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Comparison of the TGD-based theory of self-organization with
the ideas of Rupert Sheldrake
by Dr. Matti Pitkänen
TGD
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Illustrations about TGD and the TGD-inspired theory of Consciousness
Rupert Sheldrake has developed a theory of learning and memory based on the concepts of
morphic fields and morphic resonance. The basic hypothesis is that learning occurs also at the level of
species. If some individuals of the species have learned some habit, then it becomes easier for the
remaining individuals of the species to learn the same habit. The individuals who learned the habit first
need not even live anymore or can live in a distant part of the World.
Morphic fields are very much like order parameters in Haken's theory. Collective learning is
claimed to occur in a morphic resonance analogous to a phase transition leading from a small seed of
individuals with new habit to a population having the same habit. Sheldrake also postulates some kind
of creativity besides morphic resonance serving as a selector of habits. Rather interestingly,
TopologicalGeometricDynamics (TGD) suggests a direct physical identification for the concepts of
morphic field, morphic resonance, and creativity.
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1. Brief overview
Sheldrake states the basic assumptions of his theory in the following manner:
"The idea is that there is a kind of memory in Nature. Each kind of thing has a
collective memory. So, take a squirrel living in New York now. That squirrel is being
influenced by all past squirrels. And how that influence moves across time, the collective
squirrel-memory both for form and for instincts is given by the process I call morphic
resonance. It's a theory of collective memory throughout Nature. What the memory is
expressed through are the morphic fields, the fields within-and-around each organism. The
memory processes are due to morphic resonance."
There are no obvious candidates for the morphic fields in the framework of the standard physics. In
TGD context, however, the situation is different. The members of the species correspond to space-time
sheets (3-surfaces) which can be regarded as particles in a generalized sense. The generalization of a
point particle to 3-surface means the introduction of zero modes characterizing the size and shape as
well as the classical Kahler field (in many cases, essentially electromagnetic field) associated with the
space-time surface in question. These zero modes are not encountered in quantum field theories and
mean new physics.
TGD leads to a generalization of Haken's theory of self-organization to quantum context and zero
modes can be identified as universal order parameters in the spirit of Haken's theory of self-organization.
Morphic resonance can be identified as a quantum counterpart of a non-equilibrium phase transition
occurring at some critical values of the order parameters and involving large long-range fluctuations in
critical order parameters. Morphic resonance could also be regarded as a "quantum catastrophe".
Association sequences give geometric representations for proto-level of consciousness and habits and
the zero modes characterizing association sequences are especially interesting as far as the learning of
habits understood as a transformation of the reflective level of consciousness to a proto-level of
consciousness is considered. Since these degrees of freedom are bosonic, symmetrization of the wave
function implies quantum entanglement between the zero modes associated with different 3-surfaces,
which could represent also individuals of a given species. Hence the species would behave like a single
particle in the entangled zero modes.
Also Bose-Einstein Condensation/formation of coherent states for the quantized boson fields
associated with the association sequences could be involved morphic resonance. These fields have
additional N-fold pseudo-spin for N-fold degenerate association sequences.
2. Morphic fields as fields of habit
Sheldrake defines morphic fields in the following manner:
"Basically, morphic fields are fields of habit. And they've been set up through habits of
thought through habits of activity and habits of speech. Most of our culture is habitual. I
mean most of our personal life, and most of our cultural life is habitual. We don't invent
the English language. We inherit the whole English language with all its habits, its turns of
phrase, its usage of words, its structure, its grammar."
Learning as a transformation of the reflective (fermionic) level of consciousness to proto-level
represented by association sequences could be regarded as a model of a habit formation. The zero
modes characterizing the resulting association them could be regarded as new morphic fields in larger
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length and time scale. One of the surprising consequences of this model of learning is that p-adic length
scale hypothesis originally suggested by elementary particle mass calculations and later deduced from
the so-called elementary particle black hole analogy generalizing the area-entropy law of Hawking and
Bekenstein (note that information theoretical concepts are involved!). The second prediction is that this
habit formation must have occurred already in elementary particle level: electron's habit is effective padic topology with p-adic prime p=M (1279=2127-1! This is of course consistent with the universality
of the strong form of Negentropy Maximization Principle. Furthermore, the Combinatorial Hierarchy
leading to a model of Genetic Code emerges as exceptional learning hierarchy in this model. It must be
however admitted that the question "Why DNA and proteins are needed?" is not yet really understood.
If the association sequences associated with the individuals of species are quantum entangled,
morphic resonance is possible provided there is large enough feed of quantum entanglement (and hence
entanglement entropy). This resonance means a phase transition leading to the emergence of a new
level of self organization when system becomes critical and new order in much longer length scale is
generated. If Sheldrake is right, the new order could correspond to spatially larger association
sequences. Thoughts (represented geometrically by almost empty space-time sheets) could have even a
spatial size of Earth!
A good example of a possible morphic resonance is the generation of slow large amplitude EEG
waves in meditation, which can lead to a criticality and altered state of consciousness during which
typically the boundaries of self are experienced to disappear. The presence of large fluctuations and
criticality also explains the similarities between meditative and psychotic states of consciousness. Of
course, the scenario -- although possible in principle -- might fail: the effects might be simply
exponentially small. Be as it may, the scenario is suggested by very general arguments in TGD
approach and must be therefore considered seriously.
3. The role of quantum entanglement
If the representatives of species have quantum entanglement in some degrees-of-freedom, they could
form a single super species. And the resulting long range correlations can make morphic resonance
possible provided there is large enough entanglement feed to the system. Both spatial and temporal
entanglement is possible (temporal entanglement for association sequences is possible in TGD but not in
standard theories and makes provides mechanism of memory).
Quantum entanglement means the generation of the long-range correlations necessary for quantum
self-organization in long length scales. Morphic resonance could be regarded mathematically as a phase
transition leading to generation of long-range order. For association sequences, quantum entanglement
is possible also in time direction. This would explain why it is easier for Future generations to learn a
habit already learned by Past generations. Memory at the level of species would be in question.
4. Morphic resonance as a phase transition
The members of species behave like particles. Since they are bosons in zero mode degrees-offreedom, the wave function in these degrees-of-freedom must be completely symmetric. This implies
quantum entanglement automatically. In the standard model of self-organization, the behavior of
probability density for configurations around minimum of free energy is assumed to be Gaussian in the
lowest order. If the situation is same also in the quantum context, then harmonic oscillator description
of zero modes should be a good approximation in the lowest order approximation. And the concepts of
coherent states and Bose-Einstein condensation to given mode become sensible concepts and might be
relevant for the modeling of learning a map from reflective level of consciousness to proto level of
consciousness and also for the modeling of morphic resonance. Bose-Einstein condensation suggests
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itself as a promising metaphor at least. For association sequences having discrete degeneracy, harmonic
oscillator approximation does not make sense. And it is not obvious whether one can make the
metaphor of BE condensation a precise concept.
The formation of habit at the level of species could be analogous to the formation of repetitive
pattern in Benard-flow, when external entropy feed exceeds some critical value leading to the
appearance of repetitive pattern of association sequences. At least at classical level, the formation of
repetitive pattern of association sequences might be enough and BE condensation would not be
absolutely necessary. In this case, the phase transition would be just a generation of a new ground state
in the spirit of Haken's theory of non-equilibrium phase transitions. At quantum criticality and for a
critical number of individuals serving as a seed of phase transition with new skill/habit, a spontaneous
phase transition to a state in which all individuals have learned the same habit would occur. The
repetitive nature of the pattern of association sequences would make the appearance of new individual
analogous to the addition of additional bosonic quantum to a state of N quanta, and BE condensation
would be only a metaphor in this case.
The state basis for fermionic and ordinary bosonic fields defined on the association sequences
contain the degeneracy index of association sequences as additional index. If association sequences are
not identical, the most natural basis for fields corresponds to union of the basis located to various 3surfaces (representing the members of species now). If association sequences are identical, there is a
natural delocalized state basis obtained using superpositions of the elements of the localized fields
multipled with complex phases providing a representation for the cyclic group ZN permuting the 3surfaces. The simplest state is that invariant under the permutations of 3-surfaces. It is tempting to
identify collective learning as a formation of a delocalized field basis (say, for coherent photon field or
order parameter describing charged wormholes). Therefore one can say that collective learning is
favored by the near identicality of the members of species as assumed by Sheldrake.
In fact, one can argue that only trivial representation of the group ZN is possible so that delocalized
fields are invariant under permutations. The reason could be purely topological.
1. To see this, restrict the consideration to completely identical association sequences so that one
cannot geometrically distinguish between the points (x1,...,xN) and (P(x1),...,P(xN)). In this
case, neither the single particle wave function φ1(x_k) nor its modulus squared is single valued
in the set of identical association sequences. The requirement of single valuedness in the set of
identical association sequences forces to consider the sum φN (x1,...xN) of single particle wave
functions and the desired delocalization occurs automatically.
2. A simple visualization is provided by the configuration space of point like identical particles in E3.
Since one cannot quantum mechanically distinguish between permutations of the particles, the
actual configuration space is (E^3)^N/SN instead of (E^3)^N. One obtains bosons and
fermions as special projective representations of the permutation group SN (also parastatistics
could be allowed but is excluded if one requires that permutation introduces only a phase
factor, single valuedness allows only Bose statistics).
The model of learning as a map from the reflective level of consciousness to the proto level of
consciousness suggest that maps from the fermionic sector to boson sector could be important in the
learning. In particular, formation of BE condensates and coherent states in the bosonic counterparts of
the fermionic modes could correspond to a formation of a habit: again the identicality of association
sequences is essential. Hence an extension of Bose-Einstein condensates could be involved with the
collective learning. Therefore, morphic resonance could be involve also a stimulated Bose-Einstein
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condensation. Even the basic elements of language regarded as coherent states of phonons could
perhaps be regarded as a formation of a habit.
5. Why morphic resonances preferably occur between the members of the same species?
One can wonder why the quantum entanglement and collective memory is mostly between the
members of same species. Why not all living creatures? There are 2 simple explanations for this.
1. The first explanation is already mentioned and is based on the observation that the delocalization
of fermionic and bosonic field modes (having additional N-fold anomalous 'spin') associated
with the association sequences occurs very naturally if association sequences are identical or
nearly identical. This is expected to be the case if members of the same species are in
question.
2. The second explanation involves the concept of quantum entanglement. Replication is
topologically like a decay of photon to electron-positron pair: the electron and positron in final
state are quantum entangled. Hence, replication could provide an ideal mechanism leading to
the generation of entanglement between members of the same species. Since the members of
the species are related by the chain of replications, they can be quantum entangled if
replication indeed generates entanglement. Both the members of the species living now and
those lived in past are involved. The history of entire species (not only the present population)
would form some kind of super organism analogous to brain. Of course, quantum
entanglement between me and bacteria could be present and date from very earlier days of
evolution but this entanglement is not so strong.
In the Darwinian picture, the function of replication is to make competition possible. Large number
of nearly identical organisms is needed and the mutual competition under selective pressures selects the
"best" ones. This aspect is certainly involved but need not the only one. A second TGD-ish reason for
replication is that members of the species form a structure analogous to cell society (say brain). Large
number of nearly identical units makes quantum statistical determinism possible. And the average
member of species would behave in predictable manner so that it becomes possible to speak about
species.
Sex is a second mechanism generating quantum entanglement (directed attention/alertness). One
could ponder the idea that happily married couples are strongly quantum entangled pairs and much like
DNA double helices, lipid layers of cell membrane, 2-cell layers of epithelial sheets, the multi-cellular
layers in ocular domininace columns in cortex, or even 2 brain halves. The basic function of sexuality
would be the generation of quantum entanglement.
Of course, all communication creates quantum entanglement. Perhaps successful communication
necessitates the creation of a larger unit of consciousness 'Me+You' by quantum enganglement so that
receiver-sender difference disappears for a moment. Language would be therefore a crucial element in
making effective generation of quantum entanglement possible.
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6. Learning of language as a morphic resonance?
Sheldrake represents the learning of language as a good example of morphic resonance"
"Occasionally people invent new words. But basically, once we've assimilated it, it
happens automatically. I don't have to think when I'm speaking, reaching for the next
word. It just happens. And the same is true about physical skills like riding a bicycle,
swimming, or skiing if you can ski -- these kinds of things.
"So I think the more often these things happen, the easier they become for people to
learn. Things like learning language have happened over … well, we don't know how long
human language has been around. At least 50,000 years. So there's a tremendously wellestablished morphic field for language-speaking. Each particular language has its own
field which is usually established over centuries at least."
The easiness of children to learn language could indeed have explanation in terms of morphic
resonance. The strong quantum engtanglement between child and parents (especially mother) could
make the morphic resonance possible. Bose-Einstein condensation of the "linguistic" association
sequences in the brain of the child induced by the Bose-Einstein condensate of linguistic association
sequences in the brains of parents could induce language learning.
One can of course wonder why it is so difficult for older people to learn language. Have we lost our
entanglement? Or is their learning strategy totally different? Do we force us to learn the language at
reflective level (although it could occur at proto-level also(? We learn rules but find difficult to apply
them, whereas a child learns to apply the rules without learning the rules themselves. Are we far from
criticality so that large fluctuations leading to the generation of the new level of self-organization are not
possible anymore? Or -- accepting the BE condensation model -- is the reason simply that the linguistic
association sequences have already BE condensed to form the habit corresponding to the native
language?
7. Concepts as living creatures?
Entanglement between the members species suggests that the concept of species is in some sense a
conscious being. One might consider even the possibility that abstract concept like 'mathematics' is not
a mere abstraction but a living being formed by quantum entangled association sequences representing
mathematical thoughts! This would explain why Science really develops despite the fact that individual
scientists know practically nothing of even their own branch of science and have no possibility to
personally judge whether they can really trust to what they read from a scientific journal.
Interestingly, Stan Grof has reported about the altered states of consciousness in which subject
person literally identifies with some concept: "say what it is to be -- not an individual mother, but all
mothers of the World."
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8. The origin of creativity
Sheldrake notices that morphic resonance and morphic fields are not all what is needed to
understand evolution.
"The whole idea of morphic resonance is evolutionary. But morphic resonance only
gives the repetitions. It doesn't give the creativity. So evolution must involve an interplay
of creativity and repetition. Creativity gives new forms, new patterns, new ideas, new art
forms. And we don't know where creativity comes from. Is it inspired from above?
Welling up from below? Picked up from the air? What?
"Creativity is a mystery wherever you encounter it -- in the human realm, or in the
realm of biological evolution, or of cosmic evolution. We know creativity happens. And
then what happens is a kind of Darwinian natural selection. Not every good idea survives.
Not every new form of art is repeated. Not every new potential instinct is successful. Only
the successful ones get repeated. By natural selection and then through repetition, they
become probable, more habitual."
In the TGD-ish Universe, creativity is due to quantum jump, which serves as the basic iterative step
of self-organization.
Bibliography
H. Haken (1988), Information and Self-Organization , Springer Verlag, Berlin.
R. Sheldrake (1995), A New Science of Life: The Hypothesis of Morphic Resonance , Inner Traditions
Intl Ltd.
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