If you ask 'artificial intelligence' (AI) what physicists understand by 'being' - that is, what constitutes the universe - the answer is something like this: “Physicists understand 'being' to be the totality of physical reality described by fundamental laws, forces, particles and fields.”
Probably every physicist is concerned with the question of what it is that creates elementary particles, then atoms, galaxies and stars, and finally living beings. They have not yet been able to give a description. Even artificial intelligence cannot provide a satisfactory answer because it can only search data stored in huge data centres.
David Bohm, a famous physicist who worked in the field of quantum mechanics, developed the theory of implicit order, which states that the universe has a deeper, non-material reality that permeates and connects everything. John Archibald Wheeler, another famous physicist, believes that consciousness plays a fundamental role in the universe and that reality is influenced by observation and the consciousness of the observer. Eugene Wigner, Nobel laureate in physics, emphasises the role of consciousness in quantum mechanics. Wigner argues that consciousness plays an essential role in the creation of reality and that quantum mechanics is incomplete without taking consciousness into account. Only the physicist Hans-Peter Dürr is convinced that the mind is the origin of all being.
Quantum entanglement shows how strangely existence can manifest itself. If you have two particles, for example electrons or photons, they can become entangled with each other, even if they are very far apart. If you measure the state of one of the entangled particles, the state of the other particle changes immediately, no matter how far apart they are. It is as if the two particles are 'communicating' and coordinating with each other, even though they are not physically connected. The fascinating thing about entanglement is that it challenges our classical notions of space and time.
Anton Zeilinger, who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics 2022 with John Clauser, and his team have carried out groundbreaking experiments on quantum entanglement. One particularly impressive experiment was in quantum cryptography, where entangled photons were used to enable tap-proof communication between Vienna and Beijing. Zeilinger's discoveries have shown how quantum entanglement can be used in practice to develop revolutionary technologies.
When we talk about the smallest particles in atoms, we generally think of elementary particles. But there is also a concept, string theory, that tries to describe the smallest building blocks of the universe even better. String theory proposes that fundamental particles such as quarks and electrons are not point particles, but tiny one-dimensional 'strings' or 'filaments'. These strings vibrate in different ways, and their vibrations determine the properties of the particles, such as mass and charge.
After my considerations it seems that the nature of information is similar, or that it is information itself.
Hans-Peter Dürr (1929-2014) was a prominent German physicist, philosopher and visionary, best known for his work in quantum physics and his commitment to sustainable development and peace research. A student of Nobel laureate Werner Heisenberg, Dürr worked intensively on quantum field theory and elementary particle physics. He made significant contributions to the development of theoretical physics. As the long-time director of the Max Planck Institute for Physics in Munich, he worked on fundamental questions in physics and natural philosophy.
In addition to his scientific work, Dürr was also involved in socio-political and ecological issues. He was a member of the board of Greenpeace Germany and founded the Global Challenges Network e.V., an association concerned with global challenges. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the 'Alternative Nobel Prize'.
Hans-Peter Dürr's work has often explored philosophical and metaphysical issues, particularly the relationship between science, being and spirit. In 'Mind, Cosmos and Physics', Hans-Peter Dürr combines his profound knowledge of quantum physics with philosophical and spiritual considerations to explore the relationship between mind, matter and the cosmos. The book is a journey to the fundamental questions about the nature of reality and the role of human consciousness in the universe.
Dürr begins by introducing the revolutionary findings of quantum physics, which challenge our classical, mechanistic view of the world. The quantum world is not deterministic, but characterised by probabilities, uncertainties and correlations. These findings suggest that reality is much more complex and dynamic than classical physics would suggest.
A central theme of the book is the relationship between spirit and matter. Dürr argues that spirit and matter do not exist separately, but are inextricably linked. Quantum physics shows that the observer and the observed phenomena are in a fundamental interaction. This suggests that consciousness plays an active role in shaping reality.
Dürr emphasises that the universe is not a dead mechanism, but a living, dynamic whole in which everything is interconnected. He draws parallels between the findings of modern physics and the insights of ancient spiritual traditions that view the cosmos as a unified, ensouled being.
For Dürr, humans are not just passive observers, but active participants in cosmic events. Our consciousness and actions affect the world around us. Dürr advocates an ethical attitude that recognises this responsibility and works for a sustainable and peaceful world.
Dürr does not see science and spirituality as opposites, but as complementary ways of understanding the depths of reality. While science explores the outer structures of the world, spirituality explores the inner dimensions of being. Both approaches are necessary to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of reality.
At the end of the book, Dürr calls for a new way of seeing that integrates the insights of quantum physics, the wisdom of philosophy and the insights of spirituality. He sees this as the key to overcoming the global challenges of our time and creating a sustainable, peaceful and just world.
In some videos, Hans-Peter Dürr describes his view of the mind as the driving force: “We have to see reality in a very different way. No longer materially, but much more openly. Strictly speaking, we can no longer speak of particles, there are no parts, there is only the whole... The origin of all being is actually spirit... Matter is the crust of spirit.”