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Alexandre Fontes da Fonseca |
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Quantum Physics
and Materialism
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Quantum Physics
is one of the
most successful
theories
of Science,
and
at the same time
the least
understood
by scientists.
Thanks to it,
technology has
reached
levels
never
imagined
before the
middle of
the
last century.
Its effects on
society
and,
in particular,
on economics
are striking,
as the fact that
30% of
US GDP is
originated from
products in
which the
knowledge of the
Quantum Theory
was applied.
But what,
after all, is
Quantum Physics?
It
is simply
a Theory
of Matter.
It was developed
to
explain and
describe
quantitatively
the behavior
of matter in
micro
and
nanoscopic
size
scales.
An excellent
introduction to
Quantum Physics,
written for
the
understanding of
the Spiritists,
can be found
on the blog
"Era do Espírito”
(Age of the
Spirit)"2.
But if it is
a Theory
of Matter,
why has the
Spiritist
movement shown
such a
tremendous
interest
in Quantum
Physics?
There are two
main
reasons for
this.
The first
stems from
several “strange”
interpretations
of this theory,
which resemble
mystical
concepts.
As
these
interpretations
are quite
different
from the
perception
we have of
everyday
phenomena,
they lead one to
think that
the Spiritist
phenomena
(also
considered
different
from the
perception
we have of
everyday
phenomena)
must
be directly
related to
these
interpretations.
Examples of
“strange”
interpretations
of Quantum
Physics:
an object
being in more
than
one place at a
time; the
influence of the
observer
in the
experimental
measurements;
a particle that
can behave
like a wave
and vice
versa;
the existence of
parallel
universes;
non-local
connection; and
so on.
These
interpretations
are strange
because they are
attempts to
understand the
behavior of
microscopic
particles
with
the same notions
of space, time
and motion
that we have
regarding the
macroscopic
world
through our
five senses.
It is not always
correct or
scientific to
force the
relationship
between
different
theories
The second
reason why the
Spiritists have
an interest in
Quantum Physics
are in Kardec’s
works:
"Walking
together with
progress,
Spiritism will
never be
surpassed,
because if new
discoveries
showed it to be
in error
regarding any
point, it would
change at that
point”.
(Item 55 of
Chapter I of
Genesis3).
As Quantum
Physics is one
of the most
successful
theories in
Science, this
led some
well-intentioned
companions to
conclude: If
Spiritism is
consistent with
Quantum Physics,
then it will be
in line with the
“new
discoveries”
of Science. But
the problem with
this line of
reasoning is
that not
everything in
nature is
described by
Quantum Physics,
not everything
needs to be in
tune with it to
“walk with it
towards progress”,
and what is more
rigorous is that
not always is it
scientifically
correct to force
the relationship
between two
distinct
theories.
In an attempt to
see Spiritism
valued and in
line with
Science, some
fellows have
published
“excesses”
regarding the
concepts of the
Quantum Theory
to explain or
describe the
concepts and and
Spiritist
phenomena. To
“overdo” a
scientific
theory is to use
it to describe
phenomena for
which it was not
originally
designed,
without making
methodical
experiments to
prove such use.
As a result, we
have seen in the
Spiritist field
the use of terms
such as
“Quantum God”,
“Quantum soul”,
Quantum
consciousness”,
“reincarnation
and Quantum
Physics”,
“Quantum
healing”,
“Quantum
thinking”, proof
of Spiritism by
means of the
“Quantum
Physics”,
and so on.
The question we
want to examine
here is whether
these excesses
do not hide a
trap for the
Spiritist
knowledge. In
the speech,
these excesses
sound like
confirmations of
Science for the
Spiritist
concepts. But to
scrutinize the
meaning of the
concepts of
Quantum Physics,
what they
represent and
what are their
bases and
dependencies, we
see that they
(excesses) bring
more problems
than solutions.
The main problem
is that these
extrapolations
or excesses
represent a
direct support
to
materialism.
The Quantum
Theory has a
very strong
relationship of
dependency with
matter
At most, Quantum
Physics concepts
can serve one
day to describe
the behavior and
properties of
the spiritual
fluids. But they
do not serve to
define or
describe
concepts such as
God, soul,
thought,
reincarnation
and others.
The explanation
for this is
actually quite
simple. The
Quantum Theory
has a very
strong
relationship of
dependency with
matter. It
applies only to
material things
like particles
or waves.
According to the
Quantum Physics2,
any information
we can have of a
material system
is contained in
the so-called
“wave function”",
which is a
mathematical
function that
contains
possible values
for all
measurable
properties of
the material
system.
According to
Quantum Physics,
there is no “wave
function”
separated from a
material system.
Therefore, if a
Spiritist
concept depends
on Quantum
concepts, then
this Spiritist
concept will
have to be
associated with
a material
system too. This
is no problem
when we only
think about the
spiritual
fluids,
which are,
according to
what the Spirits
taught in
question 27 of
the Book of
Spirits4
(LE) and items
from 2-6 of
Chapter XIV of
Genesis3,
modifications
and changes of
the universal
fluid, which is
the material
principle. But
the Quantum
concepts cannot
be directly
linked to
concepts such as
God, the soul,
intelligence, or
with phenomena
and processes
such as
reincarnation
and mediumship,
except in the
fluidic
counterparts of
the same.
How can the
Spiritist
movement be
damaged if it
aggregates
concepts which
involve the
relation between
Quantum Physics
and Spiritism?
First,
there is the
matter
of
unshakable
Faith:
"Unshakable
Faith
is only the one
that can face
reason in all
ages of
Humanity”
[Kardec,
item
7
of Chapter
XIX, “The
Gospel According
to
Spiritism
5
(ESE)].
How can one face
the reason of
those who deeply
understand the
Quantum Physics
and
know that it
does not apply
to the
Spiritist
concepts?
Can
reincarnation be
explained by
Quantum
Physics as some
wish?
Every
Spiritist
concept
has to
be grounded in
the
purest
and clearest
scientific and
philosophical
truth
in order to
face the
reason
of Science,
critics,
skeptics
and
those who,
by some
interest,
fight
the message
of Love and
Charity
of
the Third
Revelation.
Every
Spiritist
concept needs to
have
solid
foundations
on reason
and common sense
so that
the disclosure
of
Spiritism
becomes
clear and simple
for all
those
who seek it.
This is an
absolutely
necessary
condition for
the most
important
Charity
that can be done
within the
Spiritist
movement,
according to
Emmanuel:6
"the
greatest Charity
we can do for
the
Doctrine
is its own
disclosure".
Another problem
is the lack of
consistency with
the Spiritist
principles,
which may give
rise to a
long-standing
concern of
Kardec when he
spoke of the
exalted
Spiritists
(The Book of
Mediums,
Chapter III,
item 28.)7:
The worst thing
is that
unintentionally
they give
weapons to the
unbelievers,
who instead of
believing, seek
all occasions to
mock and do not
let go by the
opportunity to
impute all
the ridicule of
some ".
(Emphasis in
bold mine).
According to
Kardec, an
exalted
Spiritist is the
one that
"Trusts in a
blind and often
puerile manner
in Spiritism, in
the invisible
world and who
believes very
easily and
without proof in
what reflection
and verification
would be
absurd or
impossible”.
(Emphasis
in bold mine).
In this case, to
magnify occurs
in the hasty use
without
demonstration of
the Quantum
Physics
regarding the
description of
the Spiritist
concepts.
Let us see an
example of “absurd”
or “impossibility”
that stems
from the
interpretation
of the soul as a
“wave
function”:
A known scholar
of Quantum
Physics, and his
acceptance of
the Hindu
concepts,
proposed that,
when considering
the soul as a
“wave function”,
reincarnation
would be
explained by
Quantum
Physics.
Spiritism
is a Doctrine
very
well
grounded
in
facts and
phenomena
The problem is
that,
according to the
same
scholar,
if the soul
is
a "wave
function",
then
in the interval
between
one incarnation
and another
there can be no
conscious life
in the spiritual
world.
To get an
idea
of the
consequences,
works
such
as
Our Home,
by
Andre
Luiz
and
others, should
not exist
because
the soul
as a
“wave
function”,
therefore, it
would remain
in the
spiritual world
in an
unconscious
state
until it would
be born again in
a new body8.
I.e., to
support this
“Quantum”
theory
of the soul
is to contradict
what is taught
by
Spiritism!
To admit
this, is to
provide
ammunition
for the
opponents
of Spiritism
to say that the
Spiritists do
not know their
own Doctrine.
We have
published other
examples of
analysis of
theses and
spiritual
theories, which
although
fraternal and
well-meaning,
they use
concepts of
Physics in a
superficial and
wrong way to
propose
practices not in
accordance with
the Spiritist
Doctrine.
9,10
Spiritism is a
very well based
Doctrine in
facts and
phenomena; well
analyzed and
discussed in
philosophical
terms; and clear
regarding the
consequences of
a moral nature
of deep
religious reach.
Simple in its
Humanity's
regeneration
purposes through
the regeneration
of each of us,
the Doctrine is
the only
doctrine known
in Humanity that
has a dual
character of a
revelation:
the divine
character and
the scientific (Kardec,
item 13 of
Chapter I,
Genesis
3).
It is important,
therefore, to
value Spiritism
in the way it is
revealed by the
Good Spirits,
not by blind
faith or
fanaticism, but
in order to
study,
understand it
and, above all,
work it within
its progress,
being aware of
it, without the
risks of
sophistry of
reason, and to
develop it
within the
parameters of
quality and
seriousness that
will make it
increasingly
known, respected
and, above all,
enjoyed by all.
References:
[1] Fernanda
Vilela, article:
"But, after all,
what is Quantum
Physics?",
Science Agency
website, link:
https://agenciacienciaweb.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/mas-afinal-o-que-e-fisica-quantica/
(accessed on
October 11,
2015).
[2] A. Xavier
Jr., "Basic
Concepts of
Quantum Physics
I-VI" blog “Era
do Espírito”,
link:
http://eradoespirito.blogspot.com/2012/02/conceitos-basicos-de-fisica-quantica-i.html,
http://eradoespirito.blogspot.com.br/2012/03/conceitos-basicos-de-fisica-quantica-ii.html,
http://eradoespirito.blogspot.com.br/2012/05/conceitos-basicos-de-fisica-quantica.html,
http://eradoespirito.blogspot.com.br/2012/08/conceitos-basicos-de-fisica-quantica-iv.html,
http://eradoespirito.blogspot.com.br/2013/02/conceitos-basicos-de-fisica-quantica-v.html,
http://eradoespirito.blogspot.com.br/2014/03/conceitos-basicos-de-fisica-quantica-vi.html
(all links
accessed on
October 11,
2015).
[3] A. Kardec,
Genesis,
Publisher FEB,
36th Edition,
Rio de Janeiro
(1995).
[4] A. Kardec,
The Book of
Spirits,
Publisher FEB,
76th Edition,
Rio de Janeiro
(1995).
[5] A. Kardec,
The Gospel
According to
Spiritism,
Publisher FEB,
112th Edition,
Rio de Janeiro
(1996).
[6] FC Xavier
and W. Vieira,
Study and
Live, by the
Spirits Emmanuel
and Andre Luiz,
Publisher FEB,
11th Edition,
Rio de Janeiro
(2005).
[7] A. Kardec,
The Book of
Mediums.
Publisher FEB,
96th edition,
Rio de Janeiro
(1996).
[8] AF da
Fonseca,”Physics
of the Soul and
Spiritism”, The
Comforter 188,
(2010). Link:
http://www.oconsolador.com.br/ano4/188/especial.html
(accessed on
October 12,
2015).
[9] AF da
Fonseca, "Apometry:
neither Science
nor Spiritism"
The Reformer
2224, p. 403
(2014).
[10] AF da
Fonseca, "Is
the transmission
of the thought a
non-local
phenomenon?"
Journal of
Spiritist
Studies
2, art. n.
010,302 (2014).
Access through
the link:
https://sites.google.com/site/jeespiritas/volumes/volume-2---2014/resumo---art-n-010302
(Accessed on
October 14,
2015).
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