Bruce Gordon: Idealism, Quantum Mechanics, and the Fundamentality of Mind
Does quantum mechanics, properly understood, point to the fundamentality of mind in the universe? In this episode, Michael Egnor concludes a conversation with philosopher of physics Bruce Gordon about the relationship between idealism and quantum mechanics. Gordon argues that quantum mechanics points to mind as the fundamental unit of the universe, as it is irreducibly probabilistic and exhibits non-local phenomena. He dismisses interpretations such as Bohmian mechanics and Everett’s many-worlds hypothesis as flawed and suggests that a theistic metaphysic can provide a coherent explanation for the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics. Gordon also discusses the compatibility of free will with determinism and the nature of God’s freedom. Finally, he challenges the notion of the existence of electrons as physical entities and suggests that they do not exist in our experiential reality. Tune in for the conclusion to a fascinating conversation!
Additional Resources
- Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science
- This is Part 3 of a conversation. Listen to Part 1 and Part 2.
- Michael Egnor at Discovery Institute
- Bruce Gordon at Discovery Institute
