Henry Stapp and the Three Great Mysteries Facing Science

Abstract

For me, the three main mysteries facing science are (a) quantum mechanics with its “collapse” mystery of going from probabilities to actualities, (b) qualia, the subjective aspect of consciousness, and (c) claims of paranormal (psychic) phenomena. Section 1, the Introduction, will focus on how I became interested in these mysteries. Not surprisingly, Henry Stapp played an important role in my education on these issues. Section 2 explores the three realms of quantum mechanics: Realm 1—amplitudes, dealing with the wave nature of particles (and vice versa), Realm 2—decoherence, whereby amplitudes become probabilities, and Realm 3—actualities, when probabilities mysteriously collapse to specific outcomes. Section 3 discusses the collapse mystery of Section 2 and why Stapp’s interpretation of quantum mechanics is special insofar as it includes qualia, our second mystery. Section 4 focuses on the third deep mystery, psychic phenomena. Although I am skeptical of the past parapsychology data, I am hopeful some types of psychic phenomena will finally be replicable, in which case quantum mechanics would need to be modified and hopefully become less mysterious. Stapp’s version of quantum mechanics is special in having a reasonable home for the resolution of the three mysteries.