- The discussion regarding remote viewing has touched on
a number of points and names that I have been researching. I would like
to comment and list additional related sources.
-
- First, I would like to point out that contrary to oft
made claims by skeptics of there being no valid theoretical framework for
paranormal phenomena in science, physics has been exploring, in an entirely
different semantic context, basically the same phenomena for at least 70
years.
-
- The so-called two-slit experiment showing the wave-particle
duality, which is the foundation of quantum mechanics, was first preformed
by Thomas Young in 1803. The formalism identifying the nature of quantum
theory was developed early in this century by scientists such as Schrodinger,
Heisenberg, Bohr, Dirac, Pauli, etc. Einstein himself called the nonlocality
effect, which is implied by the two-slit experiment and quantum mechanical
formalism, "spooky action at a distance."[1]
-
- The remote-viewing paper mentioned by Puthoff and Targ[2]
is of interest not only for its description of their experiments with RV,
but also because of the theory presented by the authors for the mechanism
responsible for the phenomenon. On pg. 349 they postulate that this paranormal
phenomenon may "take place ... at the level of the foundations of
quantum theory." The foundation they are referring to is stated to
be the phenomenon of "nonlocality" or "quantum interconnectedness."
-
- Nonlocality, along with wave-particle duality, is central
to the development of quantum mechanics in the twentieth century. It is
the subject of the Einstein-Podalsky-Rosen paradox,[3] and was further
addressed in Bell's Theorem.[4] Physical experiments by Clauser (1974)
and Aspect (1982) have confirmed nonlocality and have been further supported
by recent 1993 experiments at UCB by Raymond Chaio's group.[5]
-
- Briefly put, nonlocality appears to be an intrinsic property
of the wave nature of particles, which are said to be "entangled."
This property does not fall off with distance, i.e., it is not effected
by the inverse square law. Moreover, it is oblivious to time separation,
i.e., it is nontemporal.
-
- Nonlocality also encompasses the effect that the observer
and the observed are inseparable, and any observation changes the observer,
as well as the observed. Costa de Beauregard has addressed this effect
in a psi context,[6] and Evan Harris Walker, in a series of remarkable
papers, presented a theory of consciousness and psi based on the contention
that biological systems have developed an ability to bias the probabilities
of events at a physical level by using back-signal propagation via electron
tunneling at the synaptic level to "collapse the wave function"
(also known as reduction of the state vector).[7,8,9,10,11,12] Noblist
Brian Josephson has further identified this process in his paper "Biological
Utilization of Quantum Nonlocality."[13]
-
- The military has made public statements proposing the
development of weapons systems based specifically on electronically affecting
the back-signal propagation described above.[14] This is one of just many
so-called nonlethal weapons that are being developed for military and law
enforcement use.
-
- Traditionally, quantum phenomena of this nature have
been thought to be valid only at the sub-atomic level. However, a number
of scientists have pointed out that any "cut" or separation introduced
between the macroscopic physical world, which appears to be ruled by classic
physics, and the quantum world, in order to discount these troublesome
effects, which seem to violate common sense and our perception of reality,
is artificial. Physicist Roger Penrose says he shares an opinion with a
"sizable minority that quantum/classical laws will be found that operate
uniformly at _all_ scales."[15]
-
- A number of controlled scientific studies have been undertaken
over the preceding decades which show an overlap between quantum physics,
parapsychology and neuroscience.
-
- Dean Radin and Roger Nelson (1989) completed an exhaustive
review of the scientific literature concerning the role of consciousness
in physical systems. They concluded that their review suggests "the
existence of some form of consciousness-related anomaly in random physical
systems."[16]
-
- Robert Jahn and Brenda Dunne (1985) showed in a series
of controlled experiments at the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research
(PEAR) laboratory the reality of psychokinesis (PK), and came to the conclusion
that this phenomena could be explained by quantum formalism. To wit: "...the
concepts and formalisms of elementary quantum mechanics, as originally
proposed to explain anomalous atomic-scale physical phenomena, are appropriated
via metaphor to represent the general characteristics of consciousness
interacting with any environment."[17] Jahn and Dunne have also done
remote-viewing experiments.
-
- Perhaps the most significant experiments showing a positive
result for the contention that the mind can affect matter are those done
by physicist Helmut Schmidt. Schmidt has been constructing highly controlled
experiments exploring PK since the 1970's[18,19,20,21] using devices based
on the decay of strontium 90. Physicist Henry Stapp, in the prestigious
physics journal, Physical Review A[22], has stated that the results of
a 1993 Schmidt experiment[23] can be explained by a "nonlinear generalism
of the quantum formalism."
-
- Before reviewing some of the historic sources related
to what we now call remote viewing, an alternative, but related, theory
should be addressed. That is, the so-called Many Worlds Interpretation
of Quantum Mechanics. Early in the development of quantum formalism and
alternative view arose showing that the collapse of the wave function representing
all possibilities into one perceived reality could be eliminated if a "universal
wave function" were used.[24] That is, instead of the wave function
collapsing into one possibility governed by random probability, it splits
into an infinite number of possibilities (universes) that all exist simultaneously.
These possible alternate realities could present intriguing explanations
for a number of anomalies. Including the possibility to view, via precognition,
alternative events or disasters that are then avoided by intentional alteration
of behavior. Consciousness would seem to be able to control, either wittingly
or unwittingly, which alternative realities are accessed and therefore
experienced. Physicists Jack Sarfatti, Fred Alan Wolf and others have surmised
that there may be "bleedover" or "leakage" between
these alternates within the human brain. Others have shown that it may
be possible to avoid the inherent paradoxes involved in time travel if
a variation of the many worlds theory was used.[25,26]
-
- Ms. Shelley Thomson has suggested this possibility to
explain some reports of experiences of individuals for which there seems
to be no "physical" evidence other than their memories. I think
I can say that in no way was Ms. Thomson suggesting their experiences did
not "really" happen. The Many Worlds Theory postulates that _all_
these alternate realities/universes/possibilities are real. That is, their
memories and even physical changes to their bodies would be genuine.
-
- See "Advances in the Theory of Quantum Neurodynamics"
by Robert L. Dawes for a discussion on the quantum neurological development
of multiple personalities (Dissociative Identity Disorder, DID)[27]. Could
this process be related to a multidimensional interface with the human
brain?
-
- The phenomenon of stigmata and other anomalous physical
manifestations have been explored in the context of Jung's collective unconscious[28]
and multidimensional hyperspace as in Michael Talbot's book The Holographic
Universe[29].
-
- Remote viewing by the old definition would be considered
to be clairvoyance. The first organized effort to collect and investigate
claims of clairvoyance and other claims of paranormal phenomena was undertake
with the 1882 founding of the Society for Psychical Research in London.
Although their methods of investigation would not be considered rigidly
controlled scientific evaluations by today's standards, they did record
numerous incidents of remote viewing remarkably similar to those later
done by SRI and others[30]. Famous muckraker Upton Sinclair produced a
work based on his personal investigation of his wife's remote-viewing talents.[31]
During the 1930's J.B. Rhine at Duke University conducted successful controlled
remote-viewing experiments with W. Whately Carington, a researcher for
the British Air Ministry, between the U.S and Britain, a distance of over
3,000 miles[32]. During WWII a mysterious women by the name of "Anne"
was engaged by MI5, British Intelligence, to use her remote-viewing talents
to successfully spy on targets in Germany from her location in England.[33]
-
- It has been pointed out by a number of researchers and
scientists that the only way that the psi phenomena could be explained
away is if over a period of over one hundred years, thousands of individuals,
some of high professional reputation, and hundreds of institutions and
organizations, had engaged in a concerted conspiracy to perpetuate a massive
fraud. Either that, or they are all simply incompetent. How likely are
either of these scenarios?
-
- It is my considered opinion that the phenomena of interconnectedness
is basic to our physical and psychological reality, and it is responsible
for many of the historical aspects of mankind's evolutionary development
involving spiritual and religious beliefs, as well as intellectual and
artistic abilities.
-
- I would like to thank Helmut Schmidt, Elizabeth Rauscher,
and William Van Bise for their invaluable help to me in my studies of physics
and parapsychology.
-
- ---
-
- [1] Mermin, N. David, "Is the Moon There When Nobody
Looks?: Reality and the Quantum Theory," _Physics Today_, Apr. 1985,
Vol. 38, No. 4, pp.38-47.
-
- [2] Puthoff, Harold E.; Targ, Russell, "A Perceptual
Channel for Informational Transfer Over Kilometer Distances: Historical
Perspective and Recent Research," _Proceedings of the IEEE_, Mar.
1976, Vol. 64, No. 3, pp.329-354.
-
- [3] Einstein, A.; Podolsky, B.; Rosen, N., "Can
Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?"
_Physical Review_, May 15, 1935, Vol. 47, pp.777-780.
-
- [4] Bell, J.S., "On the Einstein Podolsky Rosen
Paradox," _Physics_, Nov./Dec. 1964, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp.195-200.
-
- [5] Kwait, Paul G.; Steinberg, Aephraim M.; Chaio, Raymond,
Y. "Observation of a 'Quantum Eraser': A Revival of Coherence in a
Two-Photon Interference Experiment," _Physical Review A_, Jun. 1992,
Vol. 45, No. 11, pp.7729-7739.
-
- [6] Costa de Beauregard, Olivier, "The Expanding
Paradigm of the Einstein Paradox," in: _The Iceland Papers_, A. Puharich
(Ed.) Amherst, WI: Essentia Research Associates, 1979, pp.161-191.
-
- [7] Mattuck, Richard D.; Walker, Evan Harris, "The
Action of Consciousness on Matter: A Quantum Mechanical Theory of Psychokinesis,"
in: _The Iceland Papers_, A. Puharich (Ed.) Amherst, WI : Essentia Research
Associates, 1979, pp.111-159.
-
- [8] Walker, Evan Harris, "A Comparison of the Intuitive
Data Sorting and Quantum Mechanical Observer Theories," _The Journal
of Parapsychology_, Sept. 1987, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp.217-227.
-
- [9] Walker, Evan Harris, "A Review of the Criticisms
of the Quantum Mechanical Theory of PSI Phenomena, _The Journal of Parapsychology_,
Dec. 1984, Vol. 48, No. 4, pp.277-332.
-
- [10] Walker, Evan Harris, "Quantum Mechanical Tunneling
in Synaptic and Enhaptic Transmission," _International Journal of
Quantum Chemistry_, 1977, Vol. 11, pp.103-127.
-
- [11] Walker, Evan Harris, "Quantum Mechanics and
Consciousness," _Journal of Indian Psychology_, Jul. 1985, Vol. 4,
No. 2, pp.21-26.
-
- [12] Walker, Evan Harris, "The Nature of Consciousness,"
_Mathematical Biosciences_, 1970, Vol. 7, pp.131-178.
-
- [13] Josephson, Brian D.; Pallikari-Viras, Fotini, "Biological
Utilization of Quantum Nonlocality," _Foundations of Physics_, Feb.
1991, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp.197-207.
-
- [14] Tyler, Paul E., Capt., "The Electromagentic
Spectrum in Low-Intensity Conflict," in: _Low-Intensity Conflict and
Modern Technology_, LtCol David Dean, USAF (Ed.), Maxwell AFB, Alabama:
Air University Press, June 1986, pp.249-260.
-
- [15] Penrose, Roger, _Shadows of the Mind: A Search for
the Science of Consciousness_, New York: Oxford University Press, 1994,
p.307.
-
- [16] Radin, Dean L.; Nelson, Roger D., "Evidence
for Consciousness-Related Anomalies in Random Physical Systems," _Foundations
of Physics_, Dec. 1989, Vol. 19, No. 12, pp.1499-1514.
-
- [17] Jahn, Robert G,; Dunne, Brenda J., "On the
Quantum Mechanics of Consciousness, with Application to Anomalous Phenomena,"
_Foundations of Physics_, Jul. 1986, Vol. 16, No. 8, pp.721-772.
-
- [18] Schmidt, Helmut, "Can an Effect Precede Its
Cause? A Model of a Noncausal World," _Foundations of Physics_, Jun.
1978, Vol. 8, No. 5/6, pp.463-480.
-
- [19] Schmidt, Helmut, "Collapse of the State Vector
and Psychokinetic Effect," _Foundations of Physics_, Jun. 1982, Vol.
12, No. 6, pp.565-581.
-
- [20] Schmidt, Helmut; Braud, William, "New PK Tests
with an Independent Observer," _The Journal of Parapsychology_, Sept.
1993, Vol. 57, No. 3, pp.227-239.
-
- [21] Schmidt, Helmut; Stapp, Henry, "PK with Prerecorded
Random Events and the Effects of Preobservation," _The Journal of
Parapsychology_, Dec. 1993, Vol. 57, No. 4, pp.331-349.
-
- [22] Stapp, Henry P., "Theoretical Model of a Purported
Empirical Violation of the Predictions of Quantum Theory," _Physical
Review A_, Jul. 1994, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp.18-22.
-
- [23] Schmidt, Helmut, "Observation of a Psychokinetic
Effect Under Highly Controlled Conditions," _Journal of Parapsychology_,
Dec. 1993, Vol. 57, No. 4, pp.351-372.
-
- [24] Everett, Hugh, "The Theory of the Universal
Wave Function," in: _The Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics:
A Fundamental Exposition_, Bryce DeWitt (Ed.), Princeton, NJ : Princeton
University Press, 1973, pp.3-12.
-
- [25] Deutsch, David, "Quantum Mechanics Near Closed
Timelike Lines," _Physical Review D_, Nov. 1991, Vol. 44, No. 10,
pp.3197-3217.
-
- [26] King, Chris C., "Dual-Time Supercausality,"
_Physics Essays_, Jun. 1989, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp.128-151.
-
- [27] Dawes, Robert L., "Advances in the Theory of
Quantum Neurodynamics," in: _Rethinking Neural Networks_, Karl H.
Pribram (Ed.), Hillsdale, NJ : Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc., 1993, pp.147-159.
-
- [28] Jung, C.G., _Flying Saucers: A Modern Myth of Things
Seen in the Skies_, Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, 1978.
-
- [29] Talbot, Michael, _The Holographic Universe_, New
York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1991.
-
- [30] Myers, F.W.H.; Smith, Susy (Ed.), _Human Personality
and its Survival of Bodily Death_, New Hyde Park, NY: University Books,
Inc., 1961.
-
- [31] Sinclair, Upton, _Mental Radio_, New York: A. &
C. Boni, 1930.
-
- [32] Randall, John L., _Parapsychology and the Nature
of Life_, New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1975, p.82-86.
-
- [33] Levenda, Peter, _Unholy Alliance: A History of Nazi
Involvement with the Occult_, New York: Avon Books, 1995, pp.238-239.
-
- Clauser, John F.; Horne, Michael A., "Experimental
Consequences of Objective Local Theories," _Physical Review D_, July
15, 1974, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp.526-535.
-
- Aspect, Alain; Dalibard, Jean; Roger, Gerard, "Experimental
Test of Bell's Inequalities Using Time-Varying Analyzers," _Physical
Review Letters_, Dec. 1982, Vol. 49, No. 25, pp.1804-1807.
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