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ABSTRACT. David Bohm is a controversial figure in
physics. Now retired from
Since then his theories have stirred controversy. Most physicists do not accept them. Yet he wrestles with basic questions raised by contemporary quantum physics and does not escape it into a world of his own. Rather, he asks questions of the accepted physics and, using its techniques, tries to solve them. One of his principle drives is to clarify the idea of connectedness; he believes every thing connects with everything else. He finds it at the heart of quantum physics as it expresses it with the term nonlocality.
This book will point out what of Bohm's work is influential in main-line physics and what is considered fringe. It describes his various physical theories and continuing research interest in ideas he has played a major part in developing. I conclude that, while he has contributed a great deal of importance, the status of his hidden variables theory (the quantum potential theory) and his holomovement theory remains questionable. I do not believe the physics community will move significantly toward accepting them without their proving empirically superior to the conventional approach to quantum mechanics. I also separate his physics from those metaphysical popularizations of his ideas which appear to misinterpret them.
Hidden variables theories are one of the ways Bohm tries to understand and explain such quantum phenomena as nonlocality. Another is his holomovement or implicate order ideas. These center on the notion of unbroken wholeness. They deny the dominant picture of the world as made up of separate and independent parts.
The metaphysical beliefs which Bohm holds lie under as well as inspire his physics. I describe this metaphysical base, including the beliefs which could be called religious.
Since Bohm is often associated with Rupert Sheldrake and his theories of morphogenetic forms, I compare the thinking of the two. Sheldrake's ideas have their roots in the process philosophy of A. N. Whitehead, whereas Bohm's, while similar, addresses more fundamental questions.
I suggest Bohm is using his religion in his physics. Fritjof Capra is trying to do this by introducing and upholding the bootstrap theory because it is close to his Eastern mystical views. Both Bohm and Capra use their religion in their physics in two ways. One is to take the theories and concepts of religion as hypotheses for physics. The other is that their religious convictions also provide the motivation to pursue the physical theories and hypotheses.
The final chapter explores the relation between Bohm's holomovement metaphysics and theology. It examines the relation between science and theology in general, and the reactions of theologians to Bohm's work. There is one error often made in such evaluations, having to do with the way God's relation to the world is conceived. In conclusion I point out that Bohm's metaphysics has the potential for being developed into a theology.