Metaphysical Mondays: Biocentrism, Part 2 - The Observer-Dependent Universe

Biocentrism is a simple theory. The universe is observer-dependent. We humans create reality within our brains. What you see, hear, smell, and touch “out there”, external to our bodies, is not “out there”. Those experiences occur inside our brains. Reality is something we experience inside our minds. The philosophical thought experiment, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it fall, does it make a sound?” is a perfect analogy for Biocentrism. If you accept the theory of Biocentrism, your answer is a solid “no, the tree makes no sound. Why, you ask? Let’s break it down. Sound is puffs of air (vibrations) that strike your eardrum, causing electric pulses to travel to your brain, which are then translated as sound. Your brain creates the sound. There is no external source of noise, your brain creates it. So, if there is no one in the forest to collect and process the vibrating puffs of air the tree creates when it falls, there is no sound.

Wild, right? Now apply this thinking to all the senses. If it stands that our minds create sound out of soundless vibrations carried by air, then our minds also construct external information into what we perceive we see before us, what we taste, what we touch, and what we smell. We live reality internally. So, the BIG question then is, what is really “out there”?

Biocentrism is not a new concept, but a theory rooted in ancient thought. If we consider Plato’s allegory of the cave, then Biocentrism becomes a revived link between science and the metaphysical, which is defined as a philosophical field that examines the fundamental nature of reality, including concepts like laws of nature, causation, and the nature of existence, often drawing on scientific theories and concepts to ground its inquiries. In the cave, a human stands with its back to a fire, viewing its projection – its shadow – on the cave wall. Reality is, for this human, the shadow projection. The human creates the shadow, their reality. Our minds create our reality – which is a shadow projection. The human standing at the outside of the cave understands what the human inside perceives as reality is simply a shadow they project standing between the fire and the cave wall.

So,  reality is different depending on where you “stand”. Reality is created by the observer.

The science behind the theory of biocentrism is what is complex. Understanding what that means takes an understanding of quantum physics. Dr. Robert Lanza’s book series, Biocentrism does a good job breaking down the theory into easy-to-understand components for a non-science audience. There are also several YouTube videos where he talks about Biocentrism. I recommend reading and watching these to help understand the theory.

Science is at a crossroads. Quantum physics leaves many scientists with more questions than answers.  Biocentrism offers a new path to explore where the big question becomes what is local and what is non-local, remerging science and metaphysics as a means to overcome the roadblocks current science faces in their understanding of the universe. The new question is now, what is Plato’s fire? What is the projector, the source of what generates our shadow reality?  What are we in the grand scheme of life, the universe, and everything, as Douglas Adams so eloquently asked?

The science behind the theory is pretty solid and new experiments being conducted right now around the world keep adding support that we create our reality. Our observation of the universe has a hand in its creation. From ancient philosophy to cutting-edge “neurobiophysics” and the discovery of brain microtubules, the evidence keeps piling up that we are an integral component in the creation of reality and the universe.

Though rooted in science, my journey in understanding Biocentrism led me to a convergence of science and metaphysics, helping me reconcile the two seemingly polar opposite forces of thinking.

Henrich Pas’ book, The One, opened my eyes to how this theory is the key to bringing science, philosophy, and belief together. But that is another story…

To be continued.