Challenges to some generally prevailing views Implicate and explicate order

a hydrogen atom , constituent particles: example of over-simplified way of looking @ small collection of posited building blocks of universe

bohm’s proposals have @ times been dismissed largely on basis of such tenets. paradigm opposed reductionism, , view form of ontological holism. on this, bohm noted of prevailing views among physicists world assumed constituted of set of separately existent, indivisible, , unchangeable elementary particles , fundamental building blocks of entire universe ... there seems unshakable faith among physicists either such particles, or other kind yet discovered, make possible complete , coherent explanation of (bohm 1980, p. 173).

in bohm’s conception of order, primacy given undivided whole, , implicate order inherent within whole, rather parts of whole, such particles, quantum states, , continua. bohm, whole encompasses things, structures, abstractions, , processes, including processes result in (relatively) stable structures involve metamorphosis of structures or things. in view, parts may entities regarded physical, such atoms or subatomic particles, may abstract entities, such quantum states. whatever nature , character, according bohm, these parts considered in terms of whole, , in such terms, constitute relatively separate , independent sub-totalities. implication of view is, therefore, nothing fundamentally separate or independent.

bohm 1980, p. 11, said: new form of insight can perhaps best called undivided wholeness in flowing movement. view implies flow in sense prior of ‘things’ can seen form , dissolve in flow. according bohm, vivid image of sense of analysis of whole afforded vortex structures in flowing stream. such vortices can relatively stable patterns within continuous flow, such analysis not imply flow patterns have sharp division, or literally separate , independently existent entities; rather, fundamentally undivided. thus, according bohm’s view, whole in continuous flux, , hence referred holomovement (movement of whole).

quantum theory , relativity theory

a key motivation bohm in proposing new notion of order well-known incompatibility of quantum theory relativity theory. bohm 1980, p. xv summarised state of affairs perceived exist:

...in relativity, movement continuous, causally determinate , defined, while in quantum mechanics discontinuous, not causally determinate , not well-defined. each theory committed own notions of static , fragmentary modes of existence (relativity of separate events connectible signals, , quantum mechanics well-defined quantum state). 1 sees new kind of theory needed drops these basic commitments , @ recovers essential features of older theories abstract forms derived deeper reality in prevails unbroken wholeness.

bohm maintained relativity , quantum theories in basic contradiction in these essential respects, , new concept of order should begin toward both theories point: undivided wholeness. should not taken mean advocated such powerful theories discarded. argued each relevant in context—i.e., set of interrelated conditions within explicate order—rather having unlimited scope, , apparent contradictions stem attempts overgeneralize superposing theories on 1 another, implying greater generality or broader relevance warranted. thus, bohm 1980, pp. 156–167 argued: ... in sufficiently broad contexts such analytic descriptions cease adequate ... law of whole include possibility of describing loosening of aspects each other, relatively autonomous in limited contexts ... however, form of relative autonomy (and heteronomy) limited holonomy, in broad enough context such forms seen merely aspects, relevated in holomovement, rather disjoint , separately existent things in interaction.

hidden variable theory

before developing implicit order approach, bohm had proposed hidden variable theory of quantum physics (see bohm interpretation). according bohm, key motivation doing had been purely show possibility of such theories. on this, bohm 1980, p. 81 said, ... should kept in mind before proposal made there had existed widespread impression no conception of hidden variable @ all, not if abstract , hypothetical, possibly consistent quantum theory. bohm 1980, p. 110 claimed demonstration of possibility of theories of hidden variables may serve in more general philosophical sense remind of unreliability of conclusions based on assumption of complete universality of features of given theory, general domain of validity seems be. aspect of bohm s motivation had been point out confusion perceived exist in quantum theory. on dominant approaches in quantum theory, said: ...we wish merely point out whole line of approach re-establishes @ abstract level of statistical potentialities same kind of analysis separate , autonomous components in interaction denied @ more concrete level of individual objects (bohm 1980, p. 174).

leibniz s dual aspect (mental-physical) monad , bohm s implicate-explicate order

bohm s cosmology of impliciate-explicate orders can compared of ideas in leibniz s monadology in 17th century. in terms of modern science, leibniz developed double aspect cosmology having 1 perspective mental space (comparable holographic, timeless , spaceless quantum phase space) , other perspective of everyday world (comparable einstein s spacetime). these can related bohm s implicate , explicate orders respectively. leibniz s timespace fractal in nature. (?)