Veiled nonlocality, cosmic censorship, and local observations

A fundamental issue in quantum mechanics is the role of observational choices in studying a quantum system. As quantum mechanics, unlike classical physics, involves nonlocal correlations, the premise that consciousness has a quantum mechanical basis or correlate implies that its workings must also have a nonlocal component. The present work addresses the issue of nonlocality and we conclude that it can be explained away in observations of classical systems, in a similar fashion as naked singularities are explained away in observations in classical general relativity. We advance the view that both nonlocality in quantum mechanics, and naked singularities in general relativity, are special limiting cases that actually cannot be realized in local explanations of observations. We examine the question that if consciousness as an entity leaves a physical trace, then laboratory searches for such a trace should be carried out for nonlocality, where humans and other sentient subjects are involved, and where probabilities do not conform to local expectations. Therefore, starting with the idea that nonlocality may be veiled as one of the ways cosmic censorship operates, we further argue that in order to preserve the ordinary objective reality described by local realism and general relativity, veiled nonlocality and cosmic censorship are both indispensable operational aspects of the interactions of observers with physical systems. The approach outlined here has the potential of providing new insights into the problem of unifying quantum mechanics and general relativity by bringing in the role observation yielding an “objective” reality.