How Zach Braff Made Me Consider Quantum Morality

Yesterday I read this blog about Zach Braff's Kickstarter project:

http://kenlevine.blogspot.ca/2013/05/i-wont-give-zach-braff-one-dime.html

I felt that it had some excellent points, and it moved a passion in me to criticize those with power. If you were on my Facebook page, you may have seen the link, and participated in the discussion, you saw that initially I used some pretty strong language against Mr. Braff. My biggest issue with Mr Braff's campaign, and it remains one, is that his celebrity status may draw attention away from people who don't have star-power. There's no real way to quantify what this would mean in actual dollars contributed, but I think it's hard to deny that Mr Braff does get a leg up given his previous body of work. I shared this blog with a bunch of people, but most notably a friend of mine who is about to launch an Indiegogo campaign for a web series. I was somewhat dismayed at his tepid response, as I thought the piece was at least relevant to his interests. We talked a little bit about it, and this is the point he made to me,

"Guy brought up some good points, but I am trying really hard these days to not waste any energy on being against anything. To many things I am for, not least of which is creating."

I've been rolling this thought around quite a bit, and in fact that's why I didn't end up writing a post yesterday. My mind works in what I assume is a quirky way (never having had another mind, I really can't say what's quirky and what's normal). The above statement got me thinking about the circular nature of our thoughts and actions. We've all heard the axiom "do unto others", and my father was particularly fond of citing the German turn on the idea which translates roughly as what you call into the forest is what echoes back. Call it karma, justice, or whatever you will, it would seem that humans have known for a long time that there is a reciprocity, both to the good and to the ill, built into us and possibly into the universe. As I once saw argued on The Big Bang Theory, karma is practically Newtonian physics played out through our actions. And physics you can't escape.

There's an interesting conundrum in quantum physics, and it's known as the Measurement Problem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measurement_problem). The long and short of the issue is that observation changes the outcome of an experiment. There are all kinds of practical issues to wrestle with if you're trying to do quantum physics, but there are also some very interesting metaphysical implications to this fact of the universe. So far as we know, we're the only species conducting experiments and seeking out knowledge actively. I would argue that we are the only species we know of that can act as a true observer, or at least that we should assume as much because of our inability to communicate complex ideas with any other species. To that end, our observation effects the universe, although we might not be able to measure it. Our observation may be creating the universe, after a fashion, as our expectations impose (but without our willing it) rules and structures onto the very smallest and most fundamental parts of existence. Ironic that we may posses such power, but inherently lack the ability to direct it. But this does illustrate how, in a very real way, what we say and do will impact reality, affecting the conditions of our existence. We are burdened then with the fact that we are all co-creators not only of our social and economic realities, but of the physical world itself. We are bound then, to promote and encourage creation and creative acts, regardless of their source, because we are all creators. Because it is what we do, whether we want to or not.

But it would be easy if I could reconcile myself to this fact without obstruction, but I can't. I can't because there is a dynamic of power involved, and I firmly believe that power requires criticism. I don't see how we can hope to live responsibly if we do not question and call out privilege. That's not to say we should place blame on those with privilege, but rather draw one another into debate over what we consider to be right and moral. That debate should never really end, and should create more questions than answers. So, I'm left feeling my favorite emotion; ambivalence. 

I don't know if I was right by my association with Mr. Levine's position. I only know that I was never going to be putting my money into Mr Braff's project, and felt that Mr Levine presented a compelling case against doing so. But to sooth my karmic ache, to feel as though I have addressed each angle on this issue I am compelled to, I had to check out the Kickstarter for "Wish I Was Here". Mr Braff writes eloquently and makes a compelling case for why he rejected funding from traditional studio models, but I'm still not moved to contribute.

But this is one of the best images I've ever seen.

In the end, everyone will have to decide for themselves. And to that end, to balance the scales and to hope that when my echo comes around it's both positive and critical, here's the link to Mr Braff's  project. I won't be contributing, but I appreciate that perhaps this has proven an opportunity for me to grow.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1869987317/wish-i-was-here-1?ref=live