Bye Bye Materialism.

By Bruno Del Medico

The cosmic error of materialism, rooted in classical science, lies in the dogmatic pride that it reveals when it claims that reality is composed exclusively of matter and that all phenomena can be explained through physical laws. In this way, materialism ignores the complex facets of human experience and reality itself. His restrictive vision neglects the role of the immaterial aspect and subjective experience in the philosophical field, thus creating a partial and limited image of the cosmos around us.
One of the main limitations of materialism is the lack of adequate tools to explain subtle and complex phenomena such as consciousness, aesthetic experience and the meaning of human existence. These immaterial aspects of the human being cannot simply be reduced to electrical processes in the brain or chemical reactions, since they imply an interaction between the physical and metaphysical dimensions.
Furthermore, the materialist vision encounters insurmountable limits when addressing aspects of the universe such as the origin of life, free will and the profound meaning of existence.
Fortunately, the advent of quantum physics has led to discoveries that challenge this reductionist view. The quantum nature of reality and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle highlight the importance of the observer and the need for a new way of conceiving matter itself.
Over the last century, quantum physics has heavily refuted the materialist paradigm, shaking the foundations of our way of interpreting the world. The analysis of this turning point appears pervaded by bewilderment and regret as it revealed the intrinsic errors and scientific groundlessness that characterized historical materialism. Today, new scientific knowledge allows us to rewrite the script of our certainties in terms of knowledge and understanding of the cosmos.
The inexorable force of discoveries in the quantum field has powerfully undermined the conceptual strongholds of materialism. A new scientific paradigm confirms that everything we considered solid and unassailable has actually turned out to be fragile and permeable. The real world is infinitely more subtle and complex than we imagined.

Bruno Del Medico, blogger, writer, publisher, specialized in the dissemination of topics related to current social events and the new frontiers of science. He is the author of many publications, including a specialized series on quantum physics and metaphysics.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bruno Del Medico Editore
• Release date: Jun 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224510481

Bruno Del Medico

1946. Programmatore informatico attualmente in pensione, opera come divulgatore e blogger in diversi settori tecnici. Alla nascita dell’Home computing ha pubblicato articoli e studi su diverse riviste del settore (Informatica oggi, CQ Elettronica, Fare Computer, Bit, Radio Elettronica e altre). Negli ultimi anni si è impegnato nella divulgazione delle nuove scoperte della fisica quantistica, secondo la visione orientata alla metafisica di molti notissimi scienziati del settore come David Bohm e Henry Stapp. In questo ambito ha pubblicato tre volumi: “Entanglement e sincronicità”, “Succede anche a te?” e recentemente “Tutti i colori dell’entanglement”. Gestisce il sito www.entanglement.it, ed è presente su Facebook con la pagina di successo “Cenacolo Jung-Pauli”, che conta oltre 10.000 iscritti e vuole essere luogo di dibattito dedicato all’incontro tra scienza e psiche.

Book preview

Contents of this book.

Contents of this book.

What is this book about.

Chapter 1: The scientific revolution: Galileo, Newton and emerging materialism.

The historical context of the scientific revolution.

The Renaissance and the intellectual climate of the time.

An age of exploration and discovery.

Humanism.

Science and observation of the natural world.

A new spirit of inquiry.

The historical context of the scientific revolution.

An era of change and innovation.

The Renaissance and the intellectual climate of the time.

The rise of experimental science and scientific methodology.

The power of experimentation.

The birth of experimentation. The art of observation and verification.

The universe according to Newton. Mathematical laws and scrupulous observation.

Galileo Galilei: The father of modern science.

The celestial secrets discovered by Galileo.

The Telescope as a Portal to the unexpected.

The conflict with traditional thought and the Church.

Between archaic dogmas and new celestial perspectives: the onset of a profound conflict.

Isaac Newton and the laws of motion and gravity.

The publications and impact of Newton's laws.

The mechanistic conception of the universe and its philosophical consequences.

Chapter 2: The Enlightenment and the rise of materialism as the dominant paradigm.

The spread of scientific ideas after Galileo and Newton.

Scientific institutions in the 18th century.

The influence of the scientific revolution on cultural and social movements.

The Enlightenment.

Voltaire.

Was Voltaire a materialist?

Denis Diderot's Encyclopédie.

Montesquieu.

Julien Offray De La Mettrie and the Machine Man.

The man-machine

The meeting between Denis Diderot and Rousseau.

Other personalities of the Enlightenment.

Benjamin Franklin and his aphorisms.

The clash with religious dogmatism.

Enlightenment materialism.

The intrinsic contradictions of Enlightenment materialism.

Materialism in its current evolution has distorted the genuine aspirations of the Enlightenment.

Differences between current materialism and that born of the Enlightenment.

SEZIONE 30

Materialism and the philosophy of nature in the 18th century.

The roots of materialism in philosophical thought.

Materialism as a response to irrationality and mysticism.

But man needs the mystical and the irrational.

The importance of the diffusion of scientific materialism.

The impact of materialism on the conception of man and society.

Criticisms and reactions to materialism in the Enlightenment and beyond.

Chapter 3: The challenge of modern theories on the nature of matter and the universe.

The foundations of classical physics and the mechanistic model.

Newton's laws of classical physics.

The mechanistic model of the universe.

Cracks in the classical model: the advent of the theory of relativity.

Contradictions in classical physics.

Albert Einstein and the theory of special relativity.

The theory of general relativity and new cosmological perspectives.

First confirmation of general relativity, in the solar eclipse of 1919.

The law of general relativity and its influence on the scientific world.

Difference between special relativity and general relativity.

General Relativity

Einstein's field equations

The formula of general relativity

The key difference.

The confirmation of gravitational waves: a victory for Einstein's theory.

First signs of fracture: precursors of quantum mechanics.

Unsolved problems in classical physics.

Uncertainty and contradictions in the description of microscopic nature.

A reality made of uncertainties.

Chapter 4: The crisis of the materialist paradigm.

The foundations of the special theory of relativity.

The crisis of the classical conception of space and time.

Einstein's basic postulates and their implications.

The extension of relativity: the theory of general relativity.

The importance of gravitation in the theory of general relativity.

A broader and more integrative conception of the universe.

Cosmological implications of general relativity.

The influence of the theory of relativity on the concept of matter.

Changes to the classical vision of matter and energy.

However, we are still navigating in the fog.

Philosophical and cultural implications of the theory of relativity.

Chapter 5. The advent of quantum mechanics.

The foundations of quantum mechanics.

Fundamental postulates of quantum mechanics.

An ever-expanding quantum universe.

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.

Philosophical implications.

The problem of quantum superposition.

The theory of everything.

Stephen Hawking and the M Theory.

Other scholars of the unified theory.

Philosophical implications of quantum superposition.

Interpretations of quantum mechanics.

The Copenhagen interpretation and the wave nature of matter.

The philosophical implications of quantum interpretation.

Experiments and debates that shaped the understanding of quantum mechanics.

Epochal debates flourish.

The debate between Einstein and Bohr.

God doesn't play dice.

Other comparisons.

The many interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Cause and effect in the light of quantum physics

The observer and his influence on the measurement.

Ontological ambiguity of matter in the light of quantum physics.

Quantum uncertainty and its consequences.

Quantum uncertainty and the nature of the observer.

The implications of quantum mechanics on ontology and epistemology.

Key experiments that led to the development of quantum mechanics.

The double-slit experiment.

Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) experiment and quantum theory.

The Stern-Gerlach experiment.

The Copenhagen interpretation.

The Copenhagen interpretation and the fascination of the superposition principle.

Philosophical implications in the Copenhagen interpretation.

The contemporary debate and future prospects.

Alternative theories and interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Alternative quantum theories: Bohmian theory and many-worlds theory.

Ontological and realistic interpretations.

Chapter 6. Materialism and wave-particle duality.

Bases of wave-particle duality.

Electron diffraction experiments.

De Broglie's Paradox.

The double-slit experiment: a fundamental puzzle of physics.

Neutron scattering resonance.

Impact and significance of the experiments.

Dual characteristics of elementary particles.

The interpretation of wave-particle duality.

De Broglie wave theory.

Copenhagen Interpretation of Bohr and Heisenberg.

David Bohm's Theory of Hidden Variables.

Multidimensional interpretations and string theory.

The D-branes.

Philosophical implications and current studies on the problem of wave-particle duality.

Comparison and effects of wave-particle duality towards deterministic materialism.

Bohr's principle of complementarity and its implications.

Comparison and effects of the principle of complementarity towards deterministic materialism.

The paradoxes and philosophical challenges arising from the wave-particle duality.

The conceptual nature of the paradox

Duality and the role of the observer.

The paradox of locality and quantum non-locality.

Implications for the Philosophy of Science and Metaphysics.

Applications and implications of wave-particle duality.

Technologies based on the understanding of wave-particle duality.

Emerging Perspectives and Challenges.

Chapter 7. Interactions between quantum physics and philosophy.

The philosophical implications of quantum mechanics.

The question of randomness and uncertainty in quantum mechanics.

Connections with the philosophy of being and knowledge.

Chapter 8. Materialism in the Age of Complexity.

Materialist reductionism compared with quantum theories.

The ontological nature of quantum reality.

Exploring quantum interpretations regarding objective reality.

Quantum realism: In search of an objective picture.

Hidden variable theories.

Interpretation of Multiple Minds. The complexity of parallel worlds.

The importance of a convergent approach between philosophy and science.

The problems of locality and non-locality in a quantum context.

Quantum entanglement: the intertwining of fates between separate particles

Non-locality experiments.

Non-local reality: a philosophical and ontological question.

The problem of quantum measurement.

Measurements and ambiguity: Uncertainty as an intrinsic factor.

Wave function. Between potential and reality.

The art of observation and quantum collapse.

Ontological transformations.

Philosophical and scientific approaches to solving the measurement problem.

The deception of measuring.

The philosophical debate: realism, idealism and beyond.

From interpretations to new paradigms.

Comparison between pragmatism and depth.

Union between philosophy and science.

Conclusions: beyond the limits of measurement.

The intertwined connections between reality and thought.

The quantum exploration of existence.

Philosophical reflections around quantum knowledge.

Beyond the limits of experience.

The union of knowledge.

Chapter 9. The coexistence of paradigms.

Quantum mechanics and artificial intelligence.

Use of quantum mechanics in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Quantum foundations of computer processing.

Quantum algorithms: The potential of quantum methods for solving complex problems in machine learning.

Security and reliability in machine learning and processing of sensitive data.

Creation of quantum neural networks.

Quantum synergy in the era of artificial intelligence. Challenges and prospects.

Current research and future prospects for the integration of quantum mechanics into computational models.

New approaches to quantum information processing and storage.

Current research and futuristic perspectives in the use of quantum algorithms and protocols.

Prospects for the integration of quantum mechanics in the simulation of complex systems.

The computational future.

Quantum mechanics in the life sciences.

Applications of quantum mechanics in understanding biological systems.

Revolution in the interpretation of molecular and cellular interactions.

Intertwining between quantum principles and biological processes.

Quantum neuroscience: applications of quantum mechanics in understanding the brain and cognitive processes.

Quantum biology: New perspectives in research on the origins and evolution of life.

Ideas for a new paradigm in understanding life.

Innovative perspectives involving quantum mechanics in life sciences.

Revolutionizing the understanding of biological processes through quantum principles.

Weaving the micro and macro into the essence of life.

Quantum Biology: discovering the intriguing intelligence of life.

Chapter 10. Perspectives for an integrative materialism.

Challenges of materialism: philosophical integration and synthesis.

The limit of the observer. Quantum Mechanics and the search for philosophical integration.

Beyond duality: exploring the connection between materialism and other schools of thought.

Philosophical synthesis: the need to combine diversity and complexity in an integrated conceptual framework.

Integrative materialism.

Beyond dualism. Prospects for an inclusive epistemology.

Expanding the horizon of epistemology towards borderless inclusiveness.

Beyond separation. Quantum entanglement and the interweaving of existence.

Holistic integration: a new look at the unity of being and knowing.

Beyond separation. Quantum entanglement and the interweaving of existence.

The potential of integrative thinking in the current context.

The epistemology of the future. Perspectives in the era of inclusiveness and complexity.

In search of coherence.

The roots of materialist dogma. A journey through the mistakes of the past.

The advent of quantum physics and the reduction of the metaphysical arrogance of materialism.

Beyond the dogmatic pride of materialism.

Prospects for a conscious dialogue between materialism and idealism.

The redemption of irony.

Conclusions. The coexistence of paradigms.

Bibliography.

What is this book about.

The cosmic error of materialism, rooted in classical science, lies in dogmatic pride. Materialism reveals this negative prejudice when it claims that reality is composed exclusively of matter and that all phenomena can be explained through physical laws. In this way, materialism ignores the complex facets of human experience and reality itself. His restrictive vision neglects the role of the immaterial aspect and subjective experience in the philosophical field, thus creating a partial and limited image of the cosmos around us.

One of the main limitations of materialism is the lack of adequate tools to explain subtle and complex phenomena such as consciousness, aesthetic experience and the meaning of human existence.. These immaterial aspects of the human being cannot simply be reduced to electrical processes in the brain or chemical reactions, since they imply an interaction between the physical and metaphysical dimensions.

Furthermore, the materialist vision encounters insurmountable limits when addressing aspects of the universe such as the origin of life, free will and the profound meaning of existence.

Fortunately, the advent of quantum physics has led to discoveries that challenge this reductionist view. The quantum nature of reality and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle highlight the importance of the observer and the need for a new way of conceiving matter itself.

Over the last century, quantum physics has heavily refuted the materialist paradigm, shaking the foundations of our way of interpreting the world. The analysis of this turning point appears pervaded by the bewilderment and regret of the dominant scientific culture. In fact, the analysis is merciless and reveals the intrinsic errors and scientific groundlessness that have characterized historical materialism. Today, new scientific knowledge allows us to rewrite the script of our certainties in terms of knowledge and understanding of the cosmos.

The inexorable force of discoveries in the quantum field has powerfully undermined the conceptual strongholds of materialism. A new scientific paradigm confirms that everything we considered solid and unassailable has actually turned out to be fragile and permeable. The real world is infinitely more subtle and complex than we imagined.

What happens when the universe itself seems to mock our most uncompromising claims about the solidity of matter? It is as if the cosmos had planned an ironic mockery to disprove those who clung steadfastly to materialistic beliefs. Today the standard-bearers of materialism are forced to face a truth as disconcerting as it is liberating: there may be more in the universe, much more, than our mind can perceive.

As we observe this intellectual fervor towards new scientific paradigms we cannot help but also consider the prospect of a rebirth of metaphysical theories, those ancient worldviews that suffered while waiting to be reevaluated. The age-old questions that once stagnated in the corridors of philosophy, forgotten by triumphant materialism, are now returning to light with renewed energy. Once derided and considered obsolete, these theories now stand out in the panorama of modern thought and tell a story that is still alive and full of meaning.

Reductionist theories of materialism tend to provide a conceptually limited view of the universe, as they focus primarily on the physical and deterministic aspects of reality. This reductionist perspective oversimplifies the complexity and diversity of the world around us.

Materialism considers the presence of human will and consciousness to be non-existent. On the other hand, quantum theories emphasize the importance of the observer and question concepts such as deterministic causality and the absolute objectivity of reality.

The quantum view of the universe pushes us to look beyond reductionist approaches and embrace a deeper and more complex understanding of reality. It invites us to consider the possibility of multiple explanations, of a subtle intertwining between the observer and the observed and of a reality that can be influenced by the choices of the observer himself.

This philosophical and scientific richness of quantum theories challenges us to explore new perspectives that include both material and non-material aspects, paving the way for a more holistic and integrated view of the world.

Ultimately, quantum theories overcome the conceptual poverty of reductionist theories of materialism by offering a broader and deeper understanding of the universe. They invite us to emancipate ourselves from the limited and deterministic vision and to consider a more complex and multifaceted reality that includes philosophical, scientific and even metaphysical aspects.

While materialist theories offer simplified explanations of the universe through a reductionist perspective, quantum theories stand out for their philosophical and scientific richness. These theories invite us to embrace a broader understanding of reality, going beyond the traditional boundaries of deterministic explanations and opening new perspectives on the nature of the universe.

In this moment of conceptual revolution, we pay homage to the past, but at the same time we overcome it. As we prepare to break the barriers of established certainties, it is also time to dance with the unknown to embrace the mystery.

The decline of materialism opens the doors to this revolution of thought. We can let ourselves be guided by curiosity and hope. We must be ready to welcome all that is new, mysterious and promising. We must open our minds, because what awaits us is not a simple evolution, but an authentic reversal of perspective, a gift that will allow us to see the world in a way never imagined before. After the universe made of separation between things, the universe emerges without separation, where everything is a single vibration. 

Chapter 1: The scientific revolution: Galileo, Newton and emerging materialism.

But let's remember that we are dealing with infinite and indivisible things, which transcend our finite understanding, the former due to their greatness, the latter due to their smallness.

(Galileo Galilei).

The historical context of the scientific revolution.

In 14th and 15th century Europe the air was filled with feverish energy.

This profound change, driven by minds like Galileo, Newton, and many others, laid the foundation for a radically different view of the universe, one that has shaped our modern understanding of science and the world around us.

The Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries represents a shining beacon in the history of humanity, an era of upheaval rooted in the investigation of the cosmos and the challenge to traditional beliefs. This period of fervent change not only led to the discovery of fundamental scientific theories, but also laid the foundation for the rise of a materialist paradigm that still influences the way we see the world.

The Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution are inextricably linked. The spirit of intellectual adventure and thirst for knowledge, rooted in the Renaissance period, provided the fertile environment for the revolutionary theories of Galileo, Newton and their contemporaries.

Unfortunately, the Scientific Revolution arose in an era of contrasts, in which the human mind struggled between the weight of authority and the fervor of new knowledge. The authority of the Church and medieval traditions were increasingly challenged by the spread of knowledge and the discovery of new cosmological perspectives. This context of intellectual rebellion provided fertile ground for the emergence of innovative and bold theories, challenging the status quo and opening new avenues for scientific knowledge.

This situation of intellectual rebellion, unfortunately, has offered fertile ground for the emergence of the tragic error that we know by the name of materialism.

The Renaissance and the intellectual climate of the time.

In 14th and 15th century Europe the air was filled with feverish energy. This period, known as the Renaissance, represented a sort of rebirth or renewal in the European cultural landscape. It was an effervescent fervor of ideas and a renewed interest in ancient knowledge that revolutionized the way humanity saw itself and the world around it.

During the Renaissance, the visual arts reached a pinnacle of innovation and beauty, with leading figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti creating timeless masterpieces. In literature, authors such as Dante Alighieri with the Divine Comedy and William Shakespeare with his immortal works brought out new forms of artistic and narrative expression. Renaissance music, enriched by composers such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Josquin Desprez, offered new perspectives of harmony and beauty. Renaissance architecture, with masters such as Donato Bramante and Filippo Brunelleschi, revolutionized the concept of spaces, creating works such as the dome of the Cathedral of Florence and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, which remain iconic symbols of innovation and elegance.

The Renaissance marks a time of rebirth not only of arts and culture, but also of knowledge and philosophy. An environment in which the rediscovery of ancient classical works, together with innovation in the scientific and technological fields, merges to create a vortex of ideas and experiments, fueling the desire to understand the world with new eyes and new perspectives.

An age of exploration and discovery.

Parallel to this fervor in the world of arts and culture, there was an incredible thirst for knowledge and discovery. Voyages of exploration brought knowledge and new perspectives to Europe, challenging established conceptions of geography, science and culture.

During the Renaissance, several explorers helped greatly expand the world's geographical knowledge. Some of them include:

We can remember Christopher Columbus, known for having discovered America in 1492. He ushered in an era of exploration and colonization throughout the region.

Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer whose participation in the first voyages to the New World. This led to the naming of America in his honor by cartographer Martin Waldseemüller.

Ferdinand Magellan led the famous expedition that completed the first circumnavigation of the globe between 1519 and 1522, demonstrating the sphericity of the Earth.

Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, became famous for his maritime voyage to India in 1498, as this voyage opened a new route for the spice trade.

These explorers and discoverers revolutionized the way people understood the world and contributed, significantly, to the expansion of geographical and scientific knowledge during the Renaissance era.

Humanism.

Scholars found themselves engaging and rediscovering ancient Greek and Roman philosophies, paving the way for new fashions of critical and rational thought.

In the 14th century, humanism and its ideas were strongly influenced by important figures and key concepts that shaped the society and culture of the time. Francesco Petrarca was a poet and scholar and is considered the Father of Humanism. Petrarch was a fervent supporter of the return to classical roots and contributed to the spread of the concept of studia humanitatis, as the men of culture of the fifteenth century defined classical literature. The humanae litterae or studia humanitatis, were studies of humanity because, as Leonardo Bruni wrote, such studies form the complete man."

The key ideas of humanism in the 14th century focused on the return to the classical cultural values of antiquity, the emphasis placed on the importance of the human being and his capabilities. They also promoted critical thinking and the pursuit of knowledge in diverse fields, including literary, historical, philosophical, and artistic.

In the same period, Giovanni Boccaccio wrote the Decameron, a crucial literary work that highlights human aspects through masterfully told stories.

Humanism, a central movement in this period, re-established the importance of the human being as a thinking individual and emphasized the importance of knowledge and education. This current of thought challenged medieval conceptions, paving the way for a new vision of man and his relationship with the universe.

Science and observation of the natural world.

This era also saw a resurgence of interest in science and observation of the natural world. New discoveries and new scientific theories have begun to undermine traditional beliefs, paving the way for a new vision of the universe based on observation and experiment.

The period was characterized by notable technological progress. The invention of more precise observation and measurement instruments, such as the telescope and the microscope, enormously expanded human ability to explore the universe, sparking discoveries that overturned established knowledge.

In this period, numerous scientists and observers of the natural world have contributed significantly to the advancement of knowledge.

Leonardo da Vinci is known as one of the greatest minds of the Renaissance. He distinguished himself not only as an artist, but also as a scientist, engineer and anatomical scholar, making significant contributions to the fields of optics and hydraulics.

Galileo Galilei was a famous astronomer, physicist and mathematician, who carried out pioneering astronomical observations, built advanced optical instruments and pursued studies relating to motion and mechanics, laying the foundations for the subsequent scientific revolution.

  Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish astronomer, proposed his heliocentric theory and replaced the traditional geocentric model with his model, in which the Earth and other planets orbit around the Sun.

These Renaissance scientists expanded the frontiers of scientific knowledge, paving the way for new discoveries and the formulation of theories that revolutionized the way we have perceived the natural world and the universe for centuries.

Through a fervent search for knowledge, the Renaissance, as a whole, freed humanity from what was called the chains of ignorance and superstition and sparked an intellectual revolution that would sweep away all authority authorities of the past, en bloc and without distinction. The growing interest in science, philosophy and mathematics has helped create a new class of enlightened minds, eager to explore the depths of nature and the cosmos.

Another key factor that characterized the intellectual climate of the Renaissance was the invention of the press, which channeled the diffusion of ideas and scientific discoveries, transforming knowledge into a shared and accessible good. This tool had a revolutionary impact in amplifying and accelerating the diffusion of new scientific discoveries, shaping the collective consciousness of European nations.

A new spirit of inquiry.

Intellectual freedom and boundless curiosity stimulated the desire to understand nature and explore new ideas. Inventions and discoveries have progressively surpassed ancient wisdom, paving the way for an era of scientific revolutions and new interpretations of reality.

In this context of intellectual fervor and cultural rebirth, arises the beginning of a new era of thought. The Renaissance generated the initial impetus for a scientific revolution that would revolutionize our understanding of the world and shape the evolution of materialistic and philosophical concepts that still fascinate and influence us today.

The study of the Renaissance and its intellectual climate offers us a fundamental key to understanding the genesis of the Scientific Revolution and, consequently, the rise of materialism as the dominant paradigm. It is the cultural and intellectual dress of the Renaissance that