledgments
During the preparation of our book we have greatly benefi ted from the
suggestions, criticism, and corrections offered us by those who have read
chapters as they were being prepared and revised. We gratefully acknowl-
edge the help of Leonard Anderson, Phyllis Arozena, Donald Coyne, Reay
Dick, Carlos Figueroa, Freda Hedges, Nick Herbert, Alex Moraru, Andrew
Neher, and Topsy Smalley.
We warmly thank our former editor, Michael Penn, for his insightful
advice and support, and our present editor, Phyllis Cohen, for her insight-
ful advice, continued support, and encouragement of further projects. We
are grateful to our former production editor, Stephanie Attia, for her valu-
able suggestions. And thanks to production editor Amy Whitmer for her
effi cient help with the second edition.
All along, our agent, Faith Hamlin, has given us crucial advice and
warm encouragement. We very much appreciate her involvement in our
book.
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Contents
Preface to the Second Edition xi
1 Einstein Called It “Spooky”: And I Wish
I Had Known 3
2 The Visit to Neg Ahne Poc:
A Quantum Parable 11
3 Our Newtonian Worldview: A Universal
Law of Motion 21
4 All the Rest of Classical Physics 39
Hello Quantum Mechanics 53
5 How the Quantum Was F orced on Physics 55
6 Schrödinger’s Equation: The N ew
Universal Law of Motion 73
7 The Two-Slit Experiment: The
Observer Problem 87
8 Our Skeleton in the Closet 101
9 One-Third of Our Economy 115
10 Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen 125
11 Schrödinger’s Controversial Cat 143
12 Seeking a Real World: EPR 155
13 Spooky Actions: Bell’s Theorem 173
14 Experimental Metaphysics 193
15 What’s Going On? Interpreting the
Quantum Enigma 203
16 The Mystery of Consciousness 221