Mechanistic & Nonmechanistic Science: An Investigation Into The Nature Of Consciousness & Form

MECHANISTIC AND NONMECHANISTIC SCIENCE An Investigation Into the Nature Of Consciousness and Form Richard L.Thompson BALA BOOKS Lynbrook, New York Copyright (5) 1981 by Richard L. Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Published by Bala Books, Lynbrook, New York. Printed in the United States of America. First Edition. Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Thompson, Richard, L. Mechanistic and nonmechanistic science. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Science—Philosophy. 2. Physics— Philosophy. 3. Consciousness. 4. Form (Philosophy) I. Title. Q175.P497 501 81-19842 ISBN 0-89647-014-8 (pbk.) A A C R 2 Bala Books, 39 Dawes Avenue, Lynbrook, N . Y . 11563 Dedicated to His Divine Grace A . C . Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda om caksur ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā unmīlitam yena tasmai śrī-gurave namah Contents Introduction 1 P A R T I. CONSCIOUSNESS Chapter 1. Searching Past the Mechanics of Perception . . . . 13 Chapter 2. Thinking Machines and Psychophysical Parallelism 2.1 How a Computer Works 2.2 Artificial Intelligence and Hierarchies of Function 2.3 Subjective Consciousness in Machines and Humans 2.4 Several Nonmechanistic Theories 2.5 The Conscious Self as a Complete Sentient Personality Chapter 3. Dialogue on Consciousness and the Quantum . . . . 3.1 A Quantum Mechanical Problem 3.2 *What Quantum Mechanics is Really Saying . . . . 3.3 *Threading the Labyrinth of Quantum Epistemology 3.4 A Discussion of Contrasting World Views Chapter 4. Karl Popper on the Mind-Body Problem— A Review 27 28 31 33 38 41 49 52 55 60 72 87 PART II. FORM Chapter 5. Information Theory and the Self-organization of Matter 97 5.1 *The Theme of Simplicity in the Theories of Physics 99 5.2 *The Great Complexity of Biological Form . . . . 111 5.3 * Information-theoretic Limitations on the Evolution of Complex Form 121 5.4 Complex Form and the Frustration of Empiricism . 131 Chapter 6. Chance and the Unity of Nature 6.1 Statistical Laws and Their Role in Modern Physics 6.2 The Illusion of Absolute Chance 6.3 Chance and Evolution 6.4 The Paradox of Unity and Diversity 143 Chapter 7. On 7.1 7.2 7.3 169 172 174 Inspiration The Mechanistic Explanation Some Striking Examples The Interaction between Consciousness and Matter 144 150 153 159 177 Chapter 8. The Doctrine of Evolution 183 8.1 Evolution: An Invisible Process 184 8.2 The Fossil Record and the Origin of Higher Plants . 186 8.3 The Enigma of Organic Structure 192 8.4 The Resurrection of the Hopeful Monster 197 8.5 Evolution and Negative Theology 202 PART III. CONCLUSION Chapter 9. The Epistemology of Transcendental Consciousness 9.1 The Process of Bhakti-yoga 9.2 Faith, Subjectivity, and Verifiability 9.3 The Brain, the M i n d , and the Conscious Self . . . 9.4 The Positive and Negative Injunctions of Bhakti . 9.5 The Process of Śravanam 9.6 The Process of Kīrtanam Appendix 1. * A Discussion of Information Appendix 2. i n f o r m a t i o n Content of the Laws of Chemistry Bibliography Index Theory 211 214 217 219 220 222 224 227 233 239 249 Introduction In an article on the theory of evolution, the biologist John Maynard Smith declared, "The individual is simply a device constructed by the genes to ensure the production of more genes like themselves." This statement conveys in a nutshell what modern science has to say about the meaning of human life. It t