There is no need to look far in order to find outlandish theories on the nature of cosmos, and also of human consciousness. In recent times, notions once relegated to science fiction found their way into the esoteric academic journals, and after that into the mainstream discourse. One such example is the Simulation Argument, which was recently championed by Elon Musk. Another example is ‘time crystals,’ which are a tantalizing non-linear phase of matter.
The newest symphony of mind jazz, which was broadcast across the Internet, posits some new ideas about the embattled theory of ‘panpsychism,’ or better known as the belief that our mind is an essential property of the physical universe and is imbued into all the different states of the matter.
One new paper, which has been published by physicist Gregory Matloff, has brought the idea back in some scientific discussions, promising experimental tests which may validate or falsify the concept of ubiquitous proto-consciousness fields. He also pushed the controversial idea of volitional stars, suggesting that there is evidence which says that stars are the controllers of their galactic paths.
Although the theory may sound absurd, it has a few prominent adherents, which include British theoretical physicist named Roger Penrose, who has introduced panpsychism about three decades ago. Roger believed that consciousness arises from properties that the quantum entanglement has. He, together with an anesthesiologist, named Stuart Hameroff, has authored the Orchestrated Objective Reduction or Orch-OR hypothesis, which asserts that the consciousness results from the quantum vibrations which happen inside microtubules.
Several years ago, in 2006, Bernard Haisch, who is a physicist from Germany, took this idea further on and even proposed that consciousness arises within a quantum vacuum every time when there is an importantly advanced system through which the energy is flowing.
Christof Koch, who is a neuroscientist and proponent of panpsychism approached it from a different perspective, utilizing integrated information theory in order to argue that consciousness is not something unique to a biological organism.
According to him, the single dominant theory that humanity has of consciousness says that it is connected with complexity – with the ability of the system to act upon its state and to even determine its own fate. The theory also states that it may go down to quite simple systems. Moreover, some purely physical systems which are not biological or also organic may also be conscious.
Matloff, together with some other scientists, moved the argument into a new phase: experimentation. He has the intention to study the behavior of stars, particularly analyzing an anomaly in stellar motion which is known as Paranego’s Discontinuity. He wants to know why some cooler stars seem to emit jets of energy which is pointed in one direction, and which is a characteristic which appears inexplicably and oddly ubiquitous in the galaxy.
He also made his plans for last year, which were about the use of the results which were from the Gaia star-mapping space telescope to show that the anomaly may also be willful stellar action.
In the meantime, as he studies the cosmic activity of the grandest scale, Koch had approached the experimental phase of the theory with the use of brain-impaired patients. He wanted to know whether the information responses match the underlying neurochemical foundations of the consciousness of people. He even planned to test this by wiring the brains of mice together in order to see whether their minds merge into some larger information system.
However, panpsychism has some critics. In one article, a person named Keith Frankish said that panpsychism gives consciousness a curious status and that it places at the center of each physical entity, still threatening to render it explanatorily idle. He added:
For the behavior of subatomic particles and the systems they constitute promises to be fully explained by physics and the other physical sciences. Panpsychism offers no distinctive predictions or explanations. It finds a place for consciousness in the physical world, but that place is a sort of limbo.
This, in fact, expresses a general sense which says that panpsychism oversimplifies the hard problem of awareness in the universe, an opinion which a lot of scientists are sharing. But, Matloff Penrose, together with some other proponents, kept undertaking the job of venturing outside the margins of accepted science, in order to try to reconcile intractable contradictions and even some anomalies which were exposed by the quantum theory.
The universe has been reveled at as a sign if infinite possibilities and a symbol of open mindedness, free from limitations, creativity, and being artistic.
This amazing and unique Crystal Glass Universe Necklace symbolizes a thought provoking wonder of the galaxy. This amazing and unique Crystal Glass Universe Necklace symbolizes a thought provoking wonder of the galaxy.
Always remember that just like the universe, life has a limitless swarm of opportunities for you!
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