Geometry of Time, Axiom of Choice and
Geometry of Time, Axiom of Choice and
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Moninder Singh Modgil
Abstract
1
Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India.
1 Introduction
Consciousness is probably the most difficult problem attempted by human
scientific endeavor, and is developing into an eclectic discipline. In this paper,
I introduce certain new set theoretic ideas (among others) in the already
inter-disciplinary field of consciousness studies. At the outset, I shall clearly
state relevant points of my philosophical stance.
A. Nature of Consciousness.
Conscious observers are different from brain and bodies, but interact
through them. This is identical to the dualistic school of thought, with
Ecclles [1] as a representative. This apriori does not rule out emergence of
temporary consciousness in matter, as a result of various postulated mecha-
nisms [2], such as Bose-Einstein condensations, or self organizing behavior,
or phase locked dynamical neural networks, strange attractors etc.. Whereas
the material consciousness is temporary (depending upon stability of the
physical system), the non-material observer is eternal in time. This does
not imply that observer is always conscious, or observer is conscious only in
body. The term, ’Soul’, is more accurate, as consciousness and observation
are ’temporary phenomena’ accompanying ’Soul’, in certain conditions 1 . I
shall however continue to use the term, ”conscious observer”, to represent
soul. Consciousness may thus be regarded as a common emergent property
of both the observer, as well as matter. As can be seen, the stance is flexible,
enough to be compatible with almost diverging views on the subject, and
may be termed as ’Non-dualistic’ in the sense that it allows simultaneous
existence of almost divergent view points. Further, the conscious observers
are distinct from each other, and inhabit the same (one) physical universe.
B. Nature of Time.
It is probably unlikely that complete problem of consciousness can be
solved without understanding nature of time. Time has been a subject of
many monographs and papers [3, 4, 5] in physics. The unresolved issues here
are -
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attention confined to present (light-like hyper-surface), (ignoring out
of body and similar psychic experiences [7] , for the time-being).
In periodic time, it can be shown that cause and effect are connected by,
what in set theory is called an equivalence relation [9]. However, this causal
structure could be important, as it has been pointed out that EPR paradox
[38], which has been experimentally verified in recent years [11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16], does suggest that causality is an equivalence relationship [17]. While
this circular geometry of time, would appear to lead to the usual causal
paradoxes of time loops in physics, such as killing one’s mother before one’s
birth (or conception!) - the causal paradoxes are avoided by withholding free-
will to the conscious observers or actors or participants (in the time cycle!).
Thus, consciousness is only an observer of events pre-recorded within itself,
in an over all cyclic time, within this philosophical framework. Any apparent
freewill is actually illusory.
Further cyclic nature of time blurs the distinction between past and fu-
ture, as the two are globally connected. In introduction of his monograph,
Zeh [3] quotes Lewis Carroll from the book ”Through the Looking Glass” -
White queen to Alice: ”Its a bad memory which works only backwards”.
In cyclic time, a good or perfect memory, will be able to remember all
events which the possessor (conscious observer) would have observed with in
the complete time cycle.
I should add that while cyclic time has been a hallmark of ancient cos-
mological systems, Poincare , Zermelo, Caratheodoty, and Nietzsche [18, 19,
20, 21] did attempt a mathematical formulation of the idea at the turn of the
century, and the idea has recently been evoked by contemporary mathemat-
ical physicists such as Segal [23], Guillemin [22] and others [24, 25] , with a
view of solving certain problems of observational cosmological physics, and
particle physics (macro and micro cosmos). Idea behind introducing cyclic
time concept is that if problem of consciousness is going to be solved [or the
other way round), it may be so only in cyclic time - or what the mathematical
physicists would call the S 1 (circle) topology of time.
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2 Set Theoretic Connection.
Cantor defined set as ”collection into a whole, of objects of our intuition or
thought”. The definition is very psychological, and the phrase ”collection
into a whole” is of special relevance. The phrase actually implies simulta-
neous perception of constituent set elements as a whole. Even a sentence
is understood only when perceived as a whole. Role of short term memory
in verbal comprehension comes to mind when perceiving or comprehending
very large sentences - here 7 ± 2 chunks of short term memory are probably
being used at various levels, and the sentence has to be read many times,
before comprehension (collection into a whole) occurs. Interestingly 7±2 has
been derived by statistical mechanical considerations, by developing so called
Fokker-Plank equation of brain neurons [26]. I equate verbal comprehension
with (verbal) perception, as such an equality is the reason for use of phrases
such as ”Now I see”, when verbal comprehension occurs.
While verbal perception occurring in sentence comprehension involves
only a small number of elements, visual perception by contrast requires inte-
gration of a very large number of elements. Same can be said of other modes
of perception, such as auditory, tactile, kinesthetic, olfactory, propeoceptory.
Further, in the conscious experience of an observer, these various percep-
tions from different senses, are further integrated into a whole, which even
has non-sensory components such as thoughts, memories, feelings, emotions.
The complete momentary experience of a conscious observer is thus a set,
in context of Cantor’s original definition. Further its a finite set, as it has a
finite number of elements, as represented by finite number of brain neurons.
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There exist other interpretations of quantum mechanics which try to do
away with concept of wave-packet reduction all together. These include Ev-
erett’s many world interpretation [33] , Bohm’s interpretation Bohm 1957,
various hidden variable scenarios Bellifante 1973 etc.. However, experimental
evidence of quantum zeno effect Itano 1990, and EPR suggests that wave-
packet reduction is a good concept to explain the results. I therefore assume
that wave-packet reduction does occur, and further it is caused by conscious
observer. What are the properties of consciousness which solves these quan-
tum measurement problem? Let’s refer to this set of properties of conscious-
ness as OM ( O - Observer, M - Measurement). Acronym OM has been
selected, because of special significance word ’Om’ has in context of search
for one’s true identity in ancient Indian philosophy.
von Neumann’s model can be understood in terms of ”Quantum Mea-
surement Chain” (QMC). In this when an attempt is made to record state of
say Schrodinger’s cat, by a camera, the wave function of camera also passes
into a coherent state. Same happens to the wave functions of film, human
eyes, retina, brain neurons and so on. In von Neumann’s interpretation, ob-
server lies at the end of this quantum measurement chain, and leads to wave
packet reduction of all the intermediary links (camera, brain, neurons) in
this quantum measurement chain. This chain is originating at Schrodinger’s
cat. Its possible for more than one QMC to originate from the same system,
e.g., when multiple observers are monitoring state of Schrodinger’s cat. Such
quantum measurement chaincs will be called linked.
Now, apriori there is no reason, why if consciousness is causing wave-
packet reduction (and influencing physical universe), it is not through the
two mechanisms already outlined by physicists Hepp, Fakuda, and Hawking
(above). In absence of any other description of process of consciousness
causing wave-packet reduction, I accept what is not forbidden. Thus, as a
conceptual agent responsible for wave-packet reduction, I attribute following
properties to consciousness -
OM-1. Consciousness is a system of infinite degrees of freedom.
OM-2. Embodied Consciousness is associated with a black-hole.
Reason for use of letters O and M in OM will become clear in sections
4 and 5.
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4 Black-hole in brain!
While popular notion of black-holes as massive astro-physical objects still
awaits experimental confirmation, theoretical physics has moved ahead with
concept of mini-black-holes, which are much less massive, and those which
can be light enough to have mass of elementary particles, such as protons
[37, 38]. While the astro-physical black-holes are caused by gravitational
collapse of stars whose mass exceeds the so called Chandershekhar limit, the
concept of micro-mini-black-hole (MMBH) is more like a singularity or hole in
fabric of space, i.e., its a place, where physical space ceases to exist, so to say.
Its gravitational influence is negligible, being proportional to its mass, and so
is its size. Its interesting because of its relativistic, quantum mechanical, and
philosophical properties. The reader thus need not be alarmed, that all of
his or her gray matter will be sucked down this infernal black-hole in brain.
There is an interesting philosophical reason for existence of a black-hole
associated with consciousness in brain. While the soul or conscious ob-
server, is regarded as a non-physical object, non-localizable in space-time,
the present brain studies have almost localized it to be the region within
brain. Black-hole provides a escape for the non-material spirit. While the
black-hole can be given physical co-ordinates, the area within the event hori-
zon, of the black-hole, effectively does not belong to the physical universe
- it lies beyond the physical, universe so to say. Thus conscious observer
located within such a black-hole strictly speaking does not exist within phys-
ical space-time. In the event of physical death, the mind-body connection
is severed, (e.g. Moody [39] , and one experts this black-hole to dissolve,
or evaporate by a mechanism, analogous to ”Hawking radiation” [40]. Its
energy will be carried away by gravitational waves, and therefore will lead to
a mass loss equal to mass of MMBH (few grams). Also effect of these grav-
itational waves generated at the moment of death, will be similar to high
frequency acoustic waves, and would lead to cracking of any glass enclosure
containing the physical body. Experiments verifying these phenomena have
actually been done at the turn of this century [41]. The kind of tunnel vision
reported in near death experiences, i.e., motion through a long dark tunnel,
with light at the end of tunnel [39], is actually in accordance with optics
near black-holes - an observer escaping through a black-hole would actually
experience, similar tunnel vision!
Black-holes have many other interesting properties such as existence of
local closed time like curves, Morris 1988 which could explain ability of clair-
5
voyants to see past and future events, while existing within the physical
body (by motion of point like conscious observer, on one of the local closed
time like curves near MMBH). Black holes also provide a handle, or gate-
way to other dimension, and non-physical universes, which are of special
interest Brahma Kumaris and possibly other workers in Transcendental. In-
terestingly, tachyons (particles traveling faster than light) falling through a
black-hole, leave the conventional physical universe of three space and one
time dimension, and enter a universe with three time and one space dimen-
sion Chandola 1986. This latter universe or rather meta-universe, could be
of special interest for actual meta-physical experiences.
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its use has lead to paradoxical Banach-Tarski theorems, involving duplica-
tion of spheres, and show that concept of additive measure is not sound [45].
Details of how axiom of choice relates to quantum measurement process are
worked out in [?]
There exists another reason for records within consciousness, and evi-
dence from it comes from following scenario reminiscent of EPR of quantum
mechanics. The argument has a philosophical flavor - if distinct observers A
and B separated by a space-like interval, observe state of Schrodinger’s cat in
an experiment at a particular instant, it is required that both should observe
it either dead or alive. It should not be that observer A, finds cat alive,
and observer B finds cat dead. Thus if wave function of Schrodinger’s cat
as represented in brain neurons of observer A is collapsing, due to a record-
ing within A, this collapse is compatible with a similar collapse occurring in
brain of observer B. To ensure this compatibility we require -
OM-4. Recording within conscious observers with respect to measurement
performed on the same quantum system are mutually compatible. Alterna-
tively, outcomes observed by observers lying at ends of distinct but linked
quantum measurement chains, are compatible.
Support of EPR results of quantum mechanics for records within con-
sciousness is as follows. Lets say that observers A and B are separated by
a space-like interval, and perform measurement on a correlated photon pair.
EPR results indicate that wave functions of both the photons are collapsing
only at the moment of measurement, and the collapses are mutually com-
patible, which A and B will also notice, when they compare notes latter on.
Now, there exists no way for observer A to send a signal to B, regarding his
or her outcome, within the frame work of present day physics (light speed
limit and all that). The question therefore exists, if the conscious observers
A and B are indeed causing these distinct but correlated collapses, how is
mutual compatibility being ensured? OM3 is thus related to OM4. This
is also where cyclic nature of time may be playing an important role. In
cyclic time, the same measurements would have been performed in all the
past (infinite) time cycles, and identical outcomes would have been recorded,
in all the time cycles. This geometry of time, appears to provide at least
a chance for observers to compare note and correlate their outcomes. See
[9] for a possible scenario of communication between observers in EPR type
experiments using light like signals in cyclic time.
I close this section, with an argument, for why the embodied consciousness
should exist in a MMBH (micro-mini-black-hole). If outcomes of quantum
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measurement are pre-recorded in the conscious observers, (OM-3 and OM-4)
such a recording constitutes ”hidden variable [35] determining the quantum
measurement outcome”. Now Bell’s theorem [47] yielded inequalities, which
would distinguish between hidden variable scenario, and actual quantum me-
chanics (without hidden variables). Experiments [11]-[16] to test between the
two yielded results in accordance with quantum mechanics, i.e., no functions
or additional physical hidden variables, which would determine the outcome.
Locating the consciousness within a black-hole resolves this problem, because
now the recording (hidden variable determining the outcome) is lying beyond
the event horizon of the black-hole, and thus effectively outside the universe,
and therefore is beyond the purview of present formulation of Bell’s theorem
[47].
6 Neuro-Biological-Quantum-Zeno-Effect
Readers would be familiar with ancient Greek Zeno’s paradox [49], which
questioned the concept of motion, by arguing that if an arrow in flight was
being continuously observed, and occupied a position at every time instant,
as to how could the apparent motion observed was actually possible? Though
the paradox was resolved in continuum based classical mechanics, it has reap-
peared in grab of quantum zeno effect (QZE) - so christened by physicist
Sudarshan [49]. Briefly, if a system is in state A, and about to change to
state B, before it does so, its wave function (mathematical object describing
its physical state), has to go into a superposition of states A and B, i.e., the
system exists in a sort of (A+B) state. Now when a quantum measurement
is performed on this superposed (A+B) state, the wave function collapses
to either A or B. So, if the measurements are being performed sufficiently
rapidly, the wave function of the system cannot evolve to first state (A+B)
and than state B. As a result it remains frozen in state A. This effect is also
called ”watch dog effect”, [50] (thief moves only when watch dog closes its
eyes), and the ”boiled kettle phenomena”, (kettle appears to boil over and
spill, just when one’s attention is diverted). Thus in terms of quantum me-
chanics, paradox of Zeno’s arrow can be formulated and resolved as follows.
Where as, wave-function of arrow, which also describes its position is evolv-
ing continuously, the actual act of wave-packet reduction, by monitoring or
perception of a conscious observer, is a non-continuos phenomena. This is
because the process of human perception requires a large number of photons
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from Zeno’s arrow to reach human eye and retina, where after a time de-
lay, a signal is relayed to brain, and a quantum mechanical representation
of arrow’s (superposed) wave function is formed by observer’s neurons. This
quantum measurement chain of coherent (superposed) state collapses when
the conscious observer perceives arrow’s position, and is a non-continuos phe-
nomena. Thus, in between these non-continuos perceptions, wave function of
arrow can evolve to different positions. QZE has been verified for ensembles
of atoms about to make electron transitions from a higher energy state to a
lower energy state [36]. Monitoring at progressively smaller intervals, reduces
actual number of atoms making the transition, in a given period of time.
Neuro-biological-quantum-zeno-effect (NBQZE), as the term suggests,
implies that, if brain state of a person is being monitored at sufficiently
small space-time scales, (by another person, with data being recorded onto
say a computer, all of which is later examined by the experimenter), then
neurons of the subject will not be able to evolve to a coherent state and make
transition, to another state which would represent transitions from one per-
ception to another. Thus person’s subjective experience would be blocked.
Even though external sensory stimulus may be applied, the subject would
not report perception of the stimulus. The resultant state would be similar to
highest states of meditation, which involve complete withdrawal of conscious-
ness from the body and senses - effectively the consciousness has ceased to
interact with the physical universe, and is no longer performing any quantum
measurement - wave-packet reductions, in his or her brain are being caused
by the experimenter, and are preventing brain state from evolving along with
the wave function of the changing environment or universe.
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