The Myth of Quantum Consciousness

Victor J.  Stenger

Published in The Humanist, May/June 1992, Vol. 53 No. 3 
pp. 13-15.

ABSTRACT
	The notion is spreading that the principles
embodied in quantum mechanics imply a central role for
the human mind in determining the very nature of the
universe.   The assertion is made that quantum mechanics
has ruled invalid the materialistic, reductionist view of
the universe.  Materialism is being replaced by a new
spiritualism, and reductionism is being cast aside by a new
holism that includes the simultaneous, superluminal
interaction between human consciousness and the
material universe. 
	However, to say that twentieth century physics has
tiggered a novel, holistic view of the universe is a
complete misrepresentation of what actually has taken
place.  On the contrary, relativity and quantum mechanics
did away with cosmic fields, such as the aether, and
destroyed the notion of universal continuity, replacing
them with discrete, reductionist particles acting locally and
influenced only by the other particles with which they
come in contact.
	In describing the interaction between the observer
and  observed, quantum physicists left the mistaken
impression that human consciousness somehow causes
new states of matter to come into existence.  Adding
further imagined support for a mystical connection
between matter and presumed-immaterial mind,
experiments have demonstrated that quantum mechanics
possesses certain superluminal features, in possible
violation of relativity.  These observations have led some
to suggest that the human mind is coupled to quantum
fields that provide a simultaneous connection to all bodies
in the universe and, indeed, determine the very nature of
the universe itself.   
	Notwithstanding, careful analysis shows that the
only entities that move faster than light are mathematical
creations of our imagination, like quantum
wavefunctions, which are not directly measurable physical
objects.  Even with superluminal wavefunctions, no
signal carrying actual information, and thus no physical
interaction, moves faster than the speed of light.   Further,
inanimate machines can observe just as well as live
humans.  
	While arguments over the interpetation of
quantum mechanics persist, no experiment has violated
the conventional formulation of quantum mechanics
since its inception sixty years ago.   The overwhelming
weight of evidence provides no hint of a violation of
reductionist, local, discrete, non-superluminal, non-
holistic relativity and quantum mechanics  - with no
fundamental involvement of human consciousness other
than in our own subjective perception of whatever reality
is out there.  The myth of quantum consciousness should
take its place along with gods, unicorns, and dragons as yet
another product of the fantasies of people unwilling to
accept what science, reason, and their own eyes tell them
about the world.