Quantic soul

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

I wasn't sure if this should be a science, health or spirituality topic, if the gods.. I mean, the mods consider it should be elsewhere...

In the latest printed edition of Discover Magazine (sorry, it isn't in the online version) I found an interesting article regarding the soul and quantum states:

Stuart Hameroff, an anesthesiologist who has spent many years studying the brain functions, has collaborated with renowned Oxford University polymath Roger Penrose on a model that explains consciousness as the result of quantum precesses occurring in tiny structures called microtubules  in brain cells. "I think consciousnesses under normal circumstances occurs at the level of the space-time geometry in the brain, in the microtubules" Hameroff says. "But the fluctuations extend down to the Planck scale because the microtubules are driven bioenergetically to be in a coherent state.

It then goes on to suggest that the information remains after the coherence is lost due to oxygen starvation. The article then makes a link with the memories of past lives of children. Finally concludes that there is not enough information to prove the nature of the soul but just a compilation of interesting albeit incomplete evidence.

Given that the article is not online I link a commentary of it I found to give an idea (please ignore certain ramblings of the commentator):

http://www.thinkingchristian.net/C228303755/E20070511082921/index.html

[Bluenose]

I think these guys need to review their copies of Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter.  Its central theme is the way that conciousness has developed as an emergent property of the brain and IMO provides the foundation for any rational discussion of "soul" or as I prefer to call it conciousness.

JMHO, of course. 

[Griffin NoName]

Why should consciousness have anything to do with soul?

Can't see a problem with "a model that explains consciousness as the result of quantum precesses occurring in tiny structures called microtubules  in brain cells" - that's how I have thought of it for a long time now.

My main gripe is as usual. Take a purely scientific statement, chuck in vagueries like soul, ID, etc, and end up miles away.

Bah!

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

I have to say that the article has two sides for me: on one hand it confirms my fears that some right-leaning execs are interfering with the editorial process at the magazine, otherwise an article with so much speculation (and regarding some almost religious subject linked to science) wouldn't made the cut.

On the other hand, a part of me likes that specific speculation. The idea of a quantum link to a possible *something else* is somehow appealing to me. I have always thought that there is more to the *sea of virtual particles* (that is used to explain electromagnetic/gravitational fields), and this theory seems somehow to fit with my own set of beliefs/hypothesis.

In any case I'm not renewing my Discover subscription... 

[Griffin NoName]

The idea of a quantum link to a possible *something else* is somehow appealing to me.

"something else" is fine with me too; why not? but am very wary of labelling "something else"

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

but am very wary of labelling "something else"

Hence my suspicions of right-leaning execs of Disney corp influencing a science magazine. The hints are subtle but have been coming for the past 6 months.