New directions
Chris Nunn
October 16, 2015 DOI: 10.4324/9781315684741-12 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that SoS theory, unlike quantum consciousness theories, predicts two-way interaction between conscious mind and neural memories, and proposes that psychedelics might act as partial substitutes for near-death experiences, enabling exploration of related questions. It also contends that memory should be a prime focus for consciousness research. |
Abstract
The differences between SoS theory and quantum consciousness ones imply that it should be possible to make predictions of phenomena allowable in SoS theory but forbidden in all quantum consciousness ones, which isn&s;t necessarily an easy task given Richard Feynman&s;s dictum that &s;anything not forbidden in quantum theory is compulsory&s;. One of the SoS claims is that there is likely to be two-way interaction between conscious mind and neural memories. Neural memories weave mind but conscious mind can feed its content back into neural memories, according to the theory. And memory must be a prime focus of interest for all consciousness researchers because it and experience are so closely interlinked in so many ways. There&s;s the intriguing possibility that psychedelics might prove to be adequate substitutes for brushes with death in some respects and might allow exploration of similar questions to those that can be asked about near-death experiences (NDEs). There&s;s lots of interest these days in shamanism.