From: mk_thisisit
The exploration of consciousness often leads to questions about its fundamental nature and where it might originate. A key inquiry involves whether consciousness exists at or beyond the quantum level of reality [00:23:06].
The Search for Consciousness at a Deeper Level
One perspective suggests that consciousness might be found at a level deeper than quantum mechanics, a concept driven by intuition [00:00:56]. This idea challenges the common assumption among theoretical physicists that quantum physics represents the ultimate theoretical bottom, with nothing existing below it [00:23:21].
Claims that there is no deeper level of reality are considered far-fetched, as there is no definitive proof to support such a conclusion [00:23:33]. The intuition is that if one seeks consciousness, a deeper level than quantum is necessary [00:23:42].
Why Beyond Quantum?
The argument for consciousness existing beyond the quantum level is rooted in the perceived nature of both:
- Quantum Level as Statistical: The quantum level is inherently statistical [00:24:10].
- Consciousness and Probability Reduction: Consciousness is linked to awareness and the reduction of probabilities [00:24:16]. This suggests that consciousness itself operates differently from a purely statistical domain.
Consciousness and Classical Physics
Consciousness is definitively not a classical phenomenon [00:24:04]. Experimental evidence, such as the processes of photosynthesis occurring at the quantum level rather than the classical level, reinforces the idea that life’s fundamental processes extend beyond classical physics [00:23:54].
Implications for Understanding
The pursuit of consciousness at a sub-quantum level is considered a primary interest in science [00:24:50]. It highlights the difficulty in getting “beyond ourselves” and the inherent human tendency to link universal questions to the nature of consciousness [00:24:57].
Different Physics at Different Scales
The universe demonstrates different physical laws at various scales:
- Micro world: Has a distinct physics compared to our everyday “meso” world [00:00:27].
- Cosmic scale: Also appears to have its own unique physics, dependent on the model of the universe [00:00:31].
This concept of scale-dependent physics reinforces the possibility of a deeper, as yet undiscovered, level where consciousness might reside [00:03:53]. The scientific community is currently at a “crossroads” where current theories increasingly disagree with new experimental observations, suggesting something fundamental is changing in our understanding [00:00:04], [00:00:10], [00:05:26]. This includes discrepancies in observations from new telescopes that show objects that shouldn’t exist or appear older than the universe [00:04:16].
The search for consciousness at a deeper level than quantum physics is seen as a necessary next step in scientific discovery [00:24:28].