If Heaven Is So Wonderful...Why Come Here?: How To Discover Our Whole Being Book

In his groundbreaking book in the philosophy of science, Thomas Kuhn argued that true paradigm change in science usually comes from someone who is either very new to a field or from entirely outside of it. As stated in his autobiographical statement at the end of this book we learn that Laszlo was a concert pianist before he became interested in searching for meaning through science. This occurred after the birth of his first son and gradually, this quest took over his life. He seems to be largely self-educated in physics and science and through his work has received four Honorary PhDs as well as major awards and distinctions. He is a former professor of philosophy, systems theory and futures studies in the U.S., Europe and the Far East.

Physicists strive to find a unifying set of equations that bring together all of the laws of physical nature and that could explain all the features of the universe. They refer to this as a Theory of Everything (TOE), or a unified field theory. In the emerging new cosmology, quanta are taken as basic. These are not discrete particles of matter/energy, but rather, vibrating one-dimensional filaments or strings or super strings. Physicists see such quanta as a string with its own 'music'. On a cosmic level entire stars and galaxies vibrate together. Laszlo argues (as Ken Wilber has as well) that a genuine TOE must take into account, not only the physical universe, but also life, mind, culture and consciousness.
Citing the new physics, Laszlo states that the fundamental foundation of everything, that from which all is generated without itself being generated by other things, is a virtual-energy field known as the quantum vacuum. However, the emergence of ever greater complexity in the universe requires the presence of a factor that is neither matter nor energy. This is call 'information' and is not used in the sense of data or what a person knows, but to a process that actually 'forms ' the recipient. After the physicist David Bohm, he adopts the spelling 'in-formation' to denote this particular meaning. "…in-formation is present in the world independent of human volition and action and is a decisive factor in the evolution of the things that furnish the real world."

Building on Kuhn's idea that new paradigms arise when enough anomalies arise within the existent dominant paradigm that people begin to look for new explanations, Laszlo then turns to some of the puzzles that exist in physics. Coherence of the non-local kind is one such puzzle. The smallest identifiable units of matter, force and light are not separate entities, but specific forms of underlying energy fields. It is through the underlying energy fields that everything is connected to everything else. Quanta are not just in one place at one time, but everywhere. Until they are actually observed or measured quanta exist simultaneously in several states at the same time. 'it is as if the observer fishes the quanta out of a sea of possibilities." Some of the puzzles of coherence occur in biology as well. "cutting edge research in quantum biology finds that atoms and molecules within organisms, and entire organisms and their environments, are nearly as 'entangled' with each other as microparticles that originate in the same quantum state." In the living organism, all parts are coherent with all other parts. What happens to one cell in some way happens to all of them. Further, the organism is coherent with the world around it-it's external milieu ( similar to Dubos' concept equating health with being in balance with one's environment). It is important to distinguish between being in equilibrium (a state achieved only in death) and near equilibrium which requires an organism to be in coherence with the milieu. The latter is referred to as a state of dynamic equilibrium. "The difference between thermal/chemical and dynamic equilibrium can be illustrated in reference to the movement of a ball over a hilly landscape. When the ball is at the bottom of a valley, it is at rest; if any force moves it out of its position, it will roll back to it. This is similar to thermal and chemical, so-called thermodynamical, equilibrium. But when the ball is at the top of a hill, it will roll down unless it can dynamically balance itself in its unstable position. This balancing act is an instance of dynamic equilibrium."

Quantum level coherence occurs also at the level of consciousness. He cites both anthropological and laboratory evidence to show that humans have non-local contact with others.

All of these non-local or effects at a distance depend on the quantum vacuum or plenum . "The idea that information is present throughout nature is a recurrent theme in cultural history, but it is new to Western science. It calls for the recognition that information is not an abstract concept: as 'in-formation' it has a reality of its own. It is a part of the physical universe. And because it is present throughout nature, it is best conceptualized as an extended field." Laszlo calls this the Akashic Field or A-field. Akasha in Sanskrit and Indian cultures is what underlies all things and becomes all things. Our physical bodies do not register this field, but it can be reached through spiritual practice.

Using these concepts the author goes on to examine the source of the universe, and the nature of consciousness (both human and cosmic). The latter chapter I found the most interesting. It also contained a, perhaps, minor error. In talking about cosmic consciousness, he refers to Richard Bucke as an American mystic. Actually, Richard Maurice Bucke was a psychiatrist working here in London Ontario in the late 19th century. He brought an enlightened approach to the treatment of mental illness in his role as Director of the London Insane Asylum. Bucke did indeed write a book titled Cosmic Consciousness (copies of which sometimes still show up in local antiquarian bookstores). He was stimulated in his thinking by the American poet Walt Whitman. Whitman was so impressed by Bucke's book and letters that he visited him here. An example of how the arts (in this case, poetry) precedes science (see Jonah Lehrer's book, Proust was a Neuroscientist for more examples).

I enjoyed this book, though it could use a glossary of terms. Will re-read sections of it again, I'm sure.