Debunking Quantum Woo: A Lay Person's Guide

[Concordiscord]

Greetings to all,

Firstly, I am not a physicist. On the contrary, I am a mere lay person who just happens to be somewhat interested in certain aspects of science.

Now, as a lay person with little to no familiarity with the technical underpinnings of your discipline, I would like to inquire into the matter of quantum woo.

My question runs more or less as follows:

Given the widespread and pernicious abuse/distortion of terms and concepts derived from the field of physics by new-age zealots, is there not perhaps a readily accessible but rigorous source wherein major new-age misunderstandings, misappropriations and misrepresentations of physics are systematically analyzed and debunked? If so, I would really like to get my hands on such material!

Hence, in an effort to remain relatively informed on such matters (so as not to fall prey to the clutches of quantum woo, and so as to be capable of effectively countering proponents of the selfsame quackery), I would like to ask for a list of such items as may satisfy my respective needs.

Kind regards!

 

[phinds]

I admire your goal, but caution you that you will NOT be able to counter the proponents of quantum woo. The adherents of such utter garbage as is put out by the Deepak Chopra's of the world are not amenable to factual counter arguments. They LIKE the nonsense. It resonates with their ignorance in some way that I don't understand but have observed.

On the other hand, it is so patently nonsensical that serious physicists don't spend it any time trying to debunk it.

That said, I suspect that there are sites that have the kind of thing you are looking for. I don't know of any but probably others here do.

 

[Concordiscord]

I admire your goal, but caution you that you will NOT be able to counter the proponents of quantum woo. The adherents of such utter garbage as is put out by the Deepak Chopra's of the world are not amenable to factual counter arguments. They LIKE the nonsense. It resonates with their ignorance in some way that I don't understand but have observed.

On the other hand, it is so patently nonsensical that serious physicists don't spend it any time trying to debunk it.

That said, I suspect that there are sites that have the kind of thing you are looking for. I don't know of any but probably others here do.

Thanks for the response.

Indeed, it would appear that the Chopra's of the world are quite impervious to the weighty punch of unadorned facticity, and it is perhaps equally true that any attempt at reforming an ardent quantum wooist might inevitably result in lamentable futility, but it is nonetheless imperative to remain acutely aware of the particular manner in which such distortions manage to circulate our shared cultural imaginary, if only for the sake of oneself!