Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature

Abstract: The classic problem of how the mind and body relate, which is part of the general problem of how the physical universe may have given rise to consciousness, cannot be solved with a purely physical approach. In an attempt to locate a region of nature where mind and matter closely meet, many theorists both in and out of physics have looked to the quantum field. In their article "The Misuse of Quantum Physics in Psychic Literature" that appears elsewhere in this Journal issue, Jack A. Mroczkowski and Alexis P. Malozemoff proffered the accusation that these theorists engaged in "psychic" speculation, a misuse of quantum mechanics, and a misappropriate of science to further a spiritual agenda. In this invited response, I argue that the use of quantum in this way is entirely correct and suggests a radical paradigm shift.

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Misuse or Breakthrough? Mind and the Quantum Model: A Reponse to "Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature," ark:/67531/metadc1752577

Abstract: In rebuttal to the article "Quantum Misuse in Psychic literature" by Jack A Mroczkowski and Alexis P. Malozemoff published in this issue of the Journal of Near-Death Studies, I briefly present the quantum science of consciousness, provide its experimental verification, and mention some of its applications. I then briefly summarize one such application--near-death experiences. I also provide an explanation of how a macro material body such as the brain can be quantum.

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Not Misuse but Progress: A Response to "Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature," ark:/67531/metadc1752579

Abstract: This invited article is a response to the paper "Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature," by Jack A. Mroczkowski and Alexis P. Malozemoff, published in this issue of the Journal of Near-Death Studies. Whereas I sympathize with Mroczkowski's and Malozemoff's cause and goals, and I recognize the problem that they attempted to tackle, I argue that their criticisms often overshot the mark and end up adding to the confusion. I address nince specific technical points that Mroczkowski and Malozemoff accused popular writers in the fields of health care and parapsychology of misunderstanding and misrepresenting. I argue that, by and large--and contrary to Mroczkowski's and Malozemoff's claims--the statements made by these writers are often reasonable and generally consistent with the current state of play in foundations of quantum mechanics.

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Reasonable Inferences from Quantum Mechanics: A Response to "Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature," ark:/67531/metadc1752580

Abstract: In this invited response to the article "Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature" by Jack A. Mroczkowski and Alexis P. Malozemoff, appearing in this issue of the Journal of Near-Death Studies, I agree that the term "quantum" can be misused if it is used as an explanation for psychic phenomena. What quantum mechanics does provide, whereas classical mechanics does not, is evidence that the physical world is compatible with psychic phenomena. That is, the core mystery about psychic experiences is that they transcend the everyday constraints of space and time. The same mystery is true of quantum phenomena. Some authors claim that this shared mystery is a mere coincidence. If so, that is an astonishing coincidence.

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Don't Look at My Hand: A Response to "Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature," ark:/67531/metadc1752583

Abstract: As one of the authors whose work the two retired physicists Jack A. Mroczkowski and Alexis P. Malozemoff (2019) discussed in their article "Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature," which appears elsewhere in this journal issue, I appreciate the invitation to write this response. In it I will offer my views on quantum physics and the role of consciousness, further information about studies pertaining to near-death experiences (NDEs) and consciousness in general, and several quotations from my book that substantiate my use of quantum physics as analogy rather than established fact as it pertains to consciousness.

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Quantum Physics as Analogy: A Response to "Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature," ark:/67531/metadc1752584

Abstract: We provide a rejoinder to the responses of Chopra, Goswami, Kastrup, Radin, and van Lommel to our article "Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature" that opens this journal issue. Our comments may be summarized in two main themes: These authors failed to recognize (a) how and why the von Neumann concept that only consciousness can collapse the quantum wavefunction has been largely rejected by physicists today and that quantum collapse is now understood to be able to occur without a conscious human observer, and (b) that their efforts to justify a universal consciousness on the basis of presently understood nonlocality are flawed. Also, in our view, from a quantum physics perspective the universe may be much less entangled and holistic than psi authors often assume. In conclusion, we contend that quantum misuse by psi authors remains a serious problem, undermining the credibility of psi research. We provide suggestions to help psi authors avoid this problem in the future.

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Quantum Misuse in Psychic Literature: A Rejoinder, ark:/67531/metadc1752581