Mind, Matter, and Quantum Mechanics
Nature appears to be composed of two completely different kinds of things: rocklike things and idealike things. The first is epitomized by an enduring rock, the second by a fleeting thought. A rock can be experienced by many of us together, while a though
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Mind , Matter, and Quantum Mechanics
Henry E Stapp
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH
Professor Henry Pierce Stapp Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory University of California Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Cover picture: "Liebe" by Alexej von Jawlensky © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 1993 Original owned by and 10cated in Stădtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich Photograph © Stădtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich
ISBN 978-3-662-08767-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data. Stapp, Henry P. Mind, matter, and quantum mechanicsJHenry P. Stapp. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-3-662-08767-1 ISBN 978-3-662-08765-7 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-08765-7 I.Quantum theory. 2. Physics - Philosophy. 3. Mind and body. 1. Title QCI74.12.S8 1993 128 2-dc20 93-8407 This work is subject ta copyright. Ali rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concemed, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction an microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permittedonly underthe provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH. Violations are liable for prosecution under the German Copyright Law. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1993 Originally published by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York in 1993 Softcover reprlnt of the hardcover 1st edition 1993
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Preface
Nature appears to be composed of two completely different kinds of things: rocklike things and idealike things. The first is epitomized by an enduring rock, the second by a fleeting thought. A rock can be experienced by many of us together, while a thought seems to belong to one of us alone. Thoughts and rocks are intertwined in the unfolding of nature, as Michelangelo's David so eloquently attests. Yet is it possible to understand rationally how two completely different kinds of things can interact with each other? Logic says no, and history confirms that verdict. To form a rational comprehension of the interplay between the matterlike and mindlike parts of nature these two components ought to be understood as aspects of some single primal stuff. But what is the nature of a primal stuff that can have mind and matter as two of its aspects? An answer to this age-old question has now been forced upon us. Physicists, probing ever deeper into the nature of matter, found that they were forced to bring into their theory the human observers and their thoughts. Moreover, the math
