Re: idealism vs materialism

[Tucker Hiatt <thiatt@USFCA.EDU>]

I am persuaded that the majority of physicists are still
materialists.  I.e., they believe that external, objective reality
exists, and that this reality unfolds according to some
as-yet-not-fully-grasped set of natural laws.  More particularly,
these physicists are materialists -- as opposed to idealists --
because they believe that matter/energy is the fundamental
constituent of the universe, not mind/consciousness.  (...Even though
their own consciousness -- their own "subjectivity" -- may be a very
hard thing to explain in these terms.  E.g., from a materialist point
of view, what causes the subjective sensation of sunlight on an
upturned face?  Such metaphysical "qualia" remain a delightful
mystery.)

I am further persuaded that most modern expert interpretations of
quantum mechanics (QM) have disposed of the necessity of a conscious
observer to force the "collapse" of a wavefunction.  Interaction with
other "sufficiently energetic" bits of matter/energy causes the
collapse.  (John Wheeler refers to this as "amplification.") The
challenge, within the standard interpretation of QM, may now be to
identify precisely what constitutes a "sufficiently energetic"
interaction that turns quantum reality into classical reality.

- Tucker

P.S. I have contributed to this thread only because I think Larry
Smith's question is important and fun.  However, I am no expert; my
remarks above probably cry-out for (gentle) correction.


At 5:37 PM -0600 9/25/02, Larry Smith wrote:

> One of the philosophy professors here stopped by my office the other day to
> ask if physicists are starting to deny materialism (in the philosophical
> sense).  I probed and asked him to send me the passage in question from the
> latest edition of the book he's using in PHIL 101 now.  Here it is:
>
> -----begin quote------
> As a result (of the indeterminable state of particles), many scientists,
> including Heisenberg, believe that we may live in an idealistic universe,
> one  whose reality may  depend on the mind.  Their views  find  some
> support in the unified field theories  of contemporary scientists such as
> Kip Thorne.  When electromagnetic and gravitational theories are
> synthesized, matter disappears entirely, leaving only "field."
> -----end quote------
>
> He was surprised by this paragraph and I said I'd ask the august PHYS-L to
> opine.  Please think philosophically so your response will be in his
> language.  Are we (still?) materialists?
>
> Thanks,
> Larry

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