Quantum theory is one of those things that is so easy to fool oneself into thinking one understands it, and end up making claims that any quantum physicist would facepalm at hearing.

As far as I know, there is exactly zero science behind the idea of quantum consciousness. IMNSHO, the big draw that is so attractive is the idea that quantum consciousness provides an escape hatch which would allow free will and still be compatible with modern science. Unfortunately, it completely fails to live up to this hope. But still, because most people do not really understand the core ideas behind quantum theory, most people therefore do not realize that quantum theory does not help the idea of free will.

First off, anyone who talks about quantum consciousness and 'energy waves' without talking about quantum wave equations is, frankly, full of shit. Quantum theory is first and foremost mathematical. If they're not talking about math, they're not really talking about quantum theory. This is the first thing you need in your baloney detection kit. People like Deepak Chopra are just shysters.

Second off, quantum theory is already fundamentally underlying all of chemistry, and so any physical theory of consciousness will already be at its basis a 'quantum' theory of consciousness, because all of brain chemistry relies upon the quantum properties of electrons. But it would be silly to call any such theory a specifically 'quantum' theory, since it will almost certainly be described at a higher level of abstraction, such as at the neuron, synapse, neurotransmitter, cytoplasm, and intra-cellular matrix level.

Remember that most atoms share at least two electrons (even Hydrogen, the simplest element, usually shares an additional electron in a covalent bond with another atom), and almost all chemicals involved in brain chemistry will consist of dozens--if not hundreds or thousands--of interconnected atoms. This is already way above and beyond the scale at which quantum properties dominate the physics.

Already we're at the level of standard thermodynamics, which is an inherently probabilistic theory which 'averages out' quantum indeterminacy across a multitude of particles/waves. Any quantum effects are 'lost in the noise', and yet thermodynamics is still perfectly capable of handling complex chemical reactions of the sort which would underlie human neural consciousness.

There is simply no reason to expect that quantum theory per se will be required for us to describe consciousness scientifically. We are already able to modify consciousness with anaesthetics, psychedelic drugs, and other substances that work on a simple thermodynamically chemical level. There is no reason to believe that LSD has any special quantum properties beyond it's chemical effects on neurotransmission.

You could believe that all you want, if it tickles your fancy, but there's no reason to believe it's actually, really true.

IMNSHO, you would do much better to learn about neuroscience, cognitive science, information theory, machine learning, and even evolution (such as human evolution, and the evolution of the brain), than to bother with ideas of quantum consciousness. Heck, just learn a little bit about real quantum theory, and you'll quickly see that it cannot really apply to human-level consciousness in such a thermodynamically complex system as even a single neuron or synapse. It just doesn't add anything to our understanding. It's basically navel gazing.

Don't get me wrong, I love navel gazing. But when I'm staring at my belly button, I realize that's what I'm doing, and I don't delude myself into believing my insights are magically superior to the best science we have. Wondering about this stuff is harmless if it's just wondering, and it can lead you to learn about how things really work, which is far cooler, I assure you.

I am going to give you my blunt blasphemous opinion on this.

BULL PUCKY!

Quantum consciousness?

Really?

Ok, take every part of your car apart, EVERY SINGLE PART, Then, stick the key in the ignition 40 yards away and see if the car reassembles itself and starts itself.

A hurricane cannot exist without parts, but those parts have to be connected in a pattern to manifest. When the hurricane hits land, it gets shredded.

What you have posted for discussion is Star Trec garbage. It would be like saying that the one rain drop itself organized the entire hurricane.

I have a friend named Hillbilly Atheist, jokingly remind me that every atom in me started out in the same singularity as Ann Coulter. So does that mean by proxy her lips and my ass were connected at one point in cosmic history?

Thought requires a material process. When that material does not exist, or when it gets disrupted beyond a useful degree, it is no longer the thing it once was. Just like a snowdrift cannot exist without snowflakes and will not exist after it melts.

Quantum consciousness really says to me that, even if you don't buy it yourself, someone has been peddling the pantheist idea of the universe being a consciousness itself.

Do not confuse the fact that thoughts are not a material thing themselves, as being an excuse to make up buzz words that sound sciencey.

Running is not a thing itself. When you run, you move your legs faster and faster in a forward motion. Is there a "quantum running"?

Both running and thoughts are a manifestation of a natural process and need material to manifest.

DONT confuse lagit quantum science with justifying a thinking being of any kind.

Speaking of Quantum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeZ9HhHU86o&feature=player_detailpage#t=41s

The feedback is very much appericated. My problem here is I have no one to bounce anything like this off of. I work construction (not by choice) and trust me this stuff is WAY over their heads. It is also way beyond what they care about which is beer, sports, and politics. Unfortunatly none of our freinds have any intrest in this either. So my issue is I find an idea like this that on the surface seems interesting and I read some about it but I am totaly reliant on what I can find to read about it and by a very limited time to read. This is one of the reasons why I think this forum will be benifical I can find most topics I want to see more about on here and read on them and you all provide good links for other source material. Again thanks for the feedback it has given me some more info to chew on.

Oh, I just thought of one great podcast that I used to listen to all the time, the Infidel Guy Show. I don't know if he's still making new shows, but he has tons of stuff in his archives, and it's totally worth it to subscribe as a 'gold member' to download them. I highly recommend it to anyone: http://www.infidelguy.com/modules.php?name=Subscribe

Just protect your supply of "Peiri air" and don't give up your combination 1-2-3-4-5, and you will be fine.

In all seriousness though. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have learned in 10 years being on line and how many books I have read as a result.

One of my most favorite books is Victor Stinger's "New Atheism"

But the "God Delusion" by Dawkins was great too.

However, as I like to poke fun of is Christopher Hitchens "Portable Atheist".....HOLY SHIT DUDE, THAT THING WAS THICKER THAN A PHONE BOOK!

Portable my ass. You need a sea port crane to pick that fucking thing up. I threw out my back and put myself in traction trying to pick that thing up. Olympic weight lifters use it for competition.

Oh as an aside, back to the Spaceballs movie,

Worst boy.........Adolph Hitler (it's in the credits at the end of the movie), but I am sure you know that.

So what does that make us?..............Absolutely nothing.