The Weak Force as Manifestation of Anima Mundi: An Exploration

Abstract

In quantum physics, there is no unambiguous description of consciousness and its role in the continuous creation and sustaining of matter. If it plays a fundamental role in existence we must look for it at the very root of all evolutionary processes in the fundamental forces of our universe which lead to the conditions that facilitate life as a potentially universal process. One such candidate for nature's fine-tuning system is the weak force, whose descriptors echo the traits of the pre-scientific and alchemical notion of the Anima Mundi, or World Soul, an embodiment of intrinsic vital connections among all life.  The Jungian and archetypal worldview still recognizes such a living force within, attributing its life-sustaining energies to soul and the depth-dimension of our imaginal and perceptual experience. An enriching non-literal interpretation of such phenomenology may still be more than metaphorical. The weak force, only needs to be a tiny fraction of one of the myriad feedback loops to be the deciding difference due to the delicately balanced state that potentiates and fosters universal life, potentially originating in space (Hoyle, Wickramasinghe). In this sense, Anima mundi as manifested in weak force makes the Sun shine, creates water, and the "Goldilocks" zone of human habitation.

Further, is the observed strength of the weak force vital for the emergence of observers? Emergence is a possible order arising from chaos. Weak emergence describes new properties arising in systems as a result of the interactions at an elemental level. In weak emergence, the emergent property is reducible to its individual constituents.  This is opposed to strong emergence, in which the emergent property is irreducible to its individual constituents. Causing systems to differentiate, weak emergence is the root of higher-order complexity, coalescing novel, coherent structures. Agents residing on one scale start producing behavior nested one scale above them, potentially including self-reflection. Humans become self-conscious and track their own evolution. Heeding the "inner voice" of the Anima mundi, can applied emergence help us work with the dynamics of emergent complexity to realize our intentions as life-serving outcomes?