The Quantum Tree and the Hopscotch of Reason: Why Intuition is the Leading Axis of Science
- elenaburan
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
In the architecture of human knowledge, we have long believed that the roof of Truth rests on the pillars of Rationality. But as we enter the era of quantum computing and hyper-complexity, the building is cracking. The cracks aren’t in the mathematics; they are in our consciousness.
At Verbs-Verbi, we explore the IPER framework, where intelligence is not a monolithic block but a symphony of four functions: Intuition, Rationality, Ethics, and Sensing. Today, we look at a pivotal paper by B.J. Hiley and O.J.E. Maroney, "Consistent histories and the Bohm approach," to understand why the "crisis of the quantum" is actually a crisis of suppressed Intuition (Hiley & Maroney, 2000).
1. The Hopscotch of Classical Science
For centuries, classical science has played a game of "hopscotch". It draws neat, numbered boxes on the pavement of reality: 1, 2, 3... linear, predictable, and flat. This linear logic—the hallmark of the Western Rational function—insists that everything must be "physically acceptable" to our everyday experience.
The paper by Hiley and Maroney highlights a battle between two interpretations of the quantum world (Hiley & Maroney, 2000):
Consistent Histories (CH): An attempt to make quantum mechanics look "normal" by creating a patchwork of logical frames.
The Bohm Interpretation (BI): A model that accepts "strange" trajectories but maintains a continuous, underlying reality.
The conflict arises because the Rational mind (represented here by Griffiths) finds Bohmian trajectories "surrealistic" or "unacceptable." Why? Because they don't look like the straight lines we see in our backyard. To save its own comfort, the Rational mind tries to make Intuition its servant, forcing the quantum world to fit into the "hopscotch" boxes of classical thought.
2. The Tree vs. The Concrete
Intuition is not a "lucky guess." It is a high-level intelligence function—a vertical axis. Think of the Tree of Knowledge, a symbol reaching back to the Druids and the roots of human culture. A tree has a trunk (universal laws) that branches out into infinitely detailed domains.
Hiley and Maroney show that when we try to use the "Consistent Histories" approach to avoid "weirdness," we end up with a lack of continuity (Hiley & Maroney, 2000). They argue that CH cannot explain how a particle moves through the interference region. It’s like trying to describe a tree by looking only at the tips of the leaves while ignoring the branches and the trunk.
This is where the "concrete" of classical linearity fails. You can pour as much rational concrete as you want, but the Tree of Intuition will eventually crack it. Why? Because Intuition perceives the process and the big picture (the Strategic Vision), while Rationality is obsessed with the snapshot.
3. The Semantic Gap: The Prophet’s Silence
The crisis in science persists because Intuitive thinkers and Rational communicators speak different languages.
The Ethical/Communicative Function (dominant in Western diplomacy, media, and Churchillian leadership) excels at building bridges, PR, and consensus.
The Intuitive Function (the Prophets and Pioneers) follows the "Light" of the idea. They see the whole puzzle at once, but they often struggle to explain the intermediate steps to those still playing hopscotch.
In the Hiley/Maroney paper, we see the Rationalists trying to "vote" on what is "acceptable" reality (Hiley & Maroney, 2000). But reality isn't a democracy; it’s a structure. The "surrealistic" trajectories of Bohm aren't "wrong"—they are simply what happens when you follow the vertical axis of the universal law into a domain where linear logic no longer applies.
4. The New Constitution of Consciousness
To solve the quantum riddle—and the challenges of our modern world—we must rewrite our "Global Constitution" of thought.
Intuition must lead; Rationality must verify.
When we try to do the opposite, Rationality devours itself, leading to the logical "absurdities" mentioned in the paper. We see this in business, education, and science: when we ignore the strategic, intuitive vision of the "Tree," we are left with a series of disconnected boxes that lead nowhere.
Quantum computing requires us to grasp "Complexity" and "Simultaneity"—tools that belong inherently to the Intuitive intelligence. We can no longer afford to view Intuition as a "local ability" to solve a small problem. It is the primary function that perceives life as a flow, as a "Light" that precedes the shadow of analysis.
Conclusion: Returning to the Light
The "Christmas Tree"—the vertical axis of light—is perhaps the most scientific symbol we have. It represents a multi-level system of universal patterns.
As Hiley and Maroney conclude, we cannot dismiss a reality just because it feels "counter-intuitive" to some small classical, limited boxes-for-senses. Instead, we must upgrade our intuition to a recognized Type of Intelligence with its own competencies.
The rules of the game have changed. We are no longer playing hopscotch on the pavement. We are climbing the Tree. And from the top, the view is perfectly clear.
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Why Intuition... Guess what, even the "father" of modern quantum mechanics (Bohm) defended that very continuity, the intuitive flow, which rationalists try to cut into pieces.
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Hiley, B. J., & Maroney, O. J. E. (2000). Consistent histories and the Bohm approach. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0009056