On quantum vacuum mechanisms, the objectivereality, and the essence of Mind

dr. J.F. (jim) Nystrom

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, USA

SAND 2012 EUROPE

Doom, The Kingdom of the Netherlands

2 June 2012

Overall idea∗

In an objective reality in which Mind and matter seemingly have

a quantum mechanically imposed dualist nature, we can recover

an underlying nonduality - or non-separation of all ‘things’ - if

the quantum vacuum mechanisms (in totality) is looked at as

the substance connecting all ‘things’.

∗My motivation here is from the viewpoint of a computational philosopher,whose main interest is in how Universe in-total computes.

Issues/Contents

� Introduction

� Objective reality w/ Mind and matter dualism

� essence of Mind and Nature of Self

� Nonduality under these circumstances

� Questions

An objective reality?

When contemplating the possibility of an objective reality, Isubmit it may be best if the physical Universe is imagined as aseething dance of energy events whose true dynamics should becouched in terms of Planck lengths, Planck time†, andWheeler’s quantum foam‡, and whose quantum descriptionwould include so-called virtual particles (and anti-matter)which seemingly pass in and out of physical existence and thatmay even deploy effects both forward and backward in time.†The Planck scale is the proposed bottom-level for physical events. Here,e.g., lP ' 1.16× 10−35 m, and tP ' 5.4× 10−44 s.‡In Wheelers words: “I found myself forced to invent the idea of quantumfoam, made up nor merely of particles popping into and out of existencewithout limit, but of space-time itself churned into a lather of distortedgeometry.”

The quantum vacuum§ is a term used the describe certain

peculiar aspects in modern physical theory. It is the case that

negative energy electrons (i.e., positrons) and other

antiparticles are required in the quantum theory for Lorentz

invariance (i.e., special relativity considerations) and causality¶.

The antiparticles and the virtual photons that surround physical

electrons are assumed to literally jump in and out of existence,

which in turn creates a type of enormous reality flux that is in

fact required in order for process in Universe to exist.

§P.W. Milonni, The Quantum Vacuum: An Introduction to Quantum Elec-trodynamics, Academic Press (1993).¶P.W. Milonni, ibid.

I use the term Negative universe‖ to describe that aspect∗∗ ofthe quantum vacuum where antiparticles flux to-and-fro whenthey (i.e., the antiparticles) are not in the physical universe.

I further submit that reality flux here acts like a power sourcefor the functioning of physical Universe.

reality flux provides the mechanisms for things analogous tocurrent and voltage difference – which are the electricalproperties that are needed for modern electronics. Here thenNegative universe acts as both a “source” and “ground” forprocess in physical Universe.‖A term borrowed from R.B. Fuller. R.B. Fuller, Synergetics: Explorations inthe Geometry of Thinking, Macmillan Publishing, New York (1975). Onlineat: http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/synergetics.html

∗∗For lack of a better term here. Calling Negative universe a ‘place’ wouldimply a spatial essence.

Quantum consciousness and theelephant in the physicist’s room†‡§¶

†J.F. Nystrom, ”On some theoretical problems with brain emulation,” Towarda Science of Consciousness 2011, Stockholm, Sweden, May 2011‡J.F. Nystrom, “Ontological musings on how nature computes,” InternationalConference on Computational Science 2010, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,May/June 2010.§J.F. Nystrom, “Universe as Computation, Modern Aether Theory, and theFunda-Mentalistic Mind,” Toward a Science of Consciousness 2008, Tucson,Arizona USA, April 2008.¶J.F. Nystrom, “Teleological Mechanism for the Simulation Argument,” (Ab-stract accepted, but not presented at) Quantum Mind 2007, Salzburg, Aus-tria, July 2007.

Classical dualism of Mind and Matter

Classic Cartesian Cut†‡§

Res extensia

(Matter)

Locality and Causality

IN Space-Time

Res cogitans

(Mind)

Non-locality and Non-causal

NOT IN Space-Time

†This graphic adapted from B.J. Hiley, ”Non-commutative Geometry, theBohm Interpretation and the Mind-Matter Relationship,” Proceeding ofCASYS 2000, Liege, Belgium, August 2000.‡Jaegwon Kim’s speculation that “the world is split in two with minds on oneside and stuff on the other” encompasses the same idea.§This ‘classic dualism’ puts Mind squarely in Negative universe.

∗ Many works in the area of quantum consciousness provide a

softer dualism (if you will).

∗ Penrose† makes use of a Platonic World outside of physical

Universe for the abode of things needed for mental processes.

For our purposes, Penrose’s Platonic World will fit into the

non-spatio-temporal abode‡ of Negative Universe.

†This Penrose-Hameroff Orch OR model places the quantum computationalconnection between physical universe and Negative universe is the cell cy-toskeleton microtubules of neurons, mostly operating at 40 Hz - quantumcollapses every 25 ms - involving 2 × 1010 tubulins per conscious event.See, for example, Stuart Hameroff, et. al., “Conduction Pathways in micro-tubules, biological quantum computation, and consciousness,” BioSystems64, 149-168 (2002).‡A Richard Rorty term.

essence of Mind

∗ With Mind operating out of Negative Universe, Mind

interaction with brain in physical Universe allows for many

possibilities, giving hints about the true essence of Mind.

∗ If there are separate eternal Mind/souls (inhabiting Negative

Universe), then this model accommodates reincarnation quite

naturally. We can also incorporate the ancient idea of Plato’s

Divine Mind, or Huxley’s Mind-at-Large

∗ This model allows all Minds access to this Divine Mind,

which supports many so-called para-phenomena, evidently

arising from this standard ‘connection’ to Negative Universe.

and nature of Self

∗ Mind also has access to the signals acquired by physical brain

(and thus a connection to an objective reality), and ‘signals’

from these two realms help define/create the (illusionary?)

nature of Self.

Nonduality under these circumstances

∗ I have outlined a dualism of Mind and matter built upon a

quantum vacuum system comprised of a Negative Universe and

a reality flux.

∗ As proposed in my ICCS 2010 paper, “Ontological musings

on how nature computes,” Negative Universe then acts as the

source of the ‘code’ that runs a type of computer program that

is physical Universe. (Here, the objective reality can be viewed

as the ‘data’ of a Universe as computation.)

which requires(?) various time modalities

∗ Negative Universe is thus envisioned as being connected to

all aspects of physical Universe, and can send ‘signals’ (if you

will) at any level of scale and with any time modality§¶ using

reality flux.

§‘retarded’ signals move forward in time and ‘advanced’ signals move back-ward in time; allowing for both (ordinary) causation and backward causation(or teleological effects in general).¶Or as Jan Faye puts it: “Our ordinary notion of causation does not trackany nomological feature of the world. What counts as the cause and theeffect depends on the observers projection of his or her temporal sense ontothe world.

similar to other (some ancient) ideas

∗ The quantum vacuum mechanisms in a sense can be viewed

as a mathematically described Askashic field, for example.†

∗ David Wilcox, for example, has used the term Source field to

describe similar notions to what here I have termed Negative

Universe.‡

†We cannot at present – outside of double top secret laboratories – exper-imentally probe (with instruments) the Negative Universe for content andmechanism. Thus, only with our borrowed Minds can we currently probethe Negative Universe!.‡There are other recent examples of books describing – from various view-points – this overall, evidently, nonduality-supporting type field.

same olde aether?

∗ The idea of a background aether (i.e., an immersive

substratum, or all permeating plenum) is very old in scientific

thought. James Clerk Maxwell had the belief, for example, that

an underlying aether supported the propagation of

electromagnetic fields.

∗ The olde aether idea has re-arisen in many forms (including

the quantum vacuum), including the postulated Higg’s field

which is presumed to permeate all space and is responsible for

endowing matter with mass.†

†But the physicist better not mention the word aether!

a computational model of it all

∗ I use R. Buckminster Fuller’s synergetic geometry.

∗ I put electromagnetics on this grid to create a computational

electromagnetic solver which puts EM into a new light.

∗ my CC model of the quantum foam and the ‘things’ above

fits a nonduality ideal.‡

‡What is below is like that which is above, and what is above is like thatwhich is below, to accomplish the miracles of one thing - Hermes.

computational cosmography defined

The name computational cosmography ‡ is used to describe a

computational system wherein physical system behaviors (and

properties) emerge as by-products of computations based on -

for lack of a better description - the interaction of virtual

deformable polyhedra which conform to the geometry

mechanisms as described in R.B. Fuller’s Synergetics.

‡J.F. Nystrom, “Tensional computation: Further musings on the computa-tional cosmography,” Applied Mathematics and Computation 120, 211-225(2001).

VE and the isotropic vector matrix grid

Vector equilibrium (VE) cell IVM grid/FCC grid.

is a twelve-around-one arrangement

which consists of four hexagonal planes;

each plane being a six-around-one arrangement.

The four hexagonal planes of the VE

e1

e2

e3

e4

e5

e6

(Here the a-plane is shown in magenta, the b-plane is shown in red, the

c-plane is shown in green, and the d-plane is colored aqua.)

a-plane: [+1] [-2] [+6] [-1] [+2] [-6],b-plane: [+1] [+4] [+5] [-1] [-4] [-5],c-plane: [-2] [+4] [+3] [+2] [-4] [-3],d-plane: [-5] [-3] [+6] [+5] [+3] [-6].

Calculation of the omni-directional curl operator

� Given T, we want to solve the equation

S = ∇× T .

� Both S and T are written in the IVM basis:

S = S1e1 + S2e2 + S3e3 + S4e4 + S5e5 + S6e6,

T = T1e1 + T2e2 + T3e3 + T4e4 + T5e5 + T6e6.

� Start with the definition of the curl,

S = limdA→0

(1/dA)[n∮

T · dl],

which is to be evaluated on each of the four hexagonal planes

of the VE.

Visualizing the vector curl

e3

The a and b planes

interact and beget the

e3 component of a curl.

e5

The a and c planes

interact and beget the

e5 component of a curl.

Electric field as traveling tetrahedron§¶

(Example of energy as form)

§J.F. Nystrom, ”On the Omni-directional Emergence of Form in Computa-tion,” Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 3305, 632-641 (2004).

¶J.F. Nystrom, “In Search of a Geometrical Basis for the Ubiquitous Electro-magnetic Energy,” PIERS 2002 Proceedings, Boston, MA, July 2002.

The A-module, B-module, and Mite (oh my!)‖

Think of these as the atoms or big bits of these computations

‖The picture on the left is from Richard Hawkins’ Digital Archive. Thepicture on the right is part of Color Plate 17 in R.B. Fuller, Synergetics:Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking, Macmillan, 1975.

computational cosmographical interplayof space and matter†

Both the background lattice system and the big bits (or polyhedraaggregates) of a CC computation have restrictions on formresulting from identical embryonic geometrical considerations. It isfrom the omni-directional lattice system that the form for allentities of a CC computation emerge. The interplay between thebig bits and the lattice system creates the need for an active latticebackground system, . . .

In this way, we find the lattice tells polyhedra aggregateshow to transform, while the polyhedra aggregates in turntell the lattice how to tense.

†J.F. Nystrom, ”On the Omni-directional Emergence of Form in Computa-tion,” Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 3305, 632-641 (2004).

Every ‘point’ in a CC lattice can jitterbug as required, which in

turn causes the spatial background matrix to expand from

with-everywhere [sic].

reality flux to-and-fro Negative universe could very well

power the lattice jitterbug and the associated expansion

of the active background lattice system.

Recap

∗ A need for more than brain activity to explain Mind leads toa classic Mind/Matter dualism.

∗ Mind has access to ‘signals’ from both Negative Universe andphysical Universe, thus creating a particular Self; which isimposed on top of a particular external Mind that the particularSelf is tuned for.

∗ even a dualist can be a nondualist§ if we take the entirequantum vacuum mechanism (including the Negative Universe)to be that one substance within/whereupon all physical andmetaphysical experiences are realized.§the statement in this footnote is false.

Questions?