Quantum Explorations of the Universe with Menas Kafatos and Sudip Patra
Welcome to The Future Humans Podcast with co-hosts Dr. Jean Houston and Dr. Anneloes Smitsman, for meeting with remarkable pioneers from around the world who walk the path of our future human potential.
For this episode, Jean and Anneloes talk with the esteemed physicists, Professors Dr. Menas Kafatos and Dr. Sudip Patra as they explore a quantum-like Universe and the fundamental questions of time and consciousness. They talk about a quantum understanding of life and reality, and the foundations of consciousness as fundamental reality out of which emerges the physical Universe and individuated experiences.
Prof. Kafatos emphasizes how the powers of the individual being are the same as the universal consciousness, and why consciousness is fundamental for existence, and not just emergent from physical layers of existence. He also explains how it is easier to descend from the nonlocal reality into space and time, but almost impossible the other way. In his words, “You don’t form wholeness by putting parts together unless there this is an overall blueprint for what what are doing. We quantum physicist need to emphasise that more.” He further explains how the arrow of time is a huge illusion, and how this is what perhaps creates so many problems in the world. And how the experience of timelessness arises from the nonlocal aspects of consciousness.
Prof. Patra explains how modern physics today is still dominated by the doctrines of physicalism (materialism), and why starting from the position of fundamental awareness is essential, and how quantum principles of contextuality-complementarity, nonlocality, and fundamental uncertainty help us gain a better understanding of the nature of reality. He also explains how potentialities are equally real as that which has actualized into concreteness. He offers that the classical and quantum view of reality are complementary views, if we begin from fundamental awareness and start with the infinite.
Dr. Menas Kafatos, Ph.D. is The Fletcher Jones Endowed Professor of Computational Physics at Chapman University and is the Founding Dean of the Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University. He directs the Center of Excellence in Earth Systems Modeling and Observations and published numerous books including The Conscious Universe, and The Creative Cosmos with Deepak Chopra. He grew up on the island of Crete, and has always been fascinated by the vastness of space and questions that relate to the universe. His current focus is on the intersections between science and spirituality, the nature of reality, and quantum implications for everyday life. For more information, visit: https://www.menaskafatos.com/
Dr. Sudip Patra, Ph.D. is living in India and is an Associate Professor there at OP Jindal Global University, and Executive Deputy Director at the Complexity Economics, Applied Spirituality and Public Policy research center. His current focus is on the quantum-like paradigm, quantum foundations, and complexity science applications in economics and social sciences. He is working with Menas on a book project for a wide understanding of quantum-like reality, and with Professor Kauffman on developing a new framework of emergence of the classical world based on affordance, quantum-Zeno effect and de-coherence. For more information visit: https://jgu.edu.in/jsgp/faculty/dr-sudip-patra/
- To learn about the Future Humans Trilogy, visit: https://www.futurehumans.world/
- To watch the VIDEO VERSION of this podcast and to stay in touch about future episodes, subscribe to the Future Humans Youtube Channel.
