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Originally Posted by John Freestone Does the atom bomb depend on a collapsing quantum wave function, and does that mean that it won't go off if we don't look? |
Hmm. Actally I do not know whether the atom bomb would depend on a collapsing of the wavefunction. I mentioned the atom bomb mainly to demonstrate that your earlier point ....
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Originally Posted by John Freestone  Quantum effects are averaged out by the time we get to anywhere near the human scale. |
... was completely wrong. Atomic bombs do depend on quantum effects, and no, the effect of atom bombs do not disappear "by the time we get to anywhere near the human scale".
There are also other, less-dramatic examples of quantum effects appearing on the macroscopic level. For example, see this:
Access : Quantum physicsEntanglement hits the big time : Nature
Brief excerpt:
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"Quantum physics: Entanglement hits the big time
Vlatko Vedral1
Top of pageAbstract Entanglement is a quantum phenomenon usually associated with the microscopic world. Now it is clear that its effects are also relevant on macroscopic scales, such as in the magnetic properties of some solids."
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This is from Nature, which by any criteria, must be considered as a very serious, very respectable scientific journal.
There are even highly practical uses for the fact that quantum effects can translate into macroscopic effects. It will lead to quantum computer technology, for example:
Quantum computer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In case some readers are not following my point, well, basically, as far as this thread is concerned ...
1. John belabours under the mistaken impression that even if consciousness can cause certain effects at the quantum level, these effects are too small to have any relevance for the usual realities of human beings.
2. In previous threads, I have corrected his mistaken impression, and once again I'll correct it. Effects at the quantum level *can* translate into effects at a much larger level.
3. If consciousness can cause effects at the quantum level, it follows therefore that these effects can translate at something observable and significant at a much larger level, eg atomic bombs and quantum computers (and also some other stuff like crystalline structures in some solids etc).