Science Forums 2

[Shubee]

Hi Rade,

I agree that science should describe the natural world without reference to God and I did not mean to suggest that there is any intelligence in the probability amplitude of quantum theory. I do confess to having a religious belief that is orthogonal to quantum physics so my religious faith doesn't interfere with science at all. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

The first sentence of my opening post refers to the explicit belief among experts in conventional quantum theory that everything on the quantum level happens for no reason whatsoever. Am I right about that?

There are dictionaries that define the word supervise as follows:

supervise

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1):

to oversee (a process, work, workers, etc.) during execution or performance; superintend; have the oversight and direction of.

—Synonyms: manage, direct, control, guide.

American Heritage Dictionary:

To have the charge and direction of; superintend.

My purpose in using the word supervise was not to suggest that a probability density in any way guides or sets the direction of a physical process but that a probability function is the closest thing in quantum theory that fits that description. I agree that purpose and meaning superintending the operation of quantum physics is a religious idea and I do wish that that concept would be vigorously questioned because I believe that many physicists tend to think of the wavefunction as a guiding force, either consciously or subconsciously. For example, the David Bohm faction of quantum physicists attach a "guiding equation" onto the standard probabilistic Schrödinger equation in their "pilot-wave" model of quantum mechanics. Isn't a "pilot-wave" an allusion to something that flies ahead, setting the pattern for what follows?

The most orthodox understanding of quantum physics is that no hidden variable theory could possibly exist that produces the results of quantum mechanics. And there are mathematical proofs of that result. Therefore, and in that sense, quantum events happen for no reason whatsoever. So why do quantum events happen?

For those who believe that there must be an answer, I propose that the answer is religious. There is a God that plays dice with light and matter. God not only plays dice with the universe,—He cheats.

Because the God I envision is orthogonal to quantum physics, He will never be seen violating the Law of large numbers. Isn't it wonderful that God consents to abide by the laws of quantum physics in order to have a consistent reality that intelligent creatures can rely on?

Because I have allowed for the existence of a God that doesn't interfere with the laws of physics, His proposed existence is completely independent of our understanding of science. Consequently, if someone wanted to believe in purpose and meaning in the universe and in science also, then the most logical answer is the religious one that I have proposed. For emphasis, I repeat, I believe that science should be defined according to David Hilbert's philosophy of physics. See The Axiomatization of Physics - Step 1 (section 2) and The Relativity of Discovery: Hilbert's First Note on the Foundations of Physics (sections 1.1 and 1.2). That said, it is perfectly consistent to believe in a dice-playing God that can never be caught cheating.

Originally Posted by Rade

I would agree with you that it is possible to have a scientific theory using quantum mechanics for creation of things (the big bang theory of universe being one example), where I disagree is your attempt to conclude that such a process must have a "supervisor" = god.

I appreciate your acknowledgement "that it is possible to have a scientific theory using quantum mechanics for creation of things" and I believe that I have defended my rationale on the nature of the cosmic dice-thrower. Whether or not that dice-thrower represents an intelligent purpose or not, and for the lack of perfectly neutral language, please allow me to refer to the wavefunction of quantum mechanics as the supervising probability amplitude. I now wish to ask a question of mathematicians and physicists that is purely mathematical:

Is it possible for a supervising probability amplitude to split the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21) and to assemble a man fully formed out of the inanimate material of the earth in a single day? (Genesis 2:7).

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7).

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided." (Exodus 14:21).

In other words, if we insert "the supervising probability amplitude" in the place of "the LORD God" in these two Scriptures, then will the amended Scriptural statements be perfectly consistent with the science called quantum physics?