1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 334 The Essence of Consciousness! Emergence!

The genetic phenomena of life can actually be explained by physical theories.

All the scientific leaders present were shocked.

Physics has once again demonstrated its absolute dominance.

It not only rules the world, it rules humanity.

"Oh my god, then we humans are nothing special after all."

"Humans are just a mass of thinking matter, and all their actions are subject to the laws of physics."

“This is a bit scary when you think about it.”

Morgan sat down trembling.

Li Qiwei's theory shocked him so much.

Suddenly, at this time, another big man stood up.

"Hello, Professor Bruce, I'm Pavlov."

"My major is studying the system structure of the human body, focusing on the digestive system."

People in the medical field couldn't help but exclaim, here comes another big shot.

Just when people in other fields were curious about who this person was.

Li Qiwei smiled and said, "I know you, Professor Pavlov."

"You won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1904."

“I pay attention to the Nobel Prize every year.”

"So, I saw your name."

Wow!
Once again, the crowd was shocked.

The Nobel Prize boss is finally taking action.

Although Morgan was a very famous figure before, he had never won the Nobel Prize.

The Pavlov in front of us is a true Nobel Prize winner.

Moreover, the opponent is Russian, and the fact that he was able to win the Nobel Prize shows that he is very strong.

Pavlov was stunned. He didn't expect that the famous Bruce knew him.

He suddenly felt very proud.

Even the senior officials in the country did not make him feel this way.

Because they value Pavlov because of his influence.

The Bruce in front of him values ​​him because he admires his knowledge and achievements.

For a scientist, there is no higher honor than this.

Therefore, Pavlov was very happy.

He smiled and said, "Professor Bruce, I am very interested in your idea just now."

“Since the essence of gene mutation is quantum leap, then what is the essence of human consciousness?”

"Is it also a quantum leap?"

boom!
Everyone was shocked.

Pavlov's question was truly appalling.

Consciousness, what an illusory thing it is.

Since the ancient Greek times, our ancestors have begun to study it.

Today, whether it is consciousness that determines matter or matter that determines consciousness has become one of the most important research topics in philosophy.

Countless of the smartest people are working to find the nature of consciousness.

Now, someone finally asked this question to the world's top scientist.

Bruce is not only the first person in science, he can even be considered the smartest person in the world.

If even he didn't know, then the people present felt that hope was very slim.

At this moment, the philosophers present suddenly became inexplicably excited.

Consciousness occupies a very special position in the philosophical system.

If even consciousness can be explained physically.

That.
Philosophers no longer dare to think further.

I guess more than half of the philosophy giants present here will be unemployed.

Morgan and others were also shocked.

There is still a difference between biologists and medical scientists.

A medical scientist is a person who studies the mysteries of the human body.

Biologists generally do not study the human body alone, but rather study the commonalities of all living things from a larger perspective.

After all, humans are just one of countless living things.

Consciousness is something unique to humans.

The "consciousness" of other creatures in nature is more appropriately called instinct.

They are incapable of developing human-like intelligence.

Therefore, what Pavlov called consciousness actually refers to human wisdom.

This question can be said to be the ultimate question of mankind.

Therefore, no matter how much Morgan admired Li Qiwei, he felt that Li Qiwei would not be able to answer it.

“This involves the true secret of the Creator.”

"Life and matter. Professor Bruce has used physics to unify matter."

"Does he want to unify life?"

At this moment, everyone was waiting nervously like Morgan.

What kind of answer will the man give?

After listening to Pavlov's question, Li Qiwei also smiled.

Today's bigwigs in the fields of biology and medicine are treating him like a sheep.

If these questions were asked by someone else, even someone at Planck's level, there would be no way to answer them.

There are many unknowns involved.

Li Qiwei thought about it briefly, then took a deep breath and said with a smile:

"Professor Pavlov, I know that I can't convince you with quantum leaps."

“Because you have a lot of counterexamples.”

"For example, since quantum leaps can make people conscious, why can't animals and plants develop consciousness, or intelligence, through quantum leaps?"

“Everything in the world is made up of atoms.”

"There is no evidence that atoms are any different from one another."

"So the atoms that make up humans are the same as the atoms that make up other animals."

"The explanation of the quantum jump is not rigorous enough."

There was a sudden whisper in the auditorium.

Obviously, almost all the bigwigs present could think of this.

Suddenly, Li Qiwei asked: "Professor Pavlov, if I remember correctly, you should be studying the digestive system."

Pavlov was stunned. He didn't know why Li Qivi suddenly asked this question.

"Yes, Professor Bruce, you remember it correctly."

Li Qiwei said: "I also have some knowledge of medicine."

“Human consciousness originates in the human brain.”

“There is a very complex system of neural networks in the brain.”

"As far as I know, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1906 was awarded for achievements in the field of the nervous system."

"But, unfortunately, medical scientists' current research on the brain is still very superficial."

“There has been no progress in the study of consciousness.”

"I think there must be a physical mechanism for the emergence of consciousness."

"Quantum leaps are just one aspect of this."

"The human brain is also made up of a bunch of atoms."

"Why can a bunch of unconscious atoms, when combined together, form a conscious brain?"

"I think this phenomenon can be explained by [emergence]."

“Although a large number of atoms are unconscious, when they are combined together according to certain rules or laws.”

“It will produce new characteristics at the macro level.”

“I call this process the emergence of consciousness.”

boom!
When Li Qiwei talked about the concept of emergence, the whole audience exclaimed.

Everyone was shocked beyond measure.

The concept seems to be full of mysterious power.

"Oh my God, Professor Bruce is not secretly studying medicine."

"Otherwise, how could he have come up with the concept of emergence?"

"Professor Bruce's strength is too terrifying."

Everyone was talking about it.

The concept of emergence is not limited to the field of life. It can also be used in other fields.

After listening to this, Pavlov looked excited and trembled slightly.

He was very curious when he was studying the human digestive system.

The brain and digestive system are both made up of cells, so why does the brain have consciousness but the digestive system does not?

What is the difference between systems?

And the emergence that Li Qiwei mentioned gave him inspiration.

But soon Pavlov discovered a problem.

He quickly asked:
"Professor Bruce, although you explained the emergence of consciousness with emergence."

“But there is still a problem.”

"What is the principle of consciousness emerging from atoms without consciousness?"

“I feel like the word emergence is more of a description of the phenomenon than the essence of the phenomenon.”

“There is still a certain difference between the two.”

"Like, why wouldn't consciousness emerge from the digestive system?"

Wow!
Pavlov's question moved everyone present.

As expected of a Nobel Prize winner, he got to the heart of the matter.

This is indeed the most critical issue.

A bunch of atoms emerge with consciousness, so how does it emerge?

Two of the atoms react first, and then drive the other atoms.

Or do all the atoms interact with each other at the same time, producing new phenomena?

Emergence cannot explain the specific mechanism.

Everyone turned their eyes to Li Qiwei. This problem seemed to have no answer.

After listening to Pavlov's questions, Li Qiwei was filled with emotion.

The term emergence was coined in the 20s.

When it was proposed, it was not used to study consciousness alone.

Rather, it is used in the field of "complex adaptive systems".

To put it bluntly, the word emergence can only be applied at the system level.

There is no way for individual atoms to emerge.

There are many phenomena in later generations, such as artificial intelligence and the development of fertilized eggs, that fit the description of emergence.

Scientists have discovered that when some discrete factors are combined through a certain mechanism, they will produce properties that transcend those of a single factor.

This is the connotation of emergence.

Li Qiwei proposed this concept decades in advance, so you can imagine how much of a shock it was to those present.

But the big guys at this time are also the chosen ones of heaven.

They can spot emerging problems at a glance.

That is, it is not an essence, but a generalization.

Li Qiwei showed a trace of helplessness.

"Professor Pavlov, your question is very sharp."

“Yes, the word emergence cannot explain the specific mechanism.”

“But I think it would be a good theoretical framework.”

"As long as quantum theory develops further, we will be able to solve the mystery of consciousness sooner or later."

Wow!
The audience was shocked.

Li Qiwei continued: "I feel like the meeting is getting off topic."

"Today was supposed to be a meeting on relativity."

“It turns out I’ve been talking about quantum theory.”

"I think it would be better if my student Bohr could come up and explain it to everyone."

There was a burst of laughter in the auditorium.

Pavlov smiled and said, "Professor Bruce, don't worry."

"We all like to listen to the theory of relativity and quantum theory."

"I think it's because the theory of relativity is so perfect that it's almost difficult for people present to ask questions."

"And in the previous two days of meetings, I believe that you physics experts have already discussed almost everything."

“We really can’t find a problem with the update.”

Pavlov's words made everyone present nod slightly.

After truly listening to Ridgwell's lecture on relativity, everyone realized how far they were from this theory that shocked the world.

No one dares to commit fraud.

In their view, Wittgenstein's problems are already very profound.

Li Qiwei smiled and said, "This is a good opportunity. I would like to mention it as well."

"After our discussion at the meeting, we decided that the next focus of physics will be quantum theory."

"Everyone here can pay more attention to it then."

At this moment, everyone had a deep impression of quantum theory.

Biologists and medical scientists in particular have begun to take quantum theory as a compulsory course.

Bohr in the audience looked excited.

I didn’t expect that quantum theory would benefit from today’s conference.

In fact, it’s right to think about it.

Even with Bohr's intelligence, it took him a lot of effort to understand the general theory of relativity.

Not to mention others.

He now began to understand Li Qiwei's intention in holding this meeting.

"How could the instructor really want to invite everyone to discuss the theory of relativity?"

“Even the average physicist can’t understand the general theory of relativity, and even the special theory of relativity is difficult to understand.”

"Not to mention the liberal arts professionals here."

"The mentor actually used the theory of relativity to gather scholars from all over the world."

"He wants to build momentum for scientists and physicists."

"Relativity only made Professor Bruce great."

"But after today's meeting, all scientists will be proud of it."

“The achievements of scientists affect the whole world.”

At this moment, Bohr finally understood.

He looked at the domineering figure on the stage with great admiration.

Li Qiwei took in everyone's expressions.

Bohr's idea was actually his original intention.

Just kidding, inviting people from all over the world to discuss general relativity.

This is how much we despise this great theory.

This is not the future, where any doctoral student can have very profound insights into general relativity.

So far, the only people in the world who can understand it are probably the physics giants who attended the meeting two days ago.

Li Qiwei looked around and felt that today's meeting was a bit unfinished.

But I can’t tell what’s wrong.

"Everyone, does anyone have any questions?"

The auditorium suddenly fell silent.

Physicists, mathematicians, chemists, and biologists were all silent.

The discussion just now was so fascinating.

They really couldn't find any problem.

Moreover, this is a conference on relativity, and it would be inappropriate to raise other issues.

For a moment, no one stood up.

Suddenly, a small commotion broke out in the astronomers' area, which had been silent all along.

Yes.

Li Qiwei slapped his forehead.

"How could I forget about this group of people?"

"Astronomers are the main force behind the general theory of relativity."

“How can they be okay?”

Sure enough, before Li Qiwei could think more.

A big name in astronomy stood up and made a shocking statement.

"Professor Bruce, I think there are big problems with general relativity."

boom!
Everyone in the house was shocked!

(End of this chapter)