From: lauren@quip.eecs.umich.edu (Brian T. Murray)
Subject: ki and science, part 2, the movie
Organization: University of Michigan EECS Dept., Ann Arbor, MI
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 19:01:38 GMT

I have been following the discussion about ki and science with some
interest.  There seem to be two aspects to ki: the physical and the
metaphysical.  The metaphysical view of ki is that of a life force
that flows and provides energy to living things, and this flow may be
altered and controlled by people with proper training and attitude.
As pointed out previously, this view of ki is difficult to quantify
for purposes of scientific analysis.  Because of this, there is
prejudice toward it in western scientific circles.

However, there is a physical aspect of ki - the way it manifests
itself in MA or medicine, etc.  The anecdotal evidence is
overwhelming.  At the very least, many people have experienced it in
simple exercises, e.g., the aikido exercise where one person (person
A) places their outstretched arm on another's shoulder (person B) and
B attempts to bend A's arm at the elbow.  With a some coaching and
practice, person A can generally achieve a state where they are using
ki to maintain a straight arm with little effort.  I submit that more
people have seen/experienced this than have seen a woman lift a car
off her trapped child.

I have no problem with the metaphysical aspect of ki.  I find the
concept of "life force" intuitively appealing.  I don't personally
care whether science ever gets around to studying it.  However, I find
the physical aspect of ki even more fascinating and I really would
like to have an understanding of what is going on.  Moreover, I think
that the link between the physical and the metaphysical is important
and worth exploring.  After minimal research (I plan to do more), I
propose the following physical concept of ki: autonomic response.  

In almost every physical demonstration of ki that I have seen or read
about (I am skeptical about telekinetic phenomena), what seems to be
taking place (to me) is a muscular/skeletal/circulatory/...
coordination that is beyond concious control - its autonomic, like a
heart beat.

For example, the aikido exercise described above can be explained as a
special coordination of the muscles of the arm to act together to
maintain position in a way that could not be done by simply tensing
the triceps.  Several different muscle groups are acting together.

Autonomic control of the muscular/skeletal system is a special state.
It can only be deliberately established by an indirect, or meta-level
of control.  This is the link between the metaphysical view of ki and
my proposed physical view.  The metaphysical view of ki provides the
model for establishing autonomic control.  By developing a proper
state of mind, and visualizing the flow of ki (the life force), the
body is controlled in a way similar to an airplane controlled by wire.
In modern aircraft, many layers of computer control separate the
physical control of the aircraft's surfaces (rudders, etc) from the
pilot's command.  Some aircraft are so unstable that they cannot be
controlled directly by humans.  When the pilot gives directions to
change the direction of the plane, these take the form of small
variations in an existing control program.  Most of the flying is done
"autonomically".

If my theory of the physical aspect of ki is correct (which I
sincerely doubt, but we all have to start somewhere), then it we
should be able to devise reasonable experiments to test it.  Good
science is built upon a hierarchy of theory/experiment scenarios, each
providing more information or refuting previous theories.  We don't
have to go for the holy grail on the first try.  Small science
preceeds big science.  Perhaps, to test the autonomic view of physical
ki, we could attempt to record brainwave patterns of MAs who
demonstrate superior ability to manipulate ki.  These could be
compared to patterns involving more concious motions.  I am winging it
here :-).

To summarize, I personally believe that there is such a thing as a
life force which can be called ki.  This metaphysical concept makes no
challenge to my other religious beliefs.  However, there is a physical
aspect to ki - its manifestation in demonstrations which can be
observed.  Moreover, this physical aspect of ki is linked to the
metaphysical in a way that is interesting and should be explored.  The
physical aspect should be amenable to the development of a theory such
as that given above (which may be full of crap).  Ideally, this latter
theory is outside of the realm of metaphysics and can be analyzed
without resorting to measuring radiation, quarks, etc.

Happy Holidays

brian

-- 
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* Brian T. Murray          |   LEARN something new every day   *
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