This is a review of a book by two physics professors titled, "Quantum
Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness." I argue that to understand
quantum mechanics you need to understand the difference between science,
metaphysics, and philosophy.
Human beings have a drive to know
and understand everything, and there are two methods of inquiry that
stand side-by-side as equals: metaphysics and science. Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness
shows that a lack of understanding of metaphysics is a stumbling block
in understanding science. Metaphysical questions arise from our
transcendence, that is, our ability to make ourselves the subject of our
own knowledge: What is the conscious knowledge of humans as opposed to
the sense knowledge of animals? What is a real being? What are mental
beings (images, concepts, past, future, dreams)? What is truth? What is
causality? What is free will? What does it mean to understand something?
Is the universe intelligible?
Basically, the answer to all of the
above questions is that there is no answer. They are mysteries. We can
comprehend what a human being is because we know everything we do and
everything that happens to us, but we can't define or explicate what a
human being is. In other words, humans are embodied spirits. Using the
categories of metaphysics, the human soul is spiritual. Assuming or
hoping that the universe is intelligible leads to the existence of a
transcendent reality that is called God in Western religions. God is not
a free image, like Santa Clause, but a real being, like a beloved
friend who gets on your nerves from time to time.
In science,
there are no mysteries because science has a tremendous track record of
success. There are only unanswered questions. It can be said of
metaphysics that there is no record of success. An example of
metaphysical wisdom is that knowledge is the openness of being to the
self-manifestation of being. In metaphysics, whether or not the universe
is intelligible is an open question. But in science, it is not. If
Johannes Kepler thought for one minute the universe was not
intelligible, he would not have spent 10 years trying to understand why
the planets move as they do. What caused the Big Bang is not a mystery.
What is consciousness is a mystery. Calling both questions mysteries
indicates you don't understand the difference between metaphysics and
science.