“In the enfolded [or implicate] order, space and time are no longer the dominant factors determining the relationships of dependence or independence of different elements. Rather, an entirely different sort of basic connection of elements is possible, from which our ordinary notions of space and time, along with those of separately existent material particles, are abstracted as forms derived from the deeper order. These ordinary notions in fact appear in what is called the “explicate” or “unfolded” order, which is a special and distinguished form contained within the general totality of all the implicate orders” – David Bohm

I recently watched the wonderful documentary Infinite Potential: The Life & Ideas of David Bohm. I was aware of Bohm before seeing the movie because he was often cited to me by philosophers as being a relatively contemporary theoretical physicist who actually took Alfred North Whitehead’s ideas seriously. This is no more evident than in the very close proximity of Bohm’s notion of explicate and implicate order and Whitehead’s ideas surrounding internal and external relations. It also dawned on me, upon viewing the film, just how potentially world-changing, imaginative, and inspiring these closely related ideas are, so much so that I impulsively created an internal relations logo; who knows, maybe it would make a good t-shirt… 🤷

Anyway, suffice it to say that learning more about Bohm, and being reminded that he’s from Luzerne County in Pennsylvania like me, AND newly discovering that he notoriously had communist affiliations, has provided me with an even greater affinity for him ❤️

Tags:Alfred North WhiteheadDaivd BohmImpicate OrderInfinite PotentialInternal Relationsphysicsprocess philosphyQuantum