Prof. Dr. A.K. Mukhopadhyay
ISJS
Series of 3 seminars on
Integrating Modern Science and Spirituality for Social Wellness:
A Challenge of 21st Century
Seminar "A"
Consciousness and Knowledge: Scientific and Spiritual Perspectives
Delhi
Sundday, December 12, 2010
Session V: 11.30-12.00
Abstract
Openness, Pluralism and Inter-connectedness - The Brain, the Universe and the Information Entanglement
Neurocognitive bias in the conceptual realm holding the brain as informationally closed organ, universe a singular entity and human beings as disconnected islands in the vast ocean of space has been responsible for our lack of progress as scientist, humanist and spiritualist. This paper proposes to consider the brain as an informationally open organ, to contemplate on the fact that there are multiple universe(s) and to explore the intertwining of psychology and cosmology through information-entanglement.
The open brain
Traditional neuroscience recognizes the brain as the highest information processing system which receives information through the sensory nervous system. Parapsychology (para-science), of course, recognizes the ESP (extra sensory perception) but it is not yet clear what could be the physics behind it. The present author has a proposition that the apical dendrites of the neurons of the upper layer of cerebral cortex could make the catchment area for the information outside and around the brain. Consciousness, therefore, as has been bipolarized in form of brain-stem consciousness, limbic-consciousness and cortical consciousness has a further extension. The next leap of evolution of the brain is to biologize this supra-cosmic consciousness as supracortical consciousness. Ten probable mechanisms of communication between nature of consciousness within the brain and nature of consciousness outside the brain have been proposed by the author.
The Multiverse
The picture of the universe/cosmos is a cortical construct. Once we accept consciousness beyond the boundary of the cortex, we conceptually accept the existence of a supracosmic void from which several universe(s) are generated. English dictionary does not mention about the plurality of the universe on assumption that the universe is a singular entity. The plural for the universe is suggested to be multiverse. Multiple universe(s) within a vast void forms a system, which may be called ‘The Multiversity’. Accepting the pluralism at the intellectually highest comprehensible level, the Multiversity and supracortical consciousness stand as twin theory depicting openness and pluralism.
Information Entanglement
The science at its present stage also does not accept nature beyond quantum description. However, quantum scientists are silent on two spots: quantum discontinuity and quantum void. Quantum discontinuity may be called the ‘sink’ and quantum void ‘the fountainhead’ of the nature described in quantum physics. There exists a sub-quantum nest of nature where information has been said to have an independent existence, like other nonlocal entities such as ‘self’, or ‘mind’ in action. Some of the quantum particles/waves, in fact, are used as vehicle of this information and this could be the reason for genesis of quantum puzzles and paradoxes.
Information has a `form’ inside and this form (space and time) is suggested to be brought out by means of an inside-out phenomenon by mind or mind like structure and process in nature. Existence of information may be traced to pre-Big Bang period, i.e. before the origin of space and time of the universe. Therefore, the pluralism and openness of self and mind are not connected by quantum entanglement but through informational entanglement. Interconnectedness of humanity, science and the spirit could be explored through this information entanglement.
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