“FRINGE” AND DR. WALTER BISHOP: SCHIZOPHRENIA & ...
Many of you are aware that I only within the last few months discovered the television science fiction series "Fringe," with Australian actor John Noble playing a (quite) derranged American "mad scientist" named Dr Walter Bishop, dabbling in just about every area of scientific madness one can think of, madness of such a nature that one might be tempted as I am to view the whole series as a kind of themed exploration of transhumanism. Indeed, it was my co-author of Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas, Dr. Scott deHart, who found the series, and put me on to it. As the series unfolds, one learns that Dr Walter Bishop epitomizes the academic scientist with one foot (formerly) in the American "breakaway research" establishment, and the series subtly explores all types of scientist: corporate scientists, independent researchers working out of their basements or old warehouses. One of Bishop's colleagues is the equally deranged and morally ambiguous if not conflicted Dr William Bell, played by Leonard Nimoy in what surely must have been a casting coup for the producers of the series, and deliberately and subtly exploiting all the resonances of Mr. Spock, the paragon of cold rational scientific and emotionless logic that Mr. Nimoy brings with him. (Bell, incidentally, is head of a multinational corporation called Massive Dynamic, which at one point in the series, is strongly suggested to be a kind of "sovereign nation" or breakaway civilization in its own right.)
Nimoy's character, William Bell has other resonances as well, not the least of which is his last name, Bell, for as the series unfolds, a major theme becomes that of multiverse theory, the version of quantum mechanics that maintains that there are multiple parallel universes, each brought into being by the different choices we observers make along the pathway of our lives. Bell the character could thus be taken as a play on Irish physicist John Stuart Bell who played such a significant role in the elaboration of current theoretical physics with his non-locality theorem. For the series "Fringe," non-locality plays a major thematic role, as the individual characters of the series discover in some instances that they have "doubles" living their own lives in a parallel universe, with which they've had contact. The doubles are both infuriatingly similar in their personalities to the "real world" counterparts, and yet, subtly different.
The series exploits the theme dramatically by posing the question "who are we?" and "what is personhood" in the context of multiverse theory. As the series unfolds, it is revealed that some people have a psychic ability to "avoid the ineluctable laws of physics" and the enormous energies that would be required to bridge to a parallel universe, and simply use their consciousness to establish contact with other universes and indeed enter them.
For those paying attention, the series is saying that consciousness itself is the membrane or common surface between worlds, and that under certain conditions(drug use for example, shades of Timothy Leary!), it is able to enter those worlds...
Now all this raises another possibility, explored by the series, namely, that certain types of mental disorder might not be mental disorders at all, but rather, the behavior signatures of people with one foot in "our" world, and another foot in "another" equally real physical world, just around the dimensional corner, so to speak.
But wait, there's more!
If all this sounds like wild high octane speculation, the fun stuff of science fiction on television, it is... except, of course, that it isn't:
Dr. Joseph Valks – Do Schizophrenics Live in Parallel Universes?
It was inevitable that sooner or later multiverse theory in physics should shake hands with multiverse behavioral disorders in psychology. As the article notes, such experiences often leave the individual experiencing them fundamentally transformed in ways that are otherwise inexplicable, such as the manifestation of such abilities that were not there before (playing a musical instrument without any prior musical experience, for example. This was explored in "Fringe" as well.)
I am far from suggesting that such "fairy tale physics" and "fairy tale psychology" should be the normal order of the day; but neither should they be summarily dismissed. Such things should be studied. Indeed, the idea of such a link between "multiple personality disorders" and multiverse theory has already been suggested in a round-about way by remote veiwing. As American physicist Hal Puthoff, who was involved in that project, observed and even wrote a paper, humans do seem to have some curious ability to access information at remote distances without any(prior) physical contact with the site or information. John Stuart Bell, had he known of it, would perhaps have loved the idea. The idea should be tested...
...or should it? If the television series is any indicator, it probably already has been... and if the series is any indicator, it can result in a form of madness.
See you on the flip side.
(My thanks to Mr. G.B. who shared the Valk article with me and with the readers here.)
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Fringe broadcast May 2010: “On the other side all communications are monitored”.
I lived through all of the Fringe episodes, from start to finish, religiously.
As for parallel realms, the closest Hollywood mimicry capable of conveying this idiom, in my opinion, was the film: Avatar.
In the Vedic tradition, an Avatar is a higher order consciousness that incarnates into the vehicle (body – chariot) of a lower vibratory realm. (See also Merkabah Mysticism)
To reach this state, it is necessary to learn how to Breathe without Thought (Pranayama). The Pranayama technique is designed to shut the sensory windows through which mundane thoughts stir, thus keeping the mind anchored, preventing assent.
Scientific consultant to J.J. Abrams & Co. is Ricardo Gil Da Costa of the Salk Institute, who deals with Integrative Brain Imaging Systems and such like
The Jesus story of casting the demons into the herd of swine never really made any sense to me. Was it an alagory of the pig gods (common in ancient Egypt), was it limbic meta states that needed another limbic host to survive or were they ‘spirits’ from a finer less dense parallel universe?
Maybe parallel universes can only be accessed astrally (demons?) as it seems impossible for a physical being to be able to cross timelines without affecting their past time lines.
just as an aside: has anyone for one second asked themselves why the lead character is named “Bishop”?- I think something is being thrown right in our faces and because it’s so blatant we ignore/refuse to see it
Like James T. Kirk: “Kirk” is the German word (not sure of the spelling) for church, right?
hey, bdw, ‘Kirche’ is the correct German spelling for church- but doesn’t matter- you’re obviously trying to connect dots (like me) which I think is good-
please continue to be well- I truly respect your postings-
Larry
this is very challenging subject-
according to Graham Hancock our bodies produce an hallucinogen known as DMT but at the same time our stomachs produce an enzyme that neutralizes the DMT (makes one wonder why our bodies produce DMT in the first place only to have it subsequently neutralized)-
could it be that the bodies of people with “labeled” psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, disassociative identity disorder, etc. (mind-controlled people excluded) aren’t producing enough (or none whatsoever) of the enzyme that neutralizes DMT?-
I’d bet at least a few in higher places in the Medical Associations/Pharmaceutical Industries of the world know the answer but they ain’t talkin’-
please stay well all-
Larry
Well,the creator is Mr. J.J. Abrams…he hinted numerous times in his series and movies that he knows something.I mean,look at the first scene of the second Star Trek starting on Nibiru.He’s either making fun of all the Planet X aficionados or telling something to those who know.Or maybe both.
Are you already at the point where Walter Bishops grandfather comes into the series,SS scientist,Mr Walther Bischoff? Hint hint…
Alternate states of reality (aka “dimensions” in common parlance) are rather permeable and easy enough to access but other universes, I don’t think so.
We all are of and anchored in this universe and I don’t think one slips so easily into a “parallel” one. However, one can easily enough slip into other “dimensions” for a time given the propensity, but I don’t perceive these as entirely foreign to our commonly shared universe, they are just an occulted protion of it.
In fact, all my personal experiences jive completely with the gnostic, vedic and hindu understandings of these “altered states of consciousness” as described in their sacred literature. And I knew next to nothing about them beforehand, but would google what I’d experienced afterward and would repeatedly learn that my experiences were exemplary of an ancient lineage of spiritual lore going back into the mists of prehistory.
So, though I lack any serious study of these traditions, personally I have experienced much of their most “out there” traditions, and for me this indicates that our base reality is but one of several widely recognized, historical alternative states of consciousness. These are by their nature ephemeral, though I can easily comprehend that schizophrenics are simply caught in that “other world,” which is above all an internal one. It surely isn’t a parallel universe.
I know that Leo McKearn of Rumpole of the Bailley was a actor from Australia . But I thought John Noble is Canadian. Parallel universes science fiction is one of my favorite story lines so once again science is studying this the possibility that there might be something to this idea. And the connection to Schizophrenia and parallel universes looks fascinating I hope there will be follow up.
Hi Marcos:
Nope Mr. Noble is from the land downunder, not to coin a pun. I loved the “Rumpole” series and I don’t believe it was screened in the US.
I have not seen “Fringe” so really can’t comment on it, but Hollywood does seem to come out with some mind bending stuff over the years. If anybody wants to get close to what Joseph is saying, then can I suggest listening to the RIR interview with Dr. Rupert Sheldrake.
Rumpole was a wonderful character and I really enjoyed watching the ‘Rumpole of the Bailey’ series which was aired here on PBS years ago. I also read every one of John Mortimer’s books which were the basis for the television series. Videos can be found on youtube.
Hey Marcos, have you seen Leo McKearn as Number Two in The Prisoner? Patrick MacGoohan as Number Six? “I am not a number, I am a free man!”
Yes Tim H I loved The Prisoner do you know about a rumored Red Rover episode where the rovers went about terminating residents of the Village was there such a episode.
Vignette from a science lab . . or . . Ode to John Bell
Supra light’s speed didn’t dovetail that well
The Relatavists sneered it all to hell
“What we needs a new theorem”
The Quantums said, “that will steer’em
To the non local musings of Bell”
Joseph and chat room denizens a furlough from this arctic wasteland in search of a shamanic mentor stirring a kettle of ayahuasca might be a welcome change right about now. Wonder if we’d have enough takers here at High Octane Central to fill up a wide body excursion down to Rio with a couple of connectors and a float trip up the Amazon.
Graham Hancock the author of “Entangled”, a tale with a multiverse plot, is on such an annual or is it semiannual maintenance program.
Imagine an exponential growth in this new tourist industry where the newly enlightened time ‘n space travelers would become avid defenders of what remains of the largest non boreal stand in the world. Richard Branson might even consider launching a Virgin Amazonia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9NSpAdGxgU
There is “something” to it.
But it is not as concrete, as separate, in the “hard” sense.
More in the perceptive sense.
Yes, Horatio, there are more things going on the “fringe” than…
Hey Joseph:
I am certainly no expert, and you are certainly more well-read in physics than I am, but my impression is that “multiverse theory” (as used by Physics and Cosmology) is not the same thing as the “many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics” (which you seem to be talking about).
Thanks for the tip – waiting in the meantime for it to get to U-tube free of charge…
Dana, Joseph –
http://www.free-tv-video-online.me/internet/fringe/
All five series (complete) are available here and you can just roll from one episode into another if you have the time.
I recommend streaming from ‘putlocker’, ‘vidxden’ or ‘gorillavid’ when available.
You will have to negotiate a few pop ups before you get going, but once you get the hang of it it’s not bad. It’s a great site form catching up with older shows that aren’t readily watchable anymore.
Thanks for the ‘Fringe’ episodes link, Enlil. I’ve been wanting to see some of them since Dr. Walter Bishop has been showing up in the chat room, asking very interesting questions. I hope there’s a chat this Friday. Before then I’ll try to watch a couple of episodes.
In the meantime, I did wonder if the Bell character could also be a reference to the late, gifted, very eccentric Dr Fred Bell who was a regular on C2C. I could see Nimoy playing such a part. Dr Fred Bell dabbled in areas that many thought of as ‘fairy tale physics’ and claimed to have built a time machine and a holographic projector to manipulate space/time. Apparently he also worked with Operation Paperclip scientists von Braun and a Dr. Katz. More about him here: http://www.pyradyne.com/dr-fred-bell/
My pleasure, Margaret. The popups can be a bit of a pain but once you get rid of them the stream is uninterupted once the video starts.
The good thing, as I said is that you can just roll into the next one with no effort at all. It’s a good site for watching out of date+ current stuff. Right now I’m watching The Blacklist. Here in Australia wer’re several weeks behind the US programming schedule. It’s a good show.
Thanks
http://www.oprah.com/health/The-7-Year-Old-Schizophrenic/1
In 2009 Oprah interviewed the family who are forced to live in two separate apartments for the little brother’s safety. The little girl’s connection with an alternate world is chilling.
My point? I’ve heard from good friends who are South Dakota citizens that the degree of separation in SD is less than Kevin Bacon’s six. Like 4? So what if Oprah and Dr. Farrell are on to something?
Synesthesia happens.