Clearly, thought some idiot, consciousness causes the quantum wave function to collapse, the universe doesn’t like us knowing which slit the photon goes through.
In my honest opinion, if I held an opposing view I’d probably shut off mentally at this point and click on another article. Calling John Von Neumann an idiot is always a bit far, but furthermore, I never like it when a critique turns into name calling.
There have been no quantum mechanics experiments that show consciousness to have any relevance to particle physics. The laws of physics do not say what is or is not conscious, in much the same way that they don’t say what is or is not a work of art.
I’d say this is far from obvious and would require a bit more philosophical legwork than what was actually presented. Many believe that qualia (individual instances of conscious, or subjective experience) are indivisible atoms of the universe, the ontological fire in our equations. Debunking that is going to take some careful nuance and distinction, rather than dismissal.
I’m not sure von Neumann claimed that consciousness causes collapse. But he did allow that possibility, so you’re right that name-calling is unwarranted.
I looked into the claim I made about John Von Neumann and found this interesting physicsforums post on the topic. It looks like from my cursory research that it might be overstating things to say that he claimed consciousness causes collapse.
In my honest opinion, if I held an opposing view I’d probably shut off mentally at this point and click on another article. Calling John Von Neumann an idiot is always a bit far, but furthermore, I never like it when a critique turns into name calling.
I’d say this is far from obvious and would require a bit more philosophical legwork than what was actually presented. Many believe that qualia (individual instances of conscious, or subjective experience) are indivisible atoms of the universe, the ontological fire in our equations. Debunking that is going to take some careful nuance and distinction, rather than dismissal.
I’m not sure von Neumann claimed that consciousness causes collapse. But he did allow that possibility, so you’re right that name-calling is unwarranted.
I looked into the claim I made about John Von Neumann and found this interesting physicsforums post on the topic. It looks like from my cursory research that it might be overstating things to say that he claimed consciousness causes collapse.