Modern Physics

Modern physics tells us about incredible worlds that exist in the infinitely small and the infinitely large. M-theory, String Theory, 4 fundamental forces, Standard Model, SuperGravity and Quantum Mechanics are just a small subset of theories that are used to describe the physical world. The closer we get to a Theory of Everything the more impossible the chance of a scientific proof of the theory becomes. At what point does Physics become Metaphysics?

That is a particularly interesting question to me, given that I am in the middle of a conscious study of Metaphysics for the next few weeks. Listening to some of the best Theoretical Physicists talk about Strings, (mem)Branes, Collisions, Dark Matter, Dark Energy and on and on I am struck by how closely it resembles historical Metaphysical explanations for the Universe. Not on specifics, but on the style of communication.

Physics today is grounded and driven by extremely sophisticated mathematics that ordinary laymen such as myself cannot understand. It requires significant scientific and mathematical background. So, the implications of the theories that are predicted by the math must be communicated in "stories". Stories tell us about the wonderful worlds that exist in parallel Universes, Multiverses (multiple universes) and strange particles that zip, collide, split, disintegrate and form new particles at the sub-atomic level.

A story is the fundamental component of Mythology. That's where we started. Metaphysics, starting with Platonism and descendents told Metaphysical stories held together with logic. Modern Physics seems to have advanced to the point where we are weaving extremely grand and complete theories of the physical world told in the form of Stories that are held together by Mathematics, or Formal Logic. So, modern physics is based on a concrete and mathematically provable Logic, where as Metaphysics is held together by pure logic.

No matter how far Modern Physics takes us, though, it is still focused on the Effect, whereas Metaphysics is focused on the Cause. At some point, Cause can get very close to Effect. However, it can probably never get there. Another aspect of Metaphysics is that some forms are held together by personal experience in Consciousness as well as Logic.

The stories of modern physics seem to be contemporary versions of myths that we can spin with some degree of foundation or grounding in very sophisticated Formal Logic. (Mathematics). However, the goal is to understand the Effect so thoroughly that the Cause will be revealed. Metaphysics has a different starting point, which is to understand the Cause through Logic, Intuition and Meditation so thoroughly that the Effect makes sense at the highest level so that the true Order of the Effect can be understood and influenced by the intuitive insights of Metaphysics.

Sorry if I've boiled this down to much to be understandable. Obviously, many hours of stimulating and clarifying conversation are possible from these concepts.

Metaphysics

I've been participating in a few metaphysics discussions recently. We are lucky enough to have an erudite facilitator who has extensive background in philosophy, theology and law. One of the best things about a metaphysics discussion is the spontaneity of the session. Since, by definition, metaphysics is not logically provable, imagination and intuition play a large role in the direction of questions and comments. The range of background from the people involved can span a wide area, leading to a need for integration of perspectives that can stimulate, irritate and enlighten.

What is metaphysics? It is the exploration of ultimate causes. Isn't that Physics? No. Physics is the study of effects. That is, if you believe in metaphysics at all. To get to first base in metaphysics, you have to experience a leap of faith at some point. In other words, you have to believe that the ultimate cause of the Universe is beyond the physical that we can sense and measure. Anything that we can sense and measure is the effect of the ultimate underlying cause, which is metaphysical. Even the most fundamental physical particle or force has an underlying cause that is beyond the logical or sensuous.

Those of a traditional religious orientation might say this is a theological discussion, in other words, metaphysics is synonymous with God. What is there to discuss? The Bible say it all, right? No need to speculate. Just read the text and listen to what your local priest, preacher or pastor tells you to believe. Done. That is possible, but to do that misses getting in touch with the ultimate energy and infinity that would have to be a fundamental property of an infinite and omnipotent power. Why put "God" in a box? If we name it, we define it, and we can only define things in our own image complete with our own limitations.

Some possible world views include:

• The physical is all there is - metaphysics is just imagination
• Both the physical and the metaphysical exist - they exist in separate realms and do not affect each other
• The physical is an illusion - the metaphysical is true reality - our goal is to escape the physical
• Both the physical and metaphysical are real - the physical is the relative world or the effect of the metaphysical - the metaphysical is the absolute world and causes the physical

I subscribe to the last world view. The connection between the two is consciousness. Consciousness exists along a spectrum ranging from fundamental physical particles to human intelligence. Human consciousness is the highest consciousness that we know exists. There may be higher levels of consciousness, but we do not have direct proof of that. We have two way communication with the metaphysical realm through our consciousness

That's a screenfull for a single blog. I'll try to elaborate other perceptions on this topic as the Spirit moves.

The Spiritual Universe

Spirit is an infinite dispersion across infinite time and space, the vibrations of nothingness.

Soul is the reflection of spirit at nodes of time.

Matter is the reflection of Spirit at nodes of space.

Self is the reflection of the one Soul in Matter.

These are the four definitions that are the focus of "The Spiritual Universe" by Fred Alan Wolf. Wolf explores concepts from ancient Western philosophy to Eastern religious thought. These explorations are viewed through a framework of modern physics to produce connections and support for his particular brand of Idealistic Realism. Idealistic in the sense that the Universe is fundamentally Spirit, but Realistic in the sense that this underlying Spirit reveals itself in the physical laws, particles and relationships we have only begun to understand with the dawn of modern physics.

From Wolf's perspective, Spirit inhabits the underlying void or nothingness. It is infinitely potential. It knows no bounds. However, this infinite nothingness reflects itself into the one Soul and into Matter. The dual reflection into time and space is instantiated most specifically into the Self of a living being.

Some of his more interesting insights are in the area of communication between Soul and Self. He explicitly rejects the notion of multiple Souls. There is only one Soul. This one Soul reflects into an infinite number of Selves. It is Self that is multiple, not Soul. The duality of Universal Soul and Individual Self are in constant dialog. This dialog can be enhanced or suppressed.

The reflection of the Soul into Self (hence, also Matter) can result indirectly into addictive behavior. The Soul has an infinite, all-encompassing perspective. The Self is very local in perspective. The yearning of the Soul for infinity expressed through its reflection into the Self can be distorted into addiction to Matter. The Self must listen to the Soul (which speaks through intuition and feeling rather than concrete logic) in order to avoid this addition to Matter.

The Soul's persuasions have the best interests of the Self in focus. The Soul knows where the ship should be going. The Self is locked in the inner hull of the ship. The Self can feel around in the dark, learn to navigate the ship from experience, but never know in a totally clear sense where the ship is going. The Soul sits on deck, yelling to the Self instructions for sending the ship in the right direction. The Self can not hear this clearly because of the thickness of the hull of the ship, but sometimes gets tidbits of information that help the Self steer the ship toward the right direction.

The Soul is experienced when the Self communicates with a child, sees a newborn, talks intently to an old person about their life, hears beautiful music and many other life experiences. The Soul can be shut out entirely and replaced with the addiction to Matter that makes the Soul's influence diminish and eventually stop.

The Soul is expanded when the Self is conscious of the world surrounding it and expands the Self's boundaries outward under influence of the Soul. The Soul is continually trying to further reflect itself into the locality of the Self. This continuous inner dialog, and the relative quality of it, determines what actualities are produced in the Universe.

Wolf diligently ties everything here that is summarized and more to the quantum physics framework that is the underlying thread throughout the book. The concepts of Quantum Physics have taught us that there is not a lot of solid foundation to the physical Universe as we think we experience it. Wolf argues that the underlying Quantum world that gives rise to the macro-Universe that we experience is in fact the underlying Spiritual Reality of everything.

Personally, I did not have the background or attention span to be a good critic of his Quantum-Spirit analogies. However, the poetic insights mentioned here as well as many other gems in the book make it worth a read even if you gloss over much of the more detailed Quantum passages.