On scientific questions and economic-social strategies*
Herbert Arlt (Bio)
Among other texts, this essay is in the context of my studies on language machine translations since the 1970s, the design of an open search engine (1992), my design of a quantum computer (1995), my inventions of quantum processors and their software.
But this essay is also in the context of the 8 World Conferences that I have coordinated for INST since 1999 (starting with the world conference at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in 1999). Up to 7,000 participants from over 100 countries took part. At the center of the transdisciplinary conferences, in which scientists, artists from over five dozen disciplines participated, were languages, literatures, arts, sciences, research in a changing world – with new insights into nature and culture and possible social consequences.
In this context, I coordinated projects for UNESCO, the European Parliament, the EU, but also for municipalities and states. I was recognised as a strategic partner of the EU by the then EU Commission President Juncker.
Furthermore, the essay is in the context of the Quantum Flagship, the constitution of QuIC (Quantum Industry Consortium), the EU (including: Horizon).
In this context, I would like to present the following theses in the run-up to the 2nd Quantum conference and the conference Quantum Ambitions (21.2.2022) as part of the Frence Presidentship of the European Council:
1.Quantum physics – a recognized science
For a long time, quantum physics was met with great scepticism because physical findings were combined with questionable interpretations. Schrödinger’s cat is an example of an inability of physical representation in this context.(1)
Due to experiments by many, the Nobel Prize in Physics of 1918 (awarded to Max Planck in 1919 for his quantum research), the application of findings of quantum theories in current productions, quantum science has established itself worldwide as a part of the International Science Community.
2. Basic research
It has proven to be right that revolutionary progress can be made through basic research. It is not important to tell researchers which results are desired, but to draw conclusions for productions from the research results on nature and culture. This phase has now been reached. Nevertheless, the importance of basic research for now and in the future remains. It was and is the basis for the new possibilities.
3. Quantum Flagship
The constitution of the Falgship was an important step. The budget has now been doubled to 2 billion euros. Another 2 billion will be invested by Germany (Chancellor Merkel started her carrer with Quantum chemistry). Further private and public funding is expected to result in a total of 10 times the amount of investment from the EU with Quantum flagship in the EU. But fragmentation remains.
4. QuIC
An important step towards promoting production of strategic importance in the EU on the basis of scientific knowledge was established. However, actual steps of strategic importance for production have not yet been formulated. Because the propagation of the importance of quantum research is already largely outdated in the core. This is proven by the budgets of the EU, nation states, corporations, etc. Due to the “errors” resulting from the experiments, numerics and mechanics are fundamentally questioned. Hundreds of companies, corporations are ready. It is about the organization of production and its orientation on a new basis – beyond Numeric, Algorithm etc.
5. The 2nd Quantum Conference
It has the potential to formulate the EU’s strategic direction. To do this, however, the findings from previous research and investments would have to be taken into account and conclusions drawn from them. These findings would be of fundamental importance for new opportunities in the following areas, among others:
– Languages
– Artificial Intelligence/ Arts
– Medicine
– strategically important energy savings
– global financial system
– Defence of intellectual property
– new understanding of basic research
– Etc.
6. Numerics, algorithms and quantum physics
The previous findings of quantum science and the desired goals of their application are diametrically opposed to each other. It is generally accepted that results of quantum physics experiments are contrary to the findings of classical physics, but with terms such as quantum mechanics it seems that the decisive step has not yet been taken. Numerics, algorithms, mechanics were helpful for machine productions, but they do not represent matter, energy, waves. These are attempts of approchement. On the bases of these approchements the world changed.
7. The dominance of machines
Human culture has not been constituted as a numerical culture in tens of thousands of years. Rather, the importance of numerics goes hand in hand with shipping, machines, etc. But it is a reductionist culture that acquires its meaning through violence against people, against nature, and between groups and societies (including in war).
8. Languages, Arts, Artificial Intelligence
In the development of human culture, colors, tones, signs played a central role. For 100 years, the arts have warned of the dictatorship of machines. At the same time, however, people, even the arts, are subjected to the requirements of machines.
Of course, the “errors” in machine translations, in “quantum computers”, in virus research, etc., show that submission does not really work.
What is needed is a new approach to production that corresponds to the tens of thousands of years old cultures of the people.
9. Defending the findings
On the basis of the TAN figures, it can be shown that the current protective measures are not sufficient. A core problem is the horrendous process costs. To this end, I submitted proposals to QuIC as well as the Flagship Quantum and the EU Commission. It cannot be that innovation, scientific discourses are affected by an economic war.
10. The importance of production
Important for the defense of the findings is the production. At the same time, however, there is also the danger of perverting the results.
With the production, the interest arises to defend the findings, the inventions.
The biggest robbery at present takes place in the context of the skimming of knowledge that is publicly presented in academic discourse.
11.The need for appropriate framework conditions
The Second World War (nuclear research), the pandemic (vaccines) have shown that results can be achieved quickly when states or associations of states guarantee money for profit or the achievement of state goals.
However, digitization has also shown that corporations can guarantee their profits by states if their products are no longer competitive. Their production weaknesses result in classic interstate conflicts with military implications.
It is therefore of strategic importance from the outset to ensure the peaceful use of the findings of quantum technology.
In the military field, the findings have so far played a role in that the stealth program of the USA and its allies is called into question by quantum technology. But with 16 September and the announcement of AUKUS for the first time Quantum technology is mentioned as an instrument of offensive military program.
The experience with feudalism has shown that wars never bring lasting success. The world of bourgeois colonialism has also collapsed. And the world of imperialism (finance capital, arms companies) is also in retreat.
Above all, it is currently dangerous for humans that states and modes of production negate nature, even if countless public contributions point to the negative consequences.
Nature reacts with earthquakes (see nuclear weapons tests), with pandemics (see Dealing with animals), with heat, with floods (see industrial production). The greatest danger has still not been averted – the destruction of the world by a nuclear war. (The destructive potential of existing weapons would make it possible to destroy the world many times.)
The findings of quantum technology point new ways. But as Jura Soyfer shows in his play The End of the World, no technology as such brings salvation. Rather, it depends on the people, their societies – how they use technology, their living together.
* In the German version are more quotations and links. But they quote sources in German. And as theyse sources deal with “beaming” etc. it seems not to be relevant to translate these texts into English.
(1) The death of the cat has nothing to do with physics. It shows in my opinion only a reactionary thingking.