Introduction

About one hundred years ago we learned that our natural language, senses, and logic are poorly suited for understanding Reality, which is governed by Quantum Mechanics. Unfortunately, we institutionalized a pseudo-understanding grounded in classical motifs that engender all manner of unfortunate unintended consequences.

The challenge is to develop a coherent narrative that avoids the pitfalls of pseudoscience, mysticism, et cetera, while developing a “Modern” approach to understanding Reality. The core theme of this class is: The world doesn’t work the way it appears to work, but we can deal with this while leaving aside the mathematical esoterica often included in such presentations.

The only prerequisite for this class is your willingness to question classically defined proclivities and preconceptions while emphasizing “the how” rather than “the why” of natural phenomena, and being open to the notion that science is grounded in its theoretical rather than its experimental methods.

I will set the duration of the class to ten sessions. The actual number of sessions will depend upon the interests (or lack thereof) of the participants.

Why This Class Is Not Suitable For A General Audience

Consider attempting to describe a countable infinity versus an uncountable infinity.

Or, consider this question, or this a bit more “complicated” question:

I am a member of a cognoscenti that began to develop mid-century.

In the 1970s I (and many others) began to “think different” about Quantum Processes. During October 2022 three experimentalists (of this cognoscenti) shared the Physics Nobel Prize that implicitly validated specific aspects of this think different “revolution”.

Perhaps the most foundational aspect of being a member of this “Learned Group” is that we “understand” classical processes and quantum processes are not “compatible”. What is clear: Classical processes emerge from quantum process. Quantum processes are not understandable in any meaningful application of the word “understandable”. When talking about quantum processes, I prefer to avoid the notion of “understand” in favor of using the notion of “grok” as created by Robert A. Heinlein in his 1961 novel “Stranger in a Strange Land”.

Learning to change your “worldview” to accommodate the adjustments needed to have a meaningful discussion of how Quantum Mechanics actually functions may not be of interest to you. Feel free to opt out at any time.

How do you become a member of a particular cognoscenti ?

Dramatic Pause

I have yet to find a dramatic terminal point for this narrative.

Lacking a spectacular reveal at the end I suspect most if not all would find the course to be disappointing and not worth the effort.

I will continue to rework and reword this material “behind the curtain”.

A discouraging conversation: While developing this topic I am constantly reminded of how this “taking QM seriously” attitude influences all aspects of how you view science. While detailing, to a colleague, the results of an experiment I and five students conducted that colleague exclaimed, and I quote: “ I don't believe a word of it !” That being said, I ended the discussion. That and interactions with a few other people around The Bear Creek Valley have suggested to me that there is no point in pursuing this project any further, as far as “others” are concerned.

On The Other Hand: occasional comments from members of the cognoscenti provide motivation to continue so perhaps, one day, I will reveal my “course material” describing how I found a way to take Quantum Mechanics seriously.

New Information !

Check out BoundStateBetaDecay.html , additionally, describe the complexity of a standard deck of cards. Here is The Beautiful Paragraph that forces us to consider the scale of the situation.

A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama !

To “understand” is not an “option”. Lacking a spectacular ending I can only offer this and a Scientific American Article. But to be clear: AI is not conscious and I know why.

So Very, Very Wrong; See Above: A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama !

Do not make the mistake of thinking it is possible to “understand” Quantum Mechanics. Or that wave - particle duality or any other classically grounded reasoning will support your delusional thinking. To deal, properly, with Quantum Mechanics you will need to rethink your “worldview” from the “ground up”.

An Interesting Red Pill Versus Blue Pill Analogy

                 

NCUR Presentations

Check this out: NCUR Presentations.

What is Wrong with this Comment ?

You need to be able to explain the grievous error committed by Sen. Joe Manchin.

An example of why I Scragged my Reddit account.

Check this out: Reddit User's stupid comments and demands.

From pixels (Quantum Reality) emerges content (Classical Reality)

Check this out: A Math Puzzle.