Escaping the Boolean Bore

This past week, I’ve been really trying to digest what quantum logic is all about. The complexity and abstract nature of it all can get really muddled, really quickly. It’s a concept like infinity. We all accept infinity as a legitimate mathematical “number”, but as powerful as our brains are, we still struggle to actually wrap our mind over the concept of infinite units of anything. The same goes for quantum logic. Evidence exists, the theories and math support quantum logic and science, we can accept that it’s a real thing, but our brains just don’t click with it immediately. They like being stuck in the box of classic AND, OR, and NOR type logic. So here we live. Is this by biological design? Were we hardwired to think in classical yes/no, right/wrong logic? Perhaps… but I’d like to offer a second opinion that explains why we are just not that great at understanding quantum logic, how we can transcend past Boolean logic, and why it even matters so dang much in the first place. Hear me out.

Boolean logic comes so naturally to humans because it is safe. The answer is concrete and simple. You get the right answer or you don’t, something is good or bad, she loves you, she loves you not. Our brains loooove thinking this way because we find security and comfort pretending that life is just a sequence of clear and concise events. But life is not a nice paved road with no potholes and perfectly fresh painted lines and never any traffic. Lao Tzu teaches that misfortune is part of the human condition, and that things aren’t always easy-peasy lemon squeezy. Maybe Lao Tzu is a little more eloquent and original with words, but you get the gist. Binary logic does a pretty lackluster job of depicting the realness and quirkiness and randomness of living. Quantum logic, however, has no set direction, expectation, or pattern. It can actually allow us to more accurately define the crazy and limitless and wacky experience we all live through every day. Quantum logic is an untamed jungle. Except the jungle is on the moon. And the tigers probably talk. 

Okay, so maybe I’m exaggerating, but life is pretty dang unpredictable. The concrete “is” or “isn’t”-ness of binary logic can’t encompass the human experiences like the “is-ish but also isn’t-ish”-ness that quantum logic can. Daniel Priestley, an entrepreneur, author, and self-proclaimed badass says, “In a fast changing world, anyone who thinks they have clear cut answers about the future is shutting down their ability to see what’s actually happening and respond accordingly. Likewise, anyone who hesitates while they look for a well defined path will get left behind.” Essentially, he’s arguing that people can’t afford think in binary, especially if they want to be successful. There are too many details that get lost in the stark contrasts of black and white.

So how, exactly, do we climb our way out of The Boolean Bore? How can we utilize all the shades of black-ish, white-ish greys of quantum thinking? How do we start drawing portraits instead of smiley faces? First, we must understand why we're so good at thinking in binary and so not good at thinking any other way. Like I mentioned, I don’t believe we were biologically programmed to think in only black and white. Instead, I believe we have been culturally conditioned into accepting classical logic as the norm. So, in order to experience the full spectrum that quantum logic can provide, we have to reject logical shmogical logic. The best answer I’ve come up with is to just make an effort to practice. Practice quantum thinking, notice examples in the passing day, recognize quantum logic as legitimate, and embrace the crazy. However, it is not enough to practice, notice, recognize, and embrace quantum logic solo. A cultural paradigm shift is not going to happen by practicing alone. We have to avidly share these experiences, make the effort to challenge, engage, teach, and lead others through the talking tiger moon jungle of quantum thinking.