Quantum Mechanics and Aquinas

[rvilbig]

An interesting interpretation of quantum mechanics that invokes God was developed by Wolfgang Smith in his book “Quantum Enigma”. He uses a Thomistic ontology to explain the various quantum enigma and recalls Saint Thomas Aquinas’ identification of God with the natura naturans, or the “Nature who makes nature” from Summa I.II Q.85 art 6. Specifically, he argues that the wave-like interference of particles occurs in the realm of prime matter, whereas the de-superposition of waves into particles occurs in the realm of forms, and he argues that God affects the transition from potency to act, from prime matter to form.

He explains it more clearly:

“I contend that quantum indeterminacy - the partial chaos of quantum superposition - can indeed be viewed as reflective of the primordial Chaos or even more concretely as a remnant of this underlying ‘disorder’” (page 123)

“The determinative act, moreover, is in fact more than a mere choice, a mere selection of one element from a given ensemble: for it brings into existence - as it were, ex nihilo - something which previously did not exist as an actual entity” (page 66)

“There is a certain transition from potency to manifestation – from the physical to the corporeal plane – and such a transition can only be effected by the creative or ‘form-bestowing’ principle, which is natura naturans. But since the action of natura naturans is perforce ‘instantaneous’ …], it turns out that there is in reality no temporal process – no actual ‘roll of the die’ – which determines or selects the measure value of X from the spectrum of possible outcomes. This determination derives, so to speak, ‘from on high’ and interrupts the normal course of events, that is to say, the Schrodinger evolution of the given system.” (page 107).

Here are some links to his books and essays for those who are interested:
book
essay

This should be required reading for all Catholic science students.

-Ryan Vilbig

 

[curl]

Thanks for the interesting pointer. I did read the Templeton Lecture via your essay link, but have not read the book.

As a professional physicist, I approached this article with higher hopes than I should have, and was a bit disappointed. It seems to me that although the author is clearly conversant with the phenomena of (and interpretations underlying) quantum theory, this article seems written to an audience of philosophy students. (With my background of only one fundamental and one practical course in philosophy, a second reading of the essay made the concepts only marginally clearer.)

If Wolfgang Smith really wants to make an impact against the “scientistic belief” system, he might want to write a version that is basic enough to speak in the language of those of us who have the responsibility of practicing and teaching quantum mechanics on a daily basis. I would dearly LOVE to see an intellectually-defendable interpretation of QM that has a central role for God’s creation. Perhaps his book reaches that level, but the Templeton Essay was not quite enough to inspire me to buy it. I will, however, try to borrow it from a library…

Till then, still praying for us all,

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