Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness

By Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kuttner

Book Overview

In trying to understand the atom, physicists built quantum mechanics and found, to their embarrassment, that their theory intimately connects consciousness with the physical world. Quantum Enigma explores what that implies and why some founders of the theory became the foremost objectors to it. Authors Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kuttner explain all of this in non-technical terms with help from some fanciful stories and anecdotes about the theory's developers. They present the quantum mystery honestly, with an emphasis on what is and what is not speculation. Quantum Enigma's description of the experimental quantum facts, and the quantum theory explaining them, is undisputed. Interpreting what it all means, however, is controversial. Every interpretation of quantum physics encounters consciousness. Rosenblum and Kuttner therefore turn to exploring consciousness itself--and encounter quantum physics. Free will and anthropic principles become crucial issues, and the connection of consciousness with the cosmos suggested by some leading quantum cosmologists is mind-blowing. Readers are brought to a boundary where the particular expertise of physicists is no longer a sure guide. They will find, instead, the facts and hints provided by quantum mechanics and the ability to speculate for themselves.

"A remarkable and readable presentation of the basic mysteries of science, our universe, and human life. Critically important problems in our understanding are interestingly discussed with perception, depth, and careful objectivity."
--Charles Townes, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics

"Lively and thought-provoking."
--The Washington Times

"This book is unique. The clearest expositions I have ever seen."
--George Greenstein, Professor of Astronomy, Amherst College

"An immensely important and exciting book."
--Raymond Chester Russ, editor of Journal of Mind and Behavior

"Exposes the hidden skeleton in the physicist's closet."
--Nick Herbert, author of Quantum Reality

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 019534250X
• ISBN13: 9780195342505
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.0" x 0.5" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Absolute must-read

I just finished reading Quantum Enigma and it has left me stunned. Although I am sure many folks would not agree, I think the topic of this book examines the most important questions facing us humans -- the fundamental nature of consciousness and "reality", and how the two interact. The authors explain how quantum theory clearly shows that microscopic particles behave in a way that does not "make sense". Not only can those particles exist in two places at once, but the theory shows that they only exist when observed by something or someone. And since our everyday macroscopic objects are theoretically made up of those tiny particles, what does that mean about the chair I am sitting on? Is it there only because I am here? As stated on page 156, "There is no way to interpret quantum theory without in some way addressing consciousness." This is not a "pop-quantum" book like the Tao of Physics or The Dancing Wu Li Masters. Nor does it present nonsensical extrapolations of quantum theory to spiritual phenomena, as in the "What the Bleep..." movie. But it does explore realms where most physics text books do not go -- the juncture of physics and philosophy. It shines a bright light on physicists' "skeleton in the closet", the enigmatic meaning of quantum theory. The book is written in a friendly and entertaining manner, without sacrificing depth or seriousness. I enjoyed the photos of the great minds of quantum theory - Bohr, Heisenberg, Einstein, etc - the guys who knew from the start that quantum theory required a different world view. It may be true, in some sense, that nothing exists unless and until "observed"! How can that possibly be? The authors don't provide an answer, but the beauty of this book for me was the courageous and competent way in which it asks the questions. And they freely admit that "The more deeply you think about quantum mechanics, the more strange it seems." No kidding. --Joel Nisson

A Breath of Fresh Air on the Quantum Quandry

I have read several books explaining the various interpretations of quantum theory but none as clear and complete as this one. A little humor thrown in helps too. But I have to disagree with some reviewers who found the book "easy" or "not difficult" to understand. Quantum theory is inherently complex and counterintutive, and the experiments involve concepts that even the layman with a science background will find challenging (at least this one did.) To their great credit, the authors have written about these concepts and experiments comprehensively and more clearly than any similar book I have read. But that doesn't mean the book does not challenge the mind. It does, which means I would not recommend it for those with no science background (and even less so for those many intelligent and well educated people who nevertheless are proud of their scientific ignorance - we have all met them). The author's paucity of jargon is refreshing. For example, the awkward word "nonlocality", though the concept is central to any discussion of quantum phenomena, is never used. The book is perhaps most distinguished by its fascinating, but not unplausible speculations, which scientists who have left their quantum enigma skeletons in their closets are too "scientifically correct" to make. In light of the author's intellectual courage, it is unfortunate that the important body of rigorous, scientific experiments in paraphenomena - which, like quantum experiments, point directly to human consciousness as the basis for future theories of these enigmatic phenomena - are rather glibly dismissed. Of course, the authors are not alone; almost no books written by scientists even mention this important body of scientific work.

Quantum Theory for Everyone

Quantum mechanics is one of the most tested and verified theories of modern physics. However, there are several parts of quantum mechanics that can only be described as bizarre. Of course the physicists discuss and argue the implications of the strange behavior of the quantum world but very few average people fully understand the problems. In Quantum Enigma the authors explain the history of quantum mechanics, how it was developed over the years, and why it is both the most cohesive theory of modern physics and at the same time the most controversial in its application. What makes their book exceptional is how easy it is to understand. Using simple language they are masters at taking a complex subject and explaining it in a way that anyone can understand. Quantum Enigma is highly recommended to anyone who wants to understand the basics of quantum mechanics including the various problems that come along with it.