Quantum Mind: Part 1

This chapter and the next review the question of what place does quantum thinking play in the post-Anthropocene, as questions of materiality are constantly raised. The quantum is theorized in relation to information, AI, and neurology, all difficult issues without much resolution. The tension is between physics and metaphysics and this is shown throughout this chapter and the next. Quantum realism is raised in relation to Karen Barad’s quantum proposal of agential realism that has been heavily embraced by feminist materialists among others. The question of quantum realism and nonrealism and the idea of the (radical) void are examined. The differences between Barad and Deleuze and Guattari come up. I also review what object-orientated ontology has to say about quantum and end by starting a review of Hameroff and Penrose’s proposal of quantum mind that they call orchestrated objective reduction (Orch OR) theory.