quantum physics and Buddhism

Josh Wolfe had this paragraph in his Forbes research blurb today:

Speaking of unimaginable complexity. George Gilder's daughter Louisa has
recently finished a book on quantum entanglement. This in turn reminds me
to share the story of the Dalai Lama and the Austrian physicist Anton
Zeilinger. The two discussed quantum physics, in particular randomness,
chance and the sometimes undetermined arrow of causality. While many bandy
about quantum physics as though it's magical or Zen-like (remember Murray
Gell-Mann's "quantum flapdoodle"-it's actually the exact opposite. The core
beliefs of Buddhism are predicated on determinism. Quantum physics on the
other hand is based on probabilities, randomness and chance. The Dalai Lama
told the Austrian physicist his deep concerns (but willingness to accept if
true) over the implications that quantum physics might have in uprooting
basic Buddhist beliefs.

Randy
Received on Fri Jun 17 22:15:22 2005