Are atoms conscious?

[Twilight Hue]

I wonder if life forms can go so small as to be considered "quantum"? Life forms smaller than even bacteria. Perhaps there are quantum bacteria that live and feed off of normal bacteria. Sounds kinda funny, but is it is possible?

Who knows? Maybe. As of now there is nothing more than theories and ideas about this. It would be interesting to see what the experts come up with but I feel its going to be awhile.

 

[3.14]

well we never used to know about qaurks aswell, though it would be rather difficult for a germ on that level

 

[Falvlun]

isnt it sub-atomic particles that react to being observed? i dont know alot about that, but it does seem to be some sort of awareness, but maybe im wrong?

Think of a piece of iron. It moves when a magnet is placed next to it. I think this is the same concept of sub-atomic particles "reacting" when observed. Any instrument we use to observe them is going to cause a disturbance. It's not like they are thinking "Run! It's looking at us again!".

 

[Yerda]

Think of a piece of iron. It moves when a magnet is placed next to it. I think this is the same concept of sub-atomic particles "reacting" when observed. Any instrument we use to observe them is going to cause a disturbance. It's not like they are thinking "Run! It's looking at us again!".

A friend of mine has proposed a solution to this. It does presuppose the consciousness of single electrons or photons but I am compelled to grant him that.

Along with many other people, when witnessing the double slit experiment he assumed the electrons were interfering with themselves. While I was puzzled to discover that the interference pattern disappeared when detectors were used to see which slit they passed through he was unfazed. He said to me, "I usually stop interfering with myself when people watch, too."

I think he should be given the Nobel.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

A friend of mine has proposed a solution to this. It does presuppose the consciousness of single electrons or photons but I am compelled to grant him that.

Along with many other people, when witnessing the double slit experiment he assumed the electrons were interfering with themselves. While I was puzzled to discover that the interference pattern disappeared when detectors were used to see which slit they passed through he was unfazed. He said to me, "I usually stop interfering with myself when people watch, too."

I think he should be given the Nobel.

Really, my self-interference increases dramatically when other people watch.

 

[JMorris]

Think of a piece of iron. It moves when a magnet is placed next to it. I think this is the same concept of sub-atomic particles "reacting" when observed. Any instrument we use to observe them is going to cause a disturbance. It's not like they are thinking "Run! It's looking at us again!".

makes sense

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Think of a piece of iron. It moves when a magnet is placed next to it. I think this is the same concept of sub-atomic particles "reacting" when observed. Any instrument we use to observe them is going to cause a disturbance. It's not like they are thinking "Run! It's looking at us again!".

Of course not, that's just silly. They're thinking "Correre! E 'guardando a noi di nuovo!" Everyone knows sub-atomic particles speak Italian.

 

[SoliDeoGloria]

This is actually a very interesting thread, especially since I just recenly got a job at a foundry as a radiographer and am required to take classes by the state and the company that involve safety and the history of the human discovery of radiation (Roentgen, etc).

What just gets me is there is a LOT of theory behind this stuff (ionization, photons, protons, electromagnetism, etc.) and yet we know enough about the manifestations of these things to be able to harness it and use it to our advantage and yet it could also kill you in less than a sec with no recourse.

What definitely would make me think that atoms could possibly be "alive" is what atoms do when they are ionized and become radioactive. They react to electrons being added or taken away by attempting to repair themselves and restore themselves to their former state. That in itslef could be a product of a "self preservation" of sorts.

Now, one additional question I have is, with all the theories on electromagnetism, force, etc., could there be something even smaller than atoms or nuclei or their parts that is smaller that could be the cause of these manifestations that we call "electricity", "energy", "force", etc.? Just a question. I am certainly nowhere near qualified to make any definite statements on the subjects.

Sincerely,
SoliDeoGloria

 

[Runewolf1973]

This is actually a very interesting thread, especially since I just recenly got a job at a foundry as a radiographer and am required to take classes by the state and the company that involve safety and the history of the human discovery of radiation (Roentgen, etc).

What just gets me is there is a LOT of theory behind this stuff (ionization, photons, protons, electromagnetism, etc.) and yet we know enough about the manifestations of these things to be able to harness it and use it to our advantage and yet it could also kill you in less than a sec with no recourse.

What definitely would make me think that atoms could possibly be "alive" is what atoms do when they are ionized and become radioactive. They react to electrons being added or taken away by attempting to repair themselves and restore themselves to their former state. That in itslef could be a product of a "self preservation" of sorts.

Now, one additional question I have is, with all the theories on electromagnetism, force, etc., could there be something even smaller than atoms or nuclei or their parts that is smaller that could be the cause of these manifestations that we call "electricity", "energy", "force", etc.? Just a question. I am certainly nowhere near qualified to make any definite statements on the subjects.

Sincerely,
SoliDeoGloria

That's interesting. Thanks for the comments.

 

[Yerda]

Really, my self-interference increases dramatically when other people watch.

Pervert!

 

[Falvlun]

Now, one additional question I have is, with all the theories on electromagnetism, force, etc., could there be something even smaller than atoms or nuclei or their parts that is smaller that could be the cause of these manifestations that we call "electricity", "energy", "force", etc.? Just a question. I am certainly nowhere near qualified to make any definite statements on the subjects.

Sincerely,
SoliDeoGloria

Well, atoms are made up of smaller parts called quarks.

Are you familiar with string theory? I am not suggesting it is a true depiction of reality, but it touches upon your question. Basically, string theory suggests that "strings" are the smallest component of everything. These strings vibrate, thus creating matter as we know it. (Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm misrepresenting the theory). I would think this vibration would equate to the "energy" or "force" you were hypothesizing above.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I don't think the Atom is conscious, but the creatures living on the third electron from the nucleus could be.

 

[SoliDeoGloria]

Well, atoms are made up of smaller parts called quarks.

Are you familiar with string theory? I am not suggesting it is a true depiction of reality, but it touches upon your question. Basically, string theory suggests that "strings" are the smallest component of everything. These strings vibrate, thus creating matter as we know it. (Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm misrepresenting the theory). I would think this vibration would equate to the "energy" or "force" you were hypothesizing above.

And yet another theory ugh (hehe). Here's another part that frustrates the heck out of me. Electromagnetism is called such because while one person is saying that something is "electrified" another person can say that they are magnetised and they are both right ( cathodes, anodes, possitive, negative attraction). Now we know what causes magnetism; electrons spinning in either opposite direction of each other (causing magnetism) or in the same direction (causing demagnetism). We know that energy/electricity acts the same way which is why we call it electromagnetism. But the best we can do with force/energy/electricity is harness it's manifestations while the best we have to explain it are theories and mathematical equations. Shoot, we can even "make it happen" but we don't know what exactly is happening. All we know is that if we do this, then that will happen. It's like me pushing buttons on my computer and knowing that when I do it, something happens but as far as how and what exactly is happening.

I don't think the Atom is conscious, but the creatures living on the third electron from the nucleus could be.

Those creatures can only be seen through a bongoscope

Sincerely,
SoliDeoGloria

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Those creatures can only be seen through a bongoscope

So you see them too!

 

[Shahzad]

If you generalise the meaning of consciousness to mean reflexive self processing, i.e. atoms interact with other other atoms by receiving information and processing it to produce output then in this sense and only this sense atoms are conscious. So everything could be said to be imbued with a degree of generalised sentience.

 

[Storm]

Do you believe that atoms are "conscious"?

Not individually, but yes.

I believe there are three primal elements of reality: matter, rhys (consciousness), and arn (life force). Atoms, even subatomic particles like electrons, are composed of all three elements.

So again, yes, but they're not sufficiently complex to individuate. Rather, they are expressions of the all-encompassing consciousness of God.

Can an atom be considered "alive"?

Same answer. All the cosmos is alive, as it is conscious, but atoms are not life forms.

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

All that exists is a manifestation of life. Consciousness is the animating force behind all things. All things are conscious.

 

[Runewolf1973]

Not individually, but yes.

I believe there are three primal elements of reality: matter, rhys (consciousness), and arn (life force). Atoms, even subatomic particles like electrons, are composed of all three elements.

So again, yes, but they're not sufficiently complex to individuate. Rather, they are expressions of the all-encompassing consciousness of God.


Same answer. All the cosmos is alive, as it is conscious, but atoms are not life forms.

That is an interesting perspective. Thank you.

 

[Runewolf1973]

All that exists is a manifestation of life. Consciousness is the animating force behind all things. All things are conscious.

Sounds good to me. Thanks for the reply.