Emergence - a Holistic Theory of Physics

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Human Potential

Science

The exclusion of "non physical" phenomena from the field of investigations of physics has been severely limiting our potential for better understanding the universe. It is true that the reductionist approach generally employed by scientific enquiry has given us great progress in particular areas, but it is also true that our understanding of the broader realities of the physical universe is still severely lacking.

I have long been advocating, on this website, which deals with matters of physics and energy technologies, that we must get over this limiting view of the world if physics is to progress in a significant way.

Now it appears that Rinaldo Lampis has given the matter considerable thought and is developing a model he calls the Theory of Reality, a new paradigm which overcomes the division between physics and metaphysics, bringing a complete understanding of the reality of our world within reach. Lampis quotes Robert Laughlin's Principle of Emergence as a basis for his model: Solids and liquids sometimes play host to strange entities that bear little resemblance to the atoms making up the substance...What we call reality is a spontaneous phenomenon, emerging like a wave out of some forever unknowable cosmic medium...The underlying nature of reality is hidden from us. Everything is emergent...

He then goes on to say: The Hypothesis suggests that higher formative principles dwell in matter; that the sympathetic resonances existing inside matter’s systems cause the emergence – in liquids and solids – of properties which are strikingly different than those that characterize their isolated elements... He also sees support for the new hypothesis in Rupert Sheldrake's concept of morphogenetic fields.

I highly recommend you read the thoughtful paper of Lampis, which follows here:

The Theory of Reality

Or why, if we understand Reality, the Theory of Everything is an impossibility.
Or how to establish basic principles that clarify physical, mental and paraphysical phenomena,
and to dispose of concepts such as non-locality, placebo and chance.

Rinaldo Lampis
Lampis Research Institute,
56040 Casale Marittimo (Pisa), Italy, email: rilampis@tin.it

Science no longer identifies reality with the physical universe, for mind and consciousness belong to the unseen world. - Sir Arthur Eddington

Abstract. What is reality to a rational mind? The answer is that whatever is observable by the senses and/or measurable in some way belongs to the domain of reality. This definition is becoming rather unsatisfactory for at least two reasons. First, in science the boundaries of reality keep on changing as we continue our explorations into the physics of Nature; secondly, it is becoming evident in psychology that each mind has a unique relationship with its surroundings, allowing for an ever changing perception of personal reality.

The aim of this paper is to establish basic principles that:

1) Define a comprehensive Reality – also called Complete Reality – independent of scientific discoveries and individual perceptions, which is composed of “visible” as well as of “invisible” parts;

2) Show that, in Physics, the idea of non-locality is no longer necessary; and that the concept of the independent observer is an impossibility;

3) Point out, in Medicine, a different way of perceiving and treating physical and mental problems, and indicate the unreliability of the placebo concept;

4) Introduce paranormal phenomena into the mainstream of Physics.

The introduction of basic principles (energy / vibration / resonance / systems) in the theory will allow a description of Reality as a simple continuum of elements. Thus defined, Complete Reality will contain all elements, with no element existing outside of it.

The advantage of the Reality approach is that both “physical” and “non-physical” elements can be similarly described, becoming undistinguishable as far as the treatment goes. That is, a physical process will be “seen” by this approach in the same manner as mental or paranormal (physically unexplainable) processes; the only difference being of an energetic/vibrational nature. So defined, the Theory will be able to explain the formation, interaction and evolution of all the elements belonging to Complete Reality. It will also be seen that the Principle of Emergence can be used both to support the Theory and be itself the Theory. Indeed, Reality could be considered as the total, final Emergence.

Key words: energy, vibration, systems’ resonance, paranormal phenomena, emergence, reductionism, non-locality, placebo, invisible world.

Creating a Pragmatic Marriage

In order to get a better idea of what issues this paper addresses, we should start first with some definitions.

By physical world we mean all those elements of the physical world, as we commonly know it. They can be natural or man-made objects; visible (as a tree or a car) as well as invisible ones (as an elementary particle or a radio wave).

By invisible or subtle world we mean every element beyond the ordinary physical world as defined above. That includes thoughts and emotions of whatever kind, plus the full range of paranormal and supernatural phenomena.

By Total or Complete Reality we mean the sum total of the elements of the physical and invisible worlds. To fully grasp the completeness of Total Reality it should be clearly understood that, by definition, no element that the mind can conceive could exist outside Reality.

Trying to describe the workings of Complete Reality seems at first an impossible task, as we aim to join together all measurable, concrete elements belonging to our physical world, to qualities and manifestations of the subtle/invisible world, which are often more elusive than a fistful of water.
But the difficulty resides only in the perspective (the proximity) with which we analyse reality. In order to solve the problem, an educated and alert mind should accept:

a) The fundamental natural laws that guide everyday life, like gravity and electromagnetism, and the physical, chemical and biological laws whose discovery and employ have generated in Man some understanding of the workings of physical reality;

b) That the material, physical nature is only the “terminal station” of energy; the concrete precipitation of subtler energies. That, beyond the material world, lie ever-subtler aspects of nature, which surround, envelope and interact with the physical world;

c) That physical nature is thus only the “tip of the iceberg” of this manifestation, which expresses itself in an energy continuum.

The reductionist approach of the Greeks, the theory that reduces complex data or phenomena to simple terms, has produced some marvellous scientific results. Indeed it has served us well. Certainly, without the simplifications made, we wouldn’t have been able to describe in a useful way the complex reality in which we live. The technological conquests made possible by the reductionist method have considerably improved our quality of life and deepened our understanding of physical Nature. But, as we proceeded with its exploration, we have come to realize that the method provides only coarse approximations of the real, complete nature of the elements observed. For instance, it is not suited to describe holography, entanglement or the behavior of the mind, and it doesn’t recognize or predict emergent physical phenomena – manifestations in matter regulated by higher organizing principles.

In view of the ever-widening gap between theory and observed reality, it appears obvious that the reductionist ideal has reached its limits as a guiding principle, as Nobel laureate Robert Laughlin suggests (note 1). Many researchers and scientists must understand this truth, or risk to be left behind by history. They must declassify reductionism from its present status of scientific dogma to the status of method, the way it was originally meant to be.

To describe Reality as faithfully as possible, what it’s needed instead is an approach that includes as many variables as possible (note 2). This is the approach here followed.

The Foundations of the Theory

The fundamental supposition on which the Theory lays, is that Reality needs to manifest itself (emerge) out of an energy continuum, of infinite dimension, into which it is fully immersed. We can begin by stating that:

1) All elements of the Universe are composed of vibrating energy;

2) This energy spreads out and interacts with itself in an infinite continuum.

By element we intend a distinct part of the whole that can be identified by the mind, like an object or a concept.

By energy we intend a force, a tension that arises where energy manifests itself. Energy is never at rest (it perennially moves and vibrates), manifesting an infinite variety of expressions and intensities. Because of the richness of its activity, it displays a sort of “pressure” on everything, meaning that it has the tendency to fill with itself the smallest void.

By continuum we intend an energetic, coherent whole; a sequence/progression of values or of energetic elements that vary continuously by small, stepwise differences. The stepwise behavior is noted, for instance, in the microscopic world by way of the quantum laws. The growth of a flower or a plant, the chromatic scale, or the differentiation of animals (even between human beings and apes) are other examples of stepwise behavior.

Although the stepwise behavior must exist, the steps must be sufficiently small to maintain the continuum. Marked divisions that arise from the apparent binary nature of reality, such as visible/invisible, high/low, one/zero are simply energy polarities embedded in the continuum. For example, the concepts of visible and invisible exist in separate parts of the same continuum; they simply describe two aspects of the same Reality.

Visible Invisible
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continuum continuum continuum