Yes, Ng Yu-Kwan’s phenomenology of pure vitality can be seen as compatible with certain ideas in quantum physics and contemporary cosmology, especially in how these fields approach the nature of reality, the interconnectedness of phenomena, and the role of observation.
1. Dynamic, Unified Essence: Quantum physics suggests that at a fundamental level, reality is not composed of solid, discrete entities but rather exists as fields of energy or potentiality that manifest in particular ways based on observation. Ng’s concept of “pure vitality” as an ever-active, dynamic force that underlies and unifies all phenomena resonates with this idea. In both frameworks, the observable world is an expression or manifestation of a deeper, more unified, and dynamic reality.
2. Non-Duality and Interdependence: Quantum entanglement and the non-locality of particles imply a level of connectedness that defies classical boundaries between objects. This aligns with Ng’s challenge to traditional dualisms, such as essence versus function. The idea that pure vitality contains both essence and function within itself is similar to how quantum entities do not fit neatly into classical categories, instead existing as interconnected expressions of a deeper field.
3. Observer Participation: In quantum physics, the observer plays an active role in shaping the reality observed (e.g., the collapse of a wave function). Similarly, Ng’s phenomenology recognizes the role of intuitive wisdom in perceiving and engaging with the phenomenal world. This concept aligns with the notion that consciousness, or at least some form of participatory awareness, is involved in the manifestation of reality—an idea that some interpretations of quantum mechanics and cosmology, like participatory realism, suggest.
4. Cosmology and the Origin of Phenomena: Contemporary cosmology proposes that the universe originated from a singularity or a unified state, expanding into the diversity of forms we observe today. Ng’s pure vitality could be likened to this primal state—a source that dynamically differentiates to create the variety of the observable world. Both perspectives suggest that what we observe is the transient expression of a unified, underlying reality.
While these parallels are not direct equivalences, they show how Ng’s phenomenology of pure vitality aligns conceptually with themes in quantum physics and cosmology. Both frameworks embrace a view of reality as interconnected, dynamic, and, in some ways, participatory. This compatibility suggests that philosophical concepts like pure vitality can provide a meaningful bridge for understanding the metaphysical implications of contemporary science, particularly in understanding reality as fundamentally unified and active.
