Does consciousness affect matter?

Question

Particle-wave duality?

Answer 1

Yes. If you're unconscious it doesn't matter. J/K

It sometimes seems that way. From what I've read each experiment/observation seems to yield a result dependent on the measuring apparatus, and how the measurement is made. It's like the particle decided what role to play.

It's late, I been up for over 30 hrs, and that's the best I can do for know.

Answer 2

Physically observation will affect matter (see Heisenberg's uncertainty principle).  Whether you must be conscious in order to observe is then the next question - I would say yes.

Philosophically it is arguable that nothing exists other than as it is perceived in the mind.  If you would accept this, then in the unconscious state matter would cease to exist.

Answer 3

No.  You are talking about a phenomena called "collapsing the state function."  This is a phenomena in quantum physics where there is one particle with uncertain location and momentum (call it particle A) and another with a known certain location or momentum (call it particle B).  Particles A & B behave differently from each other, but the moment you look at particle A, it begins to behave like particle B because all of a sudden, you know its location or momentum.

Many people have looked at this as being some type of metaphysical or even mystical manifestation of "consciousness," but in fact it is nothing of the sort.  It is the act of OBSERVATION that turns particle A into B--whether that observation is done by a machine or human is irrelevant.