A Physicist S View Of Matter And Mind

This is a highly interdisciplinary book straddling physics and complex systems such as living organisms. The presentation is from the perspective of physics, in a manner accessible to those interested in scientific knowledge integrated within its socio-cultural and philosophical backgrounds. Two key areas of human understanding, namely physics and conscious complex systems, are presented in simple language. An optional technical presentation is also given in parallel where it is needed.

This is a highly interdisciplinary book straddling physics and complex systems such as living organisms. The presentation is from the perspective of physics, in a manner accessible to those interested in scientific knowledge integrated within its socio-cultural and philosophical backgrounds. Two key areas of human understanding, namely physics and conscious complex systems, are presented in simple language. An optional technical presentation is also given in parallel where it is needed. Contents:Part I. The Nature of Physical Law:A Bird's Eye View of Our QuestAn Epistemic Hunt for Scientific TruthThe Laws of Nature and the Supremacy of SymmetryMaxwell's Magical Trinity — Electricity, Magnetism and LightThe Theory of RelativityThe Quantum World and 'Reality'Entanglement, Measurement and Quantum ParadoxesMany Particle Systems and the Classical LimitEnergy, Entropy and Emergent PropertiesPart II. Complex Systems and Consiousness:Bio-Molecules, the Sub-Slime of AstrochemistryThe Cell as the Basic Unit of LifeSpecialized Cells for Sight, Insight, and InformationExotic, Quantum Explanations of ConsciousnessAddressing the Enigmatic Questions Readership: General audience with interest in physics and complex systems biology as well as science academics. Keywords:Laws of Physics;Epistemology of Science;Scientific Revolutions;Relativity;Quantum Theory;Bohmian Picture;Paradoxes in Physics;Density Functional Theory;Decoherence;Thermodynamics;Determinism and Free Will;Emergent Properties;Evolution;Origin of life;Memory;ConsciousnessKey Features:The book traces developments in astrochemistry and the origin of life, and it provides the reader with our modern understanding of memory and consciousness

"Scientists other than quantum physicists often fail to comprehend the enormity of the conceptual change wrought by quantum theory in our basic conception of the nature of matter," writes Henry Stapp. Stapp is a leading quantum physicist who has given particularly careful thought to the implications of the theory that lies at the heart of modern physics. In this book, which contains several of his key papers as well as new material, he focuses on the problem of consciousness and explains how quantum mechanics allows causally effective conscious thought to be combined in a natural way with the physical brain made of neurons and atoms. The book is divided into four sections. The first consists of an extended introduction. Key foundational and somewhat more technical papers are included in the second part, together with a clear exposition of the "orthodox" interpretation of quantum mechanics. The third part addresses, in a non-technical fashion, the implications of the theory for some of the most profound questions that mankind has contemplated: How does the world come to be just what it is and not something else? How should humans view themselves in a quantum universe? What will be the impact on society of the revised scientific image of the nature of man? The final part contains a mathematical appendix for the specialist and a glossary of important terms and ideas for the interested layman. This new edition has been updated and extended to address recent debates about consciousness.

This book discusses two of the oldest and hardest problems in both science and philosophy: What is matter?, and What is mind? A reason for tackling both problems in a single book is that two of the most influential views in modern philosophy are that the universe is mental (idealism), and that the everything real is material (materialism). Most of the thinkers who espouse a materialist view of mind have obsolete ideas about matter, whereas those who claim that science supports idealism have not explained how the universe could have existed before humans emerged. Besides, both groups tend to ignore the other levels of existence—chemical, biological, social, and technological. If such levels and the concomitant emergence processes are ignored, the physicalism/spiritualism dilemma remains unsolved, whereas if they are included, the alleged mysteries are shown to be problems that science is treating successfully.

How do we get an idea from the physical world? There is basically only one possibility, namely the dialogue with nature, i.e. we create a theoretical conception of the world by thinking, and then we check this conception with the help of measuring instruments. In this connection the following question arises: Does there exist for each element of the theory an element-specific deflection at the measuring instrument? In other words, has each element of the theory a counterpart in the actual reality? If not, then the theory contains metaphysical elements, i.e. elements which have no counterpart in reality. In this book it is argued that there are obviously no theoretical conceptions of the world which are free of metaphysical elements. This is not only valid in connection with matter but also for the conceptions of space and time. The consequences in connection with modern conceptions of the world are outlined.

States of Matter, States of Mind is an easy-to-read introduction to the way the physical world is put together and stays together. The book presents the fundamental ideas and particles of the makeup of the universe to enable understanding of matter and why it behaves in the way it does. Written in an engaging manner, the book explains some of the intricate details and grand schemes of life and the universe, by making analogies with common everyday examples. For example, the recipe for a cake tells us nothing of how good the cake tastes, but is a model of the food, and a scientific model is no closer to the reality of the materials than a recipe is to the mouth-watering flavor of the cake. Illustrated with helpful cartoons, this book provides a vast knowledge of atoms and atmospheres. The first several chapters introduce terms and fundamental ideas while later chapters deal successively with particles and systems, from the electron to the universe as a system. Each new idea introduced builds upon the last. A user-friendly bibliography provides references for further reading.

"What Is Life?" is Nobel laureate Erwin Schrödinger's exploration of the question which lies at the heart of biology. His essay, "Mind and Matter," investigates what place consciousness occupies in the evolution of life, and what part the state of development of the human mind plays in moral questions. "Autobiographical Sketches" offers a fascinating fragmentary account of his life as a background to his scientific writings.

This book is designed as a textbook for students who need to fulfil their science requirements. Part I explores classical physics from its beginnings with Descartes, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton, to the relativity theories of Einstein. Special emphasis is given to the development of the objective, materialist, and deterministic worldview of classical physics. The influence of Newtonian physics on other fields of science and on society is emphasized. Finally, some of the problems with the worldview of classical physics are discussed and a preview of quantum physics is given.