Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1exp 11/4/83; site hlexa.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!mhuxj!mhuxi!mhuxh!hlhop!hlexa!hsf From: hsf@hlexa.UUCP Newsgroups: net.books,net.philosophy Subject: Time and Immortality (part 11) Message-ID: <805@hlexa.UUCP> Date: Wed, 14-Dec-83 18:28:50 EST Article-I.D.: hlexa.805 Posted: Wed Dec 14 18:28:50 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 16-Dec-83 03:07:30 EST Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Short Hills, NJ Lines: 179 (c) Copyright 1983 by Henry Friedman (Copying for personal use by users of net is authorized.) What a Coincidence -- (continued) There are several classic experiments in quantum physics that demonstrate the paradoxical behavior of elementary par- ticles. Gary Zukav writes that these experiments have led to "Bell's Theorem," which states, in effect, that if the results of such experiments are correct, then reality cannot be as it appears to be. One such experiment involves pairs of particles which, after having traveled too far apart to communicate, still appear to behave in a correlated manner. Zukav notes the relevance of the concept of synchronicity to this paradox, as synchronicity is defined as strong correla- tion where there is no causal relationship. In other words, meaningful coincidence seems to occur even at the quantum level of reality. Quantum physicists have agreed that there are a number of possible conclusions that can be reached concerning such paradoxes. (The conclusions would be mutually exclusive.) One of the conclusions is that valid models of reality can- not be constructed. Another involves the possibility of an absolute determinism (that constrained certain choices made by the observers conducting the experiment). One of the two remaining conclusions contradicts relativity and indicates that communication faster than the speed of light ("super- luminal") is possible. (This would mean that the two parti- cles in the experiment are *never* too far apart to communi- cate.) The final conclusion involves the concept of "many worlds," or parallel universes, as described earlier in this series. Physicist David Bohm, examining the possibility of super- luminal communication, has suggested the idea of an "impli- cate order," a level of reality in which all matter would be connected. This concept, which suggests parallels with Eastern religious beliefs, says, in effect, that the apparent separateness of widely separated events is an illu- sion. He and physicist Jack Sarfatti have worked to demon- strate that such superluminal signaling is possible. Zukav explains that the ideas of Bohm and Sarfatti would imply that particles that *ever* interacted would *always* continue to affect one another, even when ordinary causality could not possibly be involved. If such a concept is translated from the "micro" world of elementary particles to the "macro" world of everyday things -- such as people, trees, cars, etc. -- it sounds very much like synchronicity. The final possible conclusion listed above regarding the paradoxical behavior of subatomic particles involved paral- lel universes. If applied to synchronicity, this possibil- ity appears to give a special role to human consciousness. What is suggested here is that synchronistic experiences may serve as signposts and switches, as it were, of the branch- ing points of our parallel universes. Such experiences would then indicate the route traveled by our particular train of awareness, as it threaded its way through these infinite possibilities. When viewed from the standpoint of parallel universes, the strangest coincidence loses its strangeness; for a different universe for *every* possibility would exist at each point of branching. The coincidence would simply show that we took the particular path that fulfilled it. In his book "Mysticism and the New Physics," Michael Talbot writes that synchronistic phenomena represent the "reality-structuring" power of human consciousness. If consciousness plays some type of role in influencing the paths that our awareness weaves through an infinity of parallel universes, then that fact would underscore the participatory role of conscious- ness in the very creation of reality. Either of the above two possible explanations (superluminal communications or parallel universes) may offer partial explanations for synchronicity. However, my own study of coincidences of the cyclical variety leads me to conclude that no quasi-causal explanation of such phenomena can be complete. For some components of synchronistic events, it appears that we can only state that synchronicity *is*. By this I mean that in the domains of our universe where ran- domness predominates over causality, meaningful, recogniz- able patterns of events occur -- for no apparent reason at all. In all great works of art -- whether literature, music, painting, etc. -- we find repeating elements: motifs, themes, variations, twists of plot. These repeating ele- ments serve as a unifying principle for the work in ques- tion. It seems that the great drama of the universe -- and especially the drama of conscious existence -- has somehow also not been denied such artifices. Am I hinting that God did it? Not really, though I don't deny the possibility. (Jung wrote that he concluded that synchronicity must result from countless "creative acts" of God throughout time.) But such a conclusion would just be anthropomorphizing reality in the face of the incomprehensible. (Admittedly, syn- chronistic events do sometimes remind one of "Kilroy Was Here" signs.) As Lawrence LeShan writes ("Alternate Universes"), the prob- lem lies in our tendency to try to fit the world into a sin- gle reality system, when, in fact, several completely dif- ferent reality systems are operating. Two of the reality systems that LeShan describes have been discussed in previ- ous chapters of this series: the reality of everyday existence with its flow of time (which LeShan calls the "sensory modes of being") and the reality system of the spacetime continuum. The reality system in which all things are connected and in which myth, magic and synchronicity operate, LeShan calls the "mythic modes of being." It appears to me that, so long as we don't examine things too closely, that these different systems of reality usually mesh like the rows and columns of a crossword puzzle, without contradicting one another. For example, unless we travel at speeds approaching the speed of light, the "time dilation" effects of special relativity are negligible. And unless we do too close an analysis, synchronistic events can be dismissed as ordinary coincidences. The classic experi- ments in quantum physics may be an example of "looking too closely." In the next chapter, I will explain how the reality system of synchronicity operates to help ensure our immortality. But to close this chapter, I will relate a little episode that will illustrate how an awareness of synchronicity can sometimes allow one to predict the near future -- with the aid of neither science, futurism, nor astrology. The secret, as you will see, lies in recognizing the beginning of a synchronistic cluster of events, and then just using the old saying that "things come in threes." About 10 years ago, I was trying to rent a car from an auto- mobile dealer, so that their service department could work on my own car. The young woman at the rental counter apolo- gized that she couldn't rent me the car because my driver's license had expired. I objected that she must be mistaken, but then was embarrassed to discover that it had indeed expired. I had not received the renewal notice because of a change in my address. I then drove my own car to the nearest state motor vehicle office to apply for the license renewal. There the clerk gave me a form to complete and return to him at the counter. When I later handed it back to him, he scolded me very rudely for not following his instructions correctly in com- pleting the form. What a morning! Later, at my office, I wondered whether the day had any additional embarrassing incidents in store for me. There seemed to be a common thread between both incidents, in that they both involved business transactions at counters with clerical workers. Although there was some causal relation- ship between the two experiences, I felt that they still might be the beginning of a synchronistic series. If this were so, I reasoned that the next incident would most likely occur at the company cashier counter, where personal checks and business expense vouchers are cashed. However, I decided that I was safe, because I didn't have to cash a check that day. I would cheat fate, so to speak. The following morning, I received an internal letter in the company mail. It was dated the preceding day and was from the supervisor of the cashier service. The letter concerned a personal, third-party check for $15 that I had cashed several days earlier (my wife had received it in repayment of a loan). The check had bounced, and the letter sternly warned that repeated occurrences of bad checks would result in suspension of my check-cashing privileges! END OF CHAPTER (Series to be continued in part 12, in which the final chapter will begin.)