Quantum Physics

I've recently decided to get into cosmology again. This is partially motivated by a desire to be more of a citizen of the world and indeed of God's universe. Spirituality necessitates a good understanding of the cosmos. In fact, I would not hesitate to blame ignorance of cosmology for a good number of the problems our civilization faces. After all, nothing stops greed or self interest in its tracks quite like contemplating the vast size of our galaxy and then realizing that it is only one among several thousand probably composing a tiny fragment of a several-billion-light-year-long filament of galaxies, that filament itself bordering a region of strange emptiness several more billion light years across. Human civilization is nothing compared to the sizes and time scales of these galactic structures.

But that's not what I wanted to write about here. Instead I want to turn to quantum physics - an important part of cosmology. From what little I've read of quantum physics I've come to understand that it discusses ideas like the following:

• Particles may be understood both as particles and as waves.
  
• Attempting to determine the position of a particle will affect its momentum and thus upset it
  

The Whore

It seems that quantum physics has been abducted and forced against her will to perform all manner of cheap parlor tricks for the gullible and ignorant masses which, as evidenced by the huge sales of books like "The Secret" and films like "What the Bleep do we Know?", comprise a generous part our society. Quantum physics can be found propping up claims on the websites of some spammers. Why take a university course on the subject of quantum physics when a financial guru can explain the basics to you, allowing you to "learn exclusive secrets of Quantum Physics, Mind Secrets, Psychic Powers, Real Magic, Astrology, Wealth Creation, Miracle Healing, The Meaning of Life?"

In the minds of many members of the public, quantum physics may be considered to be among the pseudo-sciences.

The Idol

The idolization of science as a kind of standard by which all of our thinking is to be weighed is not difficult to see in our society. The young-earth creationist is idolizing the secular establishment she claims to be dismantling when she tries to appeal to this or that scientific theorem in order to disprove evolution. Science's rejection of metaphysical beliefs as a part of reasoning is echoed in the Christian apologist's charge that the atheist is in fact a man of faith. Pots and kettles are both black, so there is evidently little harm in one calling the other on its colour.

Furthermore, the stamp of approval from the scientific community is highly prized. One need only consider advertisements for products like drugs or toothpastes to see the stamp and the implicit message that "our product is approved by scientists and is thus best for you."

Kom's Response

Since we are taught to idolize the sciences it only makes sense that we should make use of them as a kind of anchor for our optimism. Forget that the collapse of the probability wave is random and not dependent upon the state of mind of the observer. It just sounds better when I say that events which cannot be predicted with a high degree of certainty, when observed by me, coalesce in response to my observations and so I therefore create the universe around me.

Patri Jia Kom, along with the fictional characters in The Lair of the Gods, would agree with me when I suggest that in fact quantum physics is being used by many a credulous fool as a kind of belief to promote positive thinking. If my state of mind influences the events around me by virtue of some unknown theorem of quantum physics then why not always remain an optimist?

But Kom is correct only so long as her hypothesized method of anchoring emotional states inside of beliefs allows for its user to detach himself from the beliefs and set them aside when it is time to return again to reality. Otherwise she is advocating the subjugation of the masses to ignorance and superstition.

Conclusion

I thought I'd write this tired little rant to appeal to all past or present students of the sciences (whether science majors or just aficionados) to please please please familiarize yourselves with the basics of quantum physics, if only to ensure that there is a counterbalance to the credulous masses (whose existence was arrived at earlier in this post through indirect observation) who apparently think that positive thought and the right attitude are all you need in order to rearrange the cosmos for your benefit.