This morning, after going to bed very early (2:00 am!) because of attending the Gertrude Bell film last night, I was awakened early by Krista Tippett on the radio interviewing Brian Greene. Rather than being annoyed, I smiled in my sleep. I have often been awakened by "On Being" of a Sunday morning and never regretted it. I always learn something and I happen to love Brian Greene. I began reading his books a few years back to get a basic understanding of physics. He's written several of which I have The Hidden Reality. He's a theoretical physicist and teaches at Columbia where he's done much work on string theory. He also chairs the World Science Festival. I've never heard him interviewed before and I found him to be funny and charming and honest about his own confusion about the complex topics he teaches. Krista would ask him a question about something he'd written and he'd say, "Oh did say that?" seeming like someone who has an awful lot of information crammed into his head.
Greene like contemporary philosopher Daniel Dennett (Consciousness Explained, 1991, Bacteria to Bach and Back, 2017) is a member of the new atheism. Dennett, a physicalist, believes consciousness is simply the product of our complex layers of mental activity and does not assign a divine mystery to it. This leads to the question of whether we have free will over our actions or if we are just determined by our mental activity. Greene speaks of the elegant mathematical design of the universe, but sees no need for an encompassing God that is responsible. Both men believe in a sacredness and reverence for design of the universe, evolution, pure science, however. This maybe the area where they may agree with more dualist thinkers.
Hearing Greene speak about quantum physics, however only raises more questions and mystery. While he admits that most of us still function with the instincts and conscious awareness of Newtonian physics, where what is observable must be certain, he elaborates on the meaning of Einstein's great discoveries of a reality where there are no longer certainties only probabilities - things that might be; the anxious reality of our modern existence - existential, invisible, microscopic, and cosmic.
As mathematical theory has progressed it shows the possibility of entities (matter, particles) which could exist according to the numbers, but for which there is no physical actual proof of their existence. In particular there are particles that makes up the weak electrical field (ether, substance) in which all other electromagnetically charge particles (atoms, neutrons, quarks) are held. The field is called Higgs and these weak particles: Boson. The Higgs Boson are an example of a mathematical concept which can exist but were yet to be seen. Greene uses the metaphor a fish swimming in water to describe it. The fish is unaware of the water because it is always surrounded by it so it cannot come into awareness or be described. The Boson according to the math is outside of the normal pattern of particles which move in a spiraling course. It has zero spin and zero mass and is ubiquitous in the universe probably representing the oldest form of matter - the substance of existence. On July 4, 2012 using a huge particle accelerator (an giant machine which smashes atomic particles at incredible speeds) physicists were able to extract a single Boson particle. Also known as the "God" particle it cannot be created or destroyed. It exists as pure energy and cannot be converted into another form of matter. How can we even conceive of such a thing. The pictures of its existence seem like obscure scratchings.
But with this discovery is it possible that other entities which are mathematically possible actually exist as well? Perhaps in multiple universes? We are constricted by our Newtonian consciousness, but Greene thinks these concepts, which even he has trouble keeping straight, will be standard curriculum for kindergarteners in several hundred years. Greene and Dennett speak of the evolutionary progress of consciousness, like Plato and the allegory of the cave. Man must come to see the light gradually or he will be blinded.
The notion that consciousness is simply a result of electrical impulse/mental activity is addressed by Joseph Goldstein in Insight Meditation when he speaks of letting go of thoughts as temporary impulses which we do not own and which do not own us. This is helpful in terms of mindfulness and helps us come closer to higher mind/divine reality/nirvana - whatever you wish to call it. However there still remains the question of self determination and free will. If we are not our thoughts how can we have control over them or over our own actions? I do not pretend to have any answer, but it is fun to contemplate.
I believe the practice of meditation and attainment of higher consciousness will aide the expansion of the human mind to comprehend the "God" particle Higgs Boson and many other unimaginable realities. As a Reiki practitioner and hospice worker I know I have experienced what I can only call the intangible connection and essence of other human beings and sometimes the presence of those who are no longer here. I'm more inclined toward a dualistic explanation of reality than the physical determinism of Dennett and Greene. In thinking of fish metaphor, I consider the mudskipper and the blennie with their foot-like fins - those intermediate species who made the jump from water to earth in our evolutionary tree. They would have seen the water below them when they rose out of it and understood it to no longer be their entire reality. That drive to move onward, to move higher, where does that come from?
This morning I meditated after listening to these complex mysteries. As I sat the sun rose behind me and I discovered myself sitting in light. Why and how things occur as they do at certain times, and what our part may be, remains a mystery.
Greene like contemporary philosopher Daniel Dennett (Consciousness Explained, 1991, Bacteria to Bach and Back, 2017) is a member of the new atheism. Dennett, a physicalist, believes consciousness is simply the product of our complex layers of mental activity and does not assign a divine mystery to it. This leads to the question of whether we have free will over our actions or if we are just determined by our mental activity. Greene speaks of the elegant mathematical design of the universe, but sees no need for an encompassing God that is responsible. Both men believe in a sacredness and reverence for design of the universe, evolution, pure science, however. This maybe the area where they may agree with more dualist thinkers.
Hearing Greene speak about quantum physics, however only raises more questions and mystery. While he admits that most of us still function with the instincts and conscious awareness of Newtonian physics, where what is observable must be certain, he elaborates on the meaning of Einstein's great discoveries of a reality where there are no longer certainties only probabilities - things that might be; the anxious reality of our modern existence - existential, invisible, microscopic, and cosmic.
As mathematical theory has progressed it shows the possibility of entities (matter, particles) which could exist according to the numbers, but for which there is no physical actual proof of their existence. In particular there are particles that makes up the weak electrical field (ether, substance) in which all other electromagnetically charge particles (atoms, neutrons, quarks) are held. The field is called Higgs and these weak particles: Boson. The Higgs Boson are an example of a mathematical concept which can exist but were yet to be seen. Greene uses the metaphor a fish swimming in water to describe it. The fish is unaware of the water because it is always surrounded by it so it cannot come into awareness or be described. The Boson according to the math is outside of the normal pattern of particles which move in a spiraling course. It has zero spin and zero mass and is ubiquitous in the universe probably representing the oldest form of matter - the substance of existence. On July 4, 2012 using a huge particle accelerator (an giant machine which smashes atomic particles at incredible speeds) physicists were able to extract a single Boson particle. Also known as the "God" particle it cannot be created or destroyed. It exists as pure energy and cannot be converted into another form of matter. How can we even conceive of such a thing. The pictures of its existence seem like obscure scratchings.
But with this discovery is it possible that other entities which are mathematically possible actually exist as well? Perhaps in multiple universes? We are constricted by our Newtonian consciousness, but Greene thinks these concepts, which even he has trouble keeping straight, will be standard curriculum for kindergarteners in several hundred years. Greene and Dennett speak of the evolutionary progress of consciousness, like Plato and the allegory of the cave. Man must come to see the light gradually or he will be blinded.
The notion that consciousness is simply a result of electrical impulse/mental activity is addressed by Joseph Goldstein in Insight Meditation when he speaks of letting go of thoughts as temporary impulses which we do not own and which do not own us. This is helpful in terms of mindfulness and helps us come closer to higher mind/divine reality/nirvana - whatever you wish to call it. However there still remains the question of self determination and free will. If we are not our thoughts how can we have control over them or over our own actions? I do not pretend to have any answer, but it is fun to contemplate.
I believe the practice of meditation and attainment of higher consciousness will aide the expansion of the human mind to comprehend the "God" particle Higgs Boson and many other unimaginable realities. As a Reiki practitioner and hospice worker I know I have experienced what I can only call the intangible connection and essence of other human beings and sometimes the presence of those who are no longer here. I'm more inclined toward a dualistic explanation of reality than the physical determinism of Dennett and Greene. In thinking of fish metaphor, I consider the mudskipper and the blennie with their foot-like fins - those intermediate species who made the jump from water to earth in our evolutionary tree. They would have seen the water below them when they rose out of it and understood it to no longer be their entire reality. That drive to move onward, to move higher, where does that come from?
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| Blennie |
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| Mudskipper |
This morning I meditated after listening to these complex mysteries. As I sat the sun rose behind me and I discovered myself sitting in light. Why and how things occur as they do at certain times, and what our part may be, remains a mystery.
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