Implicate and explicate order: Difference between revisions

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[[image:Atom.png|thumb|220px|right|A Helium Atom and its constituent particles: an example of a small collection of the posited building blocks of the universe]]

Bohm’s proposals have, somewhat ironically, oftensometimes been 'dismissed' either largely or entirely on the basis of such presuppositions, apparently without due consideration for, and scrutiny of, the inherent challenges presented by his contestations.

Bohm’s [[paradigm]] is inherently antithetical to [[reductionism]], in most forms, and accordingly can be regarded as a form of [[ontological]] [[holism]]. On this, Bohm noted of prevailing views among physicists: "the world is assumed to be constituted of a set of separately existent, indivisible and unchangeable 'elementary particles', which are the fundamental 'building blocks' of the entire universe … there seems to be an unshakable faith among physicists that either such particles, or some other kind yet to be discovered, will eventually make possible a complete and coherent explanation of everything" (Bohm, 1980, p. 173).

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A key motivation for proposing a new notion of order was the incompatibility of quantum [[theory]] with relativity theory, in terms of certain experimental contexts and corresponding analytic context. Bohm (1980, p. xv) summarised the situation in the following terms:

:…in relativity, movement is continuous, causally determinate and well defined, while in quantum mechanics it is discontinuous, not causally determinate and not well-defined. Each theory itis committed to its own notions of essentially static and fragmentary modes of existence (relativelyrelativity to that of separate events connectable by [[signals]], and quantum mechanics to a well-defined quantum state). One thus sees that a new kind of theory is needed which drops these basic commitments and at most recovers some essential features of the older theories as abstract forms derived from a deeper reality in which what prevails is unbroken wholeness.

Bohm maintained that relativity and quantum theory are in basic [[contradiction]] in these essential respects, and that a new notion of order should begin with that which both point toward: undivided wholeness. This should not be taken to imply that he thought such powerful theories should be discarded:. rather, heHe argued, however, that each was relevant in a certain [[context]] (ini.e. a set of interrelated conditions within the Explicate Order) rather than having unlimited relevance, and that apparent contradictions stem from attempts to overgeneralize by superposing the theories on one another (implying greater generality or broader relevance than is ultimately warranted). Thus, Bohm (1980, pp. 156-167) said: "... in sufficiently broad contexts such analytic descriptions cease to be adequate ... 'the law of the whole' will generally include the possibility of describing the 'loosening' of aspects from each other, so that they weill be relatively autonomous in limited contexts ... However, any form of relative [[autonomy]] (and heteronomy) is ultimately limited by holonomy, so that in a braod enough context such forms are seen to be merely aspects, relevated in the holomovement, rather than disjoint and separately existent things in interaction".

===Hidden variable quantum theory===

==The hologram as metaphor for the Implicate Order==

Related to this, Bohm proposed a [[hidden variable]] theory which is discussed in the article on the [[Bohm interpretation]] of quantum theory. A key motivation for doing so was purely to show the [[possibility]] of such theories. On this, Bohm (1980, p. 81) said: "... it should be kept in mind that before this proposal was made there had existed the widespread impression that no conceptions of hidden variables at all, not even if they were abstract, and hypothetical, could possibly be consistent with the quantum theory". Bohm (1980, p. 110) also said "the demonstration of the possibilty of theories of hidden variables may serve in a more general philosophical sense to remind us of the unreliability of conclusions based on the assumption of the complete universality of certain features of a given theory, however general their ___domain of validity seems to be". Another aspect of Bohm's motivation was to point out a confusion he perceived to exist in quantum theory. On the dominant approaches in quantum theory, he said: "...we wish merely to point out that this whole line of approach re-establishes at the abstract level of statistical potentialities the same kind of anlaysis into separate and autonomous components in interaction that is denied at the more concrete level of individual objects".

==Quantum entanglement==

Central to thisBohm's schemeschema is the notion that objectscorrelations between observables of entities which seem separated by great distances in the Explicate Order (such as a particular electron here on earth and an [[alpha particle]] in one of the stars in the [[Abell 1835 IR1916|Abell 1835 galaxy]], the farthest galaxy from Earth known to humans) mayare actually be manifestations of the common Implicate Order. The motivation for this perspective isstems from the observation within quantum mechanicstheory of the [[quantum entanglement|entanglement]] of such objects. It should be noted that this view of order necessarily departs from any notion of order which entails signalling, and therefore causality: that is, the correlation of [[observables]] does not imply a causal [[influence]] (in Bohm's schema, the latter represents 'relatively' independent evdents in space-time and therefore Explicate Order).

He also usesused the term '''unfoldment''' to characterise processes in which the Explicate Order becomes relevant (or "relevated"). Bohm likens unfoldment also to the decoding of a television [[signal processing|signal]] to produce a sensible [[image]] on a [[screen]]. The signal, screen, and television electronics in this analogy represent the Implicate Order whilst the image produced represents the Explicate Order. He also uses a striking example in which an ink droplet can be introduced into a highly [[viscous]] [[substance]], and the substance rotated very slowly such that there is negligible [[diffusion]] of the substance. In this example, the droplet becomes a thread which, in turn, eventually becomes invisible. However, by rotating the substance is the reverse direction, the droplet can essentially reform. When it is invisible, the order of the ink droplet as a pattern is ''implicate'' within the substance.

In another analogy, Bohm asks us to consider a pattern produced by making small cuts in a folded piece of paper and then, literally, unfolding it. Widely separated elements of the pattern are, in actuality, produced by the same original cut in the folded piece of paper. Here the cuts in the folded paper represent the Implicate Order and the unfolded pattern represents the Explicate Order.

==The hologram as metaphoranalogy for the Implicate Order==

[[Image:Holography-reconstruct.png|thumb|250px|right|In a holographric reconstruction, each region of a photographic plate contains the whole image]]

Bohm employsemployed the [[hologram]] as a means of characterizingcharacterising Implicate Order, noting that each [[region]] of a [[photographic]] plate in which a hologram is observable contains within it the whole three-dimensional image, which can be viewed from a range of perspectives. That is, each region contains a whole and undivided image. In Bohm’s words: "There is the germ of a new notion of order here. This order is not to be understood solely in terms of a regular arrangement of objects (eg., in rows) or as a regular arrangement of events (e.g. in a series). Rather, a total order is contained, in some implicit sense, in each region of space and time. Now, the word 'implicit' is based on the verb 'to implicate'. This means 'to fold inward' ... so we may be led to explore the notion that in some sense each region contains a total structure 'enfolded' within it". (Bohm, 1980, p. 149). Bohm noted that although the hologram conveys undivided wholeness, it is nevertheless static.

In this view of order, laws represent invariant relationships between explicate entities and structures. Bohm (1980, p. 147) asks us to "consider the possibility that physical law should refer primarily to an order of undivided wholeness of the content of description similar to that indicated by the hologram rather than to an order of analysis of such content into separate parts …". He noted that in physics, the Explicate Order generally reveals itself within well-constructed experimental contexts as, for example, in the sensibly observable results of instruments.

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==A common grounding for consciousness and matter==

[[Image:Human brain NIH.jpg|thumb|200px|left|As noted by Karl Pribram and colleagues, evidence indicates that memories do not in general appear to be localized in specific regions of brains]]

The proposed Implicate Order is a general [[metaphysical]] order in tems of which matter and consciousness may both be understood, in the sense that it is proposed that both matter and consciousness: (i) enfold the structure of the whole within each region, and (ii) involve continuous processes of enfoldment and unfoldment. For example, in the case of matter, entities such as atoms may represent continous enfoldment and unfoldment which manifests as a relatively stable and autonomous entity which follows a path in space-time. In the case of consciousness, Bohm points toward evidence presented by [[Karl Pribram]] that memories may be enfolded within every region of the brain rather than being localized (for example in cells or atoms). Bohm (1980, p. 205) goes on to say: "As in our discussion of matter in general, it is now necessary to go into the question of how in consciousness the Explicate Order is what is manifest ... the manifest content of consciousness is based essentially on memory, which is what allows such content to be held in a failry constant form. Of course, to make possible such constancy it is also necessary that this content be organized, not only through relatively fixed assocation but also with the aid of the rules of logic, and of our basic categories of space, time causality, universality, etc. ... there will be a strong background of recurrent stable, and separable features, against which the transitory and changing aspects of the unbroken flow of experience will be seen as fleeting impressions that tend to be arranged and ordered mainly in terms of the vast totality of the relatively static and fragmented content of [memories]". Bohm also notes that "as with consciousness, each moment has a certain Explicate Order, and in addition it enfolds all the others, though in its own way. So the relationship of each moment in the whole to all the others is implied by its total content: the way in which it 'holds' all the others enfolded within it". Bohm characterises consciousness as a process in which at each moment, content that was previously implicate is presently explicate, and content which was previously explicate has become implicate, in an analogous fashion to the ink droplet. He said: "One may indeed say that our memory is a special case of the process described above, for all that is recorded is held enfolded within the brain cells and these are part of matter in general. The recurrence and stability of our own memory is a relatively independent sub-totality is thus brought about as part of the very same process that sustains the recurrence and stability in the manifest order of matter in general. It follows, then, that the explicate and manifest order of consciousness is not ultimately distinct from that of matter in general" (Bohm, 1980, p. 208).

The proposed Implicate Order is a general [[metaphysical]] concept in tems of which matter and [[consciousness]] may both be understood, in the sense that it is proposed that both matter and consciousness: (i) enfold the structure of the whole within each region, and (ii) involve continuous processes of enfoldment and unfoldment. For example, in the case of [[matter]], entities such as atoms may represent continous enfoldment and unfoldment which manifests as a relatively stable and autonomous entity that can be observed to follow a relatively well-defined path in space-time. In the case of consciousness, Bohm points toward evidence presented by [[Karl Pribram]] that [[memories]] may be enfolded within every region of the brain rather than being localized (for example in particular regions of the [[brain]], cells, or atoms).

==Quantum entanglement==

The proposed Implicate Order is a general [[metaphysical]] order in tems of which matter and consciousness may both be understood, in the sense that it is proposed that both matter and consciousness: (i) enfold the structure of the whole within each region, and (ii) involve continuous processes of enfoldment and unfoldment. For example, in the case of matter, entities such as atoms may represent continous enfoldment and unfoldment which manifests as a relatively stable and autonomous entity which follows a path in space-time. In the case of consciousness, Bohm points toward evidence presented by [[Karl Pribram]] that memories may be enfolded within every region of the brain rather than being localized (for example in cells or atoms). Bohm (1980, p. 205) goeswent on to say: "As in our discussion of matter in general, it is now necessary to go into the question of how in consciousness the Explicate Order is what is manifest ... the manifest content of consciousness is based essentially on memory, which is what allows such content to be held in a failry constant form. Of course, to make possible such constancy it is also necessary that this content be organized, not only through relatively fixed assocation but also with the aid of the rules of logic, and of our basic categories of space, time causality, universality, etc. ... there will be a strong background of recurrent stable, and separable features, against which the transitory and changing aspects of the unbroken flow of experience will be seen as fleeting impressions that tend to be arranged and ordered mainly in terms of the vast totality of the relatively static and fragmented content of [memories]". Bohm also notes that "as with consciousness, each moment has a certain Explicate Order, and in addition it enfolds all the others, though in its own way. So the relationship of each moment in the whole to all the others is implied by its total content: the way in which it 'holds' all the others enfolded within it". Bohm characterises consciousness as a process in which at each moment, content that was previously implicate is presently explicate, and content which was previously explicate has become implicate, in an analogous fashion to the ink droplet. He said: "One may indeed say that our memory is a special case of the process described above, for all that is [[recorded]] is held enfolded within the brain cells and these are part of matter in general. The recurrence and stability of our own memory is a relatively independent sub-totality is thus brought about as part of the very same process that sustains the recurrence and stability in the manifest order of matter in general. It follows, then, that the explicate and manifest order of consciousness is not ultimately distinct from that of matter in general" (Bohm, 1980, p. 208).

Central to this scheme is the notion that objects which seem separated by great distances in the Explicate Order (such as a particular electron here on earth and an [[alpha particle]] in one of the stars in the [[Abell 1835 IR1916|Abell 1835 galaxy]], the farthest galaxy from Earth known to humans) may actually be manifestations of the common Implicate Order. The motivation for this perspective is the observation within quantum mechanics of the [[quantum entanglement|entanglement]] of such objects. It should be noted that this view of order necessarily departs from any notion of order which entails signalling, and therefore causality.

He also uses the term '''unfoldment''' to characterise processes in which the Explicate Order becomes relevant (or "relevated"). Bohm likens unfoldment also to the decoding of a television [[signal processing|signal]] to produce a sensible [[image]] on a [[screen]]. The signal, screen, and television electronics in this analogy represent the Implicate Order whilst the image produced represents the Explicate Order. He also uses a striking example in which an ink droplet can be introduced into a highly [[viscous]] [[substance]], and the substance rotated very slowly such that there is negligible [[diffusion]] of the substance. In this example, the droplet becomes a thread which, in turn, eventually becomes invisible. However, by rotating the substance is the reverse direction, the droplet can essentially reform. When it is invisible, the order of the ink droplet as a pattern is ''implicate'' within the substance.

In another analogy, Bohm asks us to consider a pattern produced by making small cuts in a folded piece of paper and then, literally, unfolding it. Widely separated elements of the pattern are, in actuality, produced by the same original cut in the folded piece of paper. Here the cuts in the folded paper represent the Implicate Order and the unfolded pattern represents the Explicate Order.

==Connections towith other works==

Many, along with Bohm himself, have seen strong connections between his ideas and ideas from the East. There are particularly strong connections to [[Buddhism]], for which [[Einstein]] also shared sympathy. Some proponents of [[new age| alternative religions]] (such as [[shamanism]]) claim a connection with their belief systems as well.

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Bohm's views also connect with those of [[Immanuel Kant]] in important respects. For example, Kant held that the parts of an organism such as cells simultaneously exist in order to sustain the whole, and depend upon the whole for their own existence and functioning. Also, as noted by Bohm, Kant recognized that the process of thought plays an active role in ''organizing'' [[knowledge]]. Hence, theoretical insights are instrumental to the process of acquiring factual knowledge. This perspective is congruent also with an analyis of the function of measurement in physical science by [[Thomas Kuhn]] in 1961.

[[Image:Common clownfish.jpg|thumb|340px|left|For Bohm, life is a continous flowing process of enfoldment and unfoldment involving relatively autonomous entities. DNA 'directs' the environment to form a living thing. Life can be said to be implicate in ensembles of atoms that ultimately form life.]]

There are connections also to views heldexpressed by people such as [[Stuart Kauffman]], who noted Kant's perspective on organisms in his book ''At Home in the Universe'' in a section given the evocative title ''An Unrepentant Holism''. Kauffman's concept of an [[autocatalytic set]], as it was originally conceived in terms of molecules, clarifies Kant's perspective in a precise fashion. In his later book ''Investigations'', Kauffman attempts to define, or at least characterize, the notion of an autonomous agent. If viewed as "relatively autonomous", this concept is also potentially congruous with Bohm's view. Bohm's views are also echoed in Kauffman's (2000, p. 137) statement: "... our incapacity to prestate the configuration space of the biosphere is not a failure to prestate the consequences of the primitives, it appears to be a failure to prestate the primitives themselves". Kauffman suggests that such a failure may stem from more generally applicable foundations applicable also within physics. Consistent with Bohm, this potentially calls into question whether we should presuppose that it is possible (even in principle) to formulate a final, and complete, theory of everything.