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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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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[11] p.
Notes
"[The Journal of Near-Death Studies] is the only peer-reviewed scholarly journal (ISSN 0891-4494) devoted exclusively to the field of near-death studies. It is cross-disciplinary and published quarterly."
This article is part of the following collection of related materials.
Journal of Near-Death Studies
The Journal of Near-Death Studies is a scholarly peer-reviewed journal devoted to the field of near-death studies. It is published on a quarterly basis by the International Association for Near-Death Studies. The Journal began publication in 1982 under the name Anabiosis which was changed to its current title in 1986 with the start of Volume 6.
Abstract: In this paper, we address an unfortunate growing trend involving misuse of quantum physics in psychic and healing literature, including literature on near-death experiences. After a brief introduction to quantum physics, we provide examples and explanations of misuse. Such misuse encourages undue skepticism of what might otherwise be valuable reading. We conclude with recommendations to authors and publishers about how to guard against this problem.
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.