Abstract
This paper explores the possibility of connecting quantum physics, sociology, and philosophy through the concept of quantum monads. Inspired by Leibniz's Monadology and the mathematical structure of Hilbert space, a theoretical model is presented that describes the entanglement of individual and societal states. Using examples from psychology, such as the superposition of emotional states in depression, and social crises, such as the war in Ukraine, the applicability of quantum mechanical principles to social systems is discussed. The paper argues that societal processes can be understood as probability waves, which can be directed into a coherent or decoherent future through deliberate accentuation. This interdisciplinary approach opens new perspectives for a quantum sociology of entangled monads, fostering dialogue between mathematics, physics, sociology, and metaphysics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14906658
Quantum Physics and Social Systems
Can mathematics, quantum physics, sociology, and philosophy be combined to create a coherent expansion of our world knowledge?
Quantum physics is based on the fundamental assumption that the set of possible states of a quantum mechanical system has the structure of a Hilbert space. This implies a linear structure in which states can be superimposed through linear combinations, thereby opening up a dynamic state space—mathematically precisely described through the work of David Hilbert.
Sociology, on the other hand, examines social systems and their internal state spaces from an entirely different perspective. Concepts of modern societies, as developed by Talcott Parsons and Niklas Luhmann, provide a theoretical foundation for analyzing the complex interactions of social actors on both the macro and micro levels. Just as probability waves are superimposed in quantum physics, sociological system states can be described as being shaped by historical events, collective memories, and individual experiences.
Finally, philosophy opens up yet another state space—one that often transcends the boundaries of direct knowledge. Particularly in metaphysics, the interpenetration of different dimensions of reality is explored. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, in his Monadology, describes a universal structure of indivisible, individual entities—monads:
"We experience within ourselves a state in which we remember nothing and have no distinct perception, as in the case of a fainting fit or deep, dreamless sleep. In this state, the soul does not markedly differ from a mere monad. But since this state does not last, and the soul emerges from it again, it must be something more." (Leibniz)
This initial overview already reveals the complexity of attempting to define a higher-order state space that integrates quantum physics, sociology, and philosophy equally. To maintain focus, this paper will primarily examine the applicability of quantum entanglement principles to emotional and societal processes.
The Entanglement of Emotional States
A contemporary example of the dynamic superposition of states can be found in the writings of the French philosopher Julien De Sanctis, who recently published an essay on his experience with depression. He describes his psychological state as a kind of metaphysical decoupling from the world:
"A few days after our return from Japan, I realized that the world had stopped nourishing me. Not that it had suddenly become stingy, but I was no longer able to bite into its flesh and harvest its juice. My hunger for vitality had simply disappeared as flavors and their appetites vanished. Depression is a withering. It brutally folds us in, dries out our taste, suffocates our desire, drains our strength, and throws us into an arena without gladiators. No enemy on the horizon, no opponent. There is only you and your loneliness, you and this suffering of absurd violence. Depression is no longer truly of this world, for once it has taken hold, it transcends the specific circumstances that gradually produced it and plunges one into a beyond where there is no horizon other than despair—in short: a non-world." (Julien De Sanctis, "Dying Until It Gets Better – Saying and Thinking Depression," Philosophie Magazin, June 15, 2023)
De Sanctis describes a pattern that can be mapped onto quantum mechanical principles: Two different states—his previous happiness and his present despair—initially coexist in a kind of superposition. Only through conscious focus on the negative state does this superposition collapse, and the psychological system "chooses" the depressive reality. This dynamic is reminiscent of Schrödinger’s cat paradox: as long as no external observer determines the state, the system remains in a probabilistic superposition.
However, this mechanism is not only applicable to individual consciousness processes but also to larger social systems. When collective trauma, societal narratives, and historical experiences overlap, the question arises: How much suffering can a society accumulate before its survival is at risk?
The Applicability to Social Processes
The Russian invasion of Ukraine provides an example of a state of societal entanglement: People in Ukraine exist both in a state of war and in an ongoing civil existence. In this tension, parallel realities emerge—on the one hand, the brutal immediacy of the struggle for survival, and on the other, the need for normality.
The question of how a society can heal after massive collective trauma could be examined through quantum sociological considerations using probability distributions:
- Under what conditions does a social state "collapse" into a constructive or destructive future?
- Which parameters influence whether a society develops resilience or continues to destabilize?
Practical Applications and Future Development
Simulation of Quantum-Sociological States
- Agent-based models (ABM) or AI-powered neural networks could simulate scenarios where social groups act as "entangled" agents.
- Superposition of competing narratives could be modeled to analyze when a state collapse occurs, leading to a coherent societal direction.
- The Interaction-Energy Quotient (IEQ) Theory could serve as a measure for coherent and decoherent social states.
Measuring Social Decoherence in Crisis Situations
- The theory could be applied in political sociology to examine how collective trauma leads to societal division (decoherence) or resilience (coherent entanglement).
IEQ Approach: Developing an Interaction-Energy Quotient for Quantum Monads
- A key step is integrating the Interaction-Energy Quotient (IEQ), originally developed for quantifying AI interactions.
- By combining IEQ with quantum mechanical concepts such as coherence and decoherence, a mathematical framework for describing social and psychological processes as energetic states could be developed.
Future Prospects
The integration of quantum physics, social sciences, and metaphysics is still in its infancy, but early research suggests that quantum concepts could offer deeper insights into consciousness and social structures. A next step could be the development of a formal mathematical description of quantum monad interactions and the first test simulations with the IEQ model.
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