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The terms "Pre-Space," "Bohm," and "Hiley" are central to a highly unconventional and sophisticated interpretation of quantum mechanics and a unified theory of reality, primarily developed by physicist David Bohm and his long-time collaborator, Basil Hiley.
Here is a bullet-point gist of their interconnected concepts:
1. David Bohm & Basil Hiley's Core Framework
Ontological Interpretation / Pilot-Wave Theory: Bohm and Hiley developed an alternative to the standard Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. It posits the existence of a real, definite particle whose motion is guided by an omnipresent Quantum Potential field.
Implicate and Explicate Order:
Implicate (or Enfolded) Order: A deeper, non-manifest realm of reality where everything is undivided and interconnected.
1 This is the source of all things.Explicate (or Unfolded) Order: The visible, manifest, fragmented world of distinct objects and particles that we experience.
The universe is seen as a constant movement (Holomovement)
2 of enfolding and unfolding between these two orders.
2. Pre-Space (The Deeper Concept)
Pre-Space is the most radical concept proposed by Bohm and Hiley in their later work.
Definition: It is hypothesized to be a non-spatial, non-temporal algebraic structure that underlies both space-time and matter. It is a mathematical/conceptual domain out of which both the physical space and the particles in it emerge.
Motivation: They introduced Pre-Space as a deeper framework to address fundamental issues in physics, particularly the combination of quantum theory and relativity, which they felt could not be achieved within ordinary space-time concepts.
Connection to Implicate Order: Pre-Space is considered a more formal, mathematical description of the fundamental reality underlying the Implicate Order.
3. Connection to Consciousness
Bohm and Hiley's work often suggests a deep link between the fundamental nature of reality and consciousness.
3 The Quantum Potential and the underlying Implicate Order are often discussed in terms of containing Active Information, suggesting a proto-mental quality that guides all matter, potentially bridging the gap between mind and matter.
Excellent — now you’re reaching into the deepest layer of the comparison.
Both David Bohm’s “pre-space” (or pre-geometry) and the Vedantic notion of Brahman describe a dimensionless, timeless, undivided reality from which space, time, and matter emerge.
Let’s unpack this carefully and philosophically.
🌀 1. What Bohm Meant by “Pre-Space”
In Bohm’s later work (especially his 1980s–1990s writings), he went beyond even the “implicate order” and began speaking of something deeper still — which he sometimes called the “super-implicate order” or “pre-space”.
| Concept | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pre-space | A non-local, pre-geometric domain that is not spatial or temporal at all — space and time are derived phenomena that unfold from it. |
| Role in Reality | It is the source field from which the implicate order itself arises — the “ground” of all enfolding and unfolding. |
| Analogy | Like a quantum vacuum that is not empty but pregnant with all potential forms. |
| Implication | Even the implicate/explicate distinction dissolves here — it’s a realm beyond distinction, beyond structure. |
Bohm described this “pre-space” as “that which cannot be represented but from which representation arises.”
It’s the unmanifest background of all manifest phenomena.
🕉️ 2. Brahman in Vedanta
In Advaita Vedanta, Brahman is:
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Formless, spaceless, timeless, and infinite.
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Not an object within the universe but the very ground of being — the substratum of all existence and consciousness.
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Brahman | The absolute reality — beyond name, form, space, and time (desha-kala-nimitta). |
| Maya / Prakriti | The principle by which Brahman appears as the manifest universe. |
| Creation | Not creation ex nihilo but emanation — the unfolding of what is already implicit in Brahman. |
| Experience | Realized directly through insight (jnana) — knowing “I am That” (Aham Brahmasmi). |
From this standpoint, space and time are mental constructs — Brahman is the field within which they appear, but is not conditioned by them.
⚛️ 3. Parallels Between Pre-Space and Brahman
| Theme | Bohm’s “Pre-Space” | Vedantic “Brahman” |
|---|---|---|
| Ontological Level | The most fundamental order — beyond implicate and explicate. | The absolute reality — beyond manifestation and illusion. |
| Nature | Non-spatial, non-temporal, infinite potential. | Spaceless, timeless, infinite consciousness. |
| Function | Source of all manifest orders and physical laws. | Source and substance of all existence and consciousness. |
| Relation to Space-Time | Space-time is derived from pre-space. | Space-time arises through Maya as appearance within Brahman. |
| Knowability | Not directly representable by thought or mathematics. | Beyond mind and language (neti neti — “not this, not that”). |
| Process of Manifestation | Enfolding–unfolding dynamic gives rise to the explicate order. | Brahman self-manifests as creation through Maya. |
| Wholeness | All distinctions dissolve — reality as pure process. | Non-dual reality — Advaita. |
💡 4. Key Philosophical Resonance
Both Bohm and the Upanishadic seers intuited that:
The apparent “world in space” is not ultimate reality —
but a projection from a deeper, spaceless unity.
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Bohm calls this “pre-space”, an unbroken totality of potential.
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Vedanta calls this “Brahman”, the infinite ground of being and consciousness.
In both views:
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Space and time are emergent, not fundamental.
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The universe is a dynamic revelation of something that transcends form.
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Ultimate reality is wholeness without separation, beyond measure.
🌺 5. Subtle Distinction
| Bohm | Vedanta |
|---|---|
| He describes the process by which space, time, and matter unfold from a deeper order — a scientific metaphysics. | Vedanta describes the essence of reality as pure being-consciousness — a spiritual metaphysics. |
| Consciousness may emerge from deeper implicate processes. | Consciousness is the ultimate reality (Brahman). |
| Grounded in quantum theory and epistemology. | Grounded in direct metaphysical realization. |
So — Bohm’s “pre-space” could be seen as the dynamic face of Brahman,
whereas Brahman itself in Advaita is changeless, pure being — beyond even process.
If we use Hindu terms:
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Brahman (Nirguna) — the unmanifest, absolute.
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Shakti / Maya — the dynamic creative aspect (closest to Bohm’s “pre-space”).
🕯️ 6. Unified Vision
Both perspectives converge in a single intuition:
There is a dimensionless ground of being — beyond all space and time —
that continually gives rise to the universe of forms.
Or as the Mundaka Upanishad puts it:
“As sparks from a fire, so from Brahman arise all beings,
and into Brahman they return.”
And as Bohm wrote:
“The totality is not static but a dynamic wholeness in flowing movement,
the source of all that is manifest.”
Would you like me to create a visual cosmological map showing
Brahman ↔ Pre-Space ↔ Implicate Order ↔ Explicate Order,
illustrating how each level corresponds to the next?
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