Primal awareness, evolutionary restriction, life and the origin of quantum mechanics

• Published in: BioSystems 2024-03, Vol.237, p.105132-105132, Article 105132
• Main Authors: Cottam, Ron, Vounckx, Roger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0303-2647; 1872-8324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105132

We consider resemblances between humans and other species, without adopting categorical positions of either anthropomorphism or anti-anthropomorphism. Our target in doing so is to present a basis for the suggestion of a common ancestor for the similar or differing capabilities exhibited by different species. We propose that individual species exhibit a species-specific selection within what we describe as a universally available ‘Basic Capacity to Interact with the Environment’ (BCIE). We justify this proposition in terms of the ubiquitous presence at all organizational levels of the Universe of a primal awareness – a precursor of Nature. On disassembling natural organic systems – through neurons, biochemistry … down to quantum mechanics, we note that in its suggested position coupling input-to-output in quantum mechanical operations, primal awareness would be the precursor of quantum mechanics itself. We relate ubiquitous primal awareness to the ideas of David Bohm and Charles Peirce. We point out that genetic Evolution not only provides the basis for the implementation of many capabilities through our ‘Basic Capacity to Interact with the Environment’, but equally excludes numerous others. This then could explain why different species' Evolution fixes their available/unavailable capabilities. Quantum mechanical superposition/coherence/entanglement are related to our universal primal awareness, in its sense as a ubiquitous precursor. We point out that life is dependent on the classical simulation of quantum mechanics.