The universe is dreaming

Physicist links quantum physics, dreaming and being

BRACE YOURSELF for a
shocking new reality beyond
the absolute realm of classical
physics:

@ the Copenhagen Interpretation by
Niels Bohr postulates that “large
objects like humans must disturb
small objects like atoms whenever
an observation takes place. The
physical universe does not exist
independently of the thought of the
participators;

time flows in both directions;

& matter has tendencies to exist;

fA an indefinite number of universes
exists for us at the same time. Each
has its own time sequence;

MH the uncertainty principle states
that the world is made of events
that are not entirely related in terms
of cause and effect. The future can-
not be predicted based on past or
present.

Fred Alan Wolf PhD. is a theo-
retical physicist. His academic jour-
ney has brought him to a poiat
where the usually mutually exclu-
sive worlds of scientific and meta-
physical inquiry meet.

In his latest book, The Dreaming
Universe, Woif connects the find-
ings of quantum physics, observa-
tions once thought to apply to the
very small subatomic ard atomic
scale only, with events perceivable
at the level of human life.

.The Dreaming Universe poses
the argument that “matter evolves
into life-forms through dreaming as
a means of developing self-con-
sciousness”: we dream to develop
our sense of self.

Wolf appears in Vancouver 7:30
p.in. tonight at the Orpheum
Theatre. His lecture, Quantum

‘Blinds and Draperies for over 9 years WH

Bevel ane

Physics and the Mind of Gad, is
presented by the Institute for
Science, Engineering and Public
Policy. ‘Tickets are available
through CBO at 280-2801.

The following are excerpts from
an interview with Wolf on Monday:
North Shore News: Much of this
new physics finds me dropping out
of my Newtonian comfort zone,
especially this idea of the observer
having an effect on the observed to
the point of negating the notion of
an objective reality existing apart
from our consciousness.

“There have been several major
experiments showing how an
observer observing a system can
not only affect the system that the
person is observing but anything
that was previously connected to
that system has also changed.

“There is no classical theory
which accounts for this effect, so
that indicates something very
strange. We suddenly have a role
for consciousness or observation or
awareness of changing the thing
that you are becoming aware of.”
News: Does a sense of self-aware-
ness extend to all life forms?

“When it comes to human
beings observing quantum systems,
we know it works there, but now
we run into a very subtle question.
Do atomic systems exist if there
aren’t any humans to perceive
them? It leads to some very inter-
esting and embarrassing questions,
because if you assume that you
know the answer to that question
and take it one way or the other
way you get into paradoxes.

“When you come down to ani-
mal life, what can they observe?
Are they able to make a difference

ey “4G 7 ¢

984-4101

1877 Marine Dr.

in an atomic system. Well probably
aot because in order to make that
kiod of a difference there seems to
be required a cestain kind of intelli-
gence.” ,
News: Are you talking about self-
awareness?

“Self-awareness is a big part of
the story. In The Dreaming
Universe 1 explain how self-aware-
ness arises, which is something |
couldn’t understand before. How do
we have this sense that we have un
‘T’ present.”

News: How do you define the ‘I’
if you can’t say there is otherness
out there for sure?

“There is otherness out there
once the ‘I’ makes the perception.
What I'm saying may sound very
mystical and philosophical but [’m
basing it on the experimental evi-
dence of a number of studies.

“For example neuro-physiologi-

cal studies from the University of
California medical school, show
that whatever experience we have
of the outside world is projected
from inside of us. Not only do we
project it out there into space but
we're also projecting it backwards
in time.”
News: That ties into your concept
of the world being a projection of
a grand dreamer or God in other
words.

“When I did research on The
Dreaming Universe, 1 went all the
way from the hard-core material to
the soft-core spiritual mysticism.
What I found was an underlying
base from which they were all oper-
ating, which is basically that we all
dream to develop a self and so that
interested me.

“If self develops as a natural

GOON UMINES TO BEY!

Wednesday, May 11, 1994 - North Shore News - 41.

ap tees

Photo submitted

FRED ALAN Wolf will take those who attend tonight's lecture

at the Orpheum upon a startling adventure as the physicist

qvestigates the realm of quantum physics and the mind of
od.

that means the universe itself is
dreaming. It’s kind of like an
emperor's new clothes argument.

phenomenon, then that would indi-
cate that matter itself is dreaming.
If matter is dreaming, there is mat-

ter throughout the universe, then See Myriad page 45

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