Note: All posts are interconnected, so you are requested to read the previous posts before reading this post.
Implications of the Quantum Theory regarding Interconnectedness
Quantum mechanics reveals an intimate connection between the ‘object’
and ‘observer’. As summed up by Capra, “My conscious decision about
how to observe, say, an electron will determine the electron’s properties to
some extent. If I ask it a particle question, it will give me a particle
answer, if I ask it a wave question, it will give me a wave answer. The
electron does not have objective properties independent of my mind.” Thus,
“Isolated material particles are abstractions, their properties being definable
and observable only through their interaction with other systems”. Thus, in
reality, Nature does not show any isolated building blocks but rather appears
as a complicated web of relations between various parts of a unified whole, and
the entire universe is a single indivisible unit.
Another remarkable feature of quantum theory, which indicates a deeper
level of interconnectedness in particles is known as ‘Non-locality’. It defines the apparent tendency of objects to instantly
recognize each other’s location, even if separated by large distances (possibly
even billions of light-years). Non-locality arises because of the phenomenon of
entanglement, whereby particles that interact with each other are permanently
interconnected or dependent on the states and properties of each other, to the
degree that they essentially lose their independence and function as a single
entity in many ways. Various scientists like John Bell, Stuart Freedman, and
John Clauser endorse the existence of this kind of characteristic of
particles.
Rather than talking in the context of interconnectedness and casual
relationships in all units, Bohm proposed a new nature of reality in terms of
‘wholeness’. He proposed a new field at the subquantum level the quantum
potential that pervades everywhere with equal power and do not
diminish with distance. One of the key characteristics of quantum potential
is wholeness. It means the behavior of the parts is actually organized by the
whole. He even suggested that wholeness was
the primary reality. Another important implication of the quantum
potential is related to the nature of the location. In every day of lives, the
specific location of things plays an important role. However, Bohm’s
interpretation of quantum physics indicates there is no meaning of talking
location at a subquantum level as location ceases to exist at that level. All the
points become equal to the other points, thus, there is no meaning of talking
separateness. This phenomenon is also known as ‘non-locality’. It implies that
he indicates oneness at that level. He explains this oneness through an
analogy:
Suppose, there is a fish swimming in an aquarium.
There are two cameras installed at a right angle as shown in the figure and you can
see both views at different televisions. Now, suppose you are neither aware of
the aquarium nor about cameras, and watching only television. You will
mistakenly assume that the two fishes are different. But, after watching
sometimes you will be aware that there is a relation between the two fishes as
you will feel some movement in one fish with the movement in the other fish. If
you are really not aware of the whole setup, you will immediately conclude that
the fishes are instantaneously communicating as in the case of the nonlocality
effect. But, in reality, there is no communication between the fishes, in fact,
you are watching the same reality from different angles.
From the above analogy, Bohm concludes that due to
the all-pervading quantum potential, all particles are nonlocally
interconnected. Thus, he indicates that all things are part of an unbroken and
undivided web embedded in space.
The Implicate and Explicate characteristics of the Universe
Explaining relation between the perceptible world
and the quantum potential, Bohm explains the holographic characteristic of a
hologram. Everyone of us is familiar with holograms – a three-dimensional image
formed by the interference of light beams from a laser or other coherent light
source. The name ‘hologram’ is derived from the Greek word ‘holo’ means ‘whole’
and ‘gram’ means ‘to write’. Thus, the hologram means to write whole. The
important characteristic of a hologram is that each part of the hologram will
reflect the whole object with varying intensity. Thus, each part of the
hologram records the whole object. The form and structure of the whole object
is enfolded within each region of the photographic record unfolded when one
shines light on any region. Bohm called it as ‘implicate order (to fold
inward)’ and ‘explicate order (to fold outward)’. Whatever, we see is actually
the explicate order of a deeper reality of implicate order like a hologram. He
sees the whole universe as a result of countless enfoldings and unfoldings
between these two orders. Whenever we think of a hologram it gives an
impression of a static image that fails to address the dynamic nature of the
universe. Thus, Bohm prefers to use the term ‘holomovement’.
David Bohm brings out various aspects of the wholeness and inherent interconnectedness existing in the Universe in his book entitled ‘Wholeness and the Implicate Order’. The central theme of the book is the unbroken wholeness of the totality of existence as a continuous flowing movement without borders. Wholeness means that nothing could be understood in isolation, everything exists in relation to others. And ‘implicate’ means every element has detailed information about the other element. Bohm derives these characteristics of the Universe on the basis of the theory of relativity and quantum physics.
In addition to the above, Bohm believes that space
is not a vacuum or empty. It is full of energy and a ground for the existence
of everything, including ourselves. Criticizing
the fragmentary view of existence, Bohm asserts:
“The notion that all these fragments are separately
in existence is evidently an illusion, and this illusion cannot do other than
lead to endless conflicts and confusion. Indeed, the attempt to live according
to the notion that the fragments are really separate is, in essence, what has
led to the growing series of extremely urgent crises that is confronting us
today. Thus, as is now well known, this way of life has brought about
pollution, destruction of the balance of nature, over-population, worldwide
economic and political disorder, and the creation of an overall environment that
is neither physically nor mentally healthy for most of the people who have to
live in it.”
As a consequence of these developments, science itself is demanding a new, nonfragmentary worldview, in the sense that the present approach of analysis of the world into independently existent parts does not work very well in modern physics. It is shown that both, in relativity theory and quantum theory, notions implying the undivided wholeness of the Universe would provide a much more orderly way of considering the general Nature of reality.
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