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Questions tagged [quantum-physics]
166 questions
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In which way does quantum mechanics disprove determinism?
I've heard this pop up in a discussion with my physicist/engineer roommates, but didn't care to ask at the time. Now I'm mighty curious about it. Wikipedia doesn't really seem to say much on this issue.
From what I understand about the Uncertainty…
glifchits
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Why is the complex number an integral part of physical reality?
In modern physics, the quantum wave distribution function necessarily uses complex numbers to represent itself. If physics defines the physical reality, then what we are saying by the statement above is that the reality is made up of immeasurable…
Dheeraj Verma
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What are some good books about the philosophy of quantum mechanics?
I am fascinated about the implications of quantum mechanics to philosophy. Where can I find good references to the philosophy of quantum mechanics, and its implications for realism/antirealism, holism, contextuality, causality, determinism,…
Kaplan
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Can a lack of knowledge or understanding invalidate a positive claim?
Consider the example of causal determinism. It can be phrased in many ways, all with identical meaning:
- The idea that "every event, including human cognition and behavior, decision and action, is causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior…
stoicfury
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How does Penrose defeat the computational theory of mind?
In Shadows Of The Mind Roger Penrose puts forth a Gödelian argument against the computational theory of mind. He then goes on to suggest that quantum mechanics plays a central role in the realization of human consciousness. It is suggested that the…
Not_Here
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Has quantum mechanics destroyed the fundaments of logical reasoning?
In quantum mechanics it is thought to be possible that something could be at two places at the same time. But if that is really the case then perhaps law of non-contradiction is no longer valid.
So to what level are the fundamentals of logic really…
Marijn
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How does Quantum Mechanics affect the modern account of free will and determinism?
In the edition of Feb/Mar 2016 of the Philosophy Now Magazine says:
Under Feel Free to Differ it says:
[...] Determinism itself comes in different flavours. Hard determinism
of the most absolute sort is the theory that the entire history of the
…
Edwin Dalorzo
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Is Conway-Kochen's "free will" theorem about quantum measurements an argument for panpsychism?
Conway and Kochen have proved a theorem about free will (no to be confused with the related Kochen–Specker theorem, which rules out hidden variables), which states that if we have a type of libertarian free will (our present actions are to some…
Alexander S King
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Does thermal time hypothesis finally resolve Zeno's paradox?
Is Time Just A Trick Of The Mind? (read article)
Carlo Rovelli, one of the founder of Loop Quantum Gravity theory likes to think so. Furthermore wikipedia entry highlights:
This position has lead him to face the following problem: if time is not…
user1207
10
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2 answers
What is the ontological status of information that is permanently inaccessible to any conceivable observer?
Rovelli & others, in Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM) take the simple ontological picture of the Copenhagen Picture and relativise it. This is what I was suggesting in this question, though I was looking for a specific mathematical treatment.
In…
Mozibur Ullah
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Can the observer be the observed?
As a supplement to this question as to whether particles can be observers, supposing that the answer is yes. One could suppose a setup where particle A is observing particle B, but what to stop us switching viewpoints around here and supposing…
Mozibur Ullah
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What do Philosophers think about the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics?
One of the interpretations of quantum mechanics is the Many Worlds Interpretation which basically states that the universe as a whole develops like an unobserved quantum system, and any observation effects ("collapse of the wave function") are…
celtschk
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What are the philosophical implications of the Higgs mechanism in theoretical physics?
The higgs mechanism is a mechanism by which gives gauge bosons their mass, by absorbing the goldstone bosons appearing in the goldstone theorem. I found this mechanism very mathematically beautiful, but what philosophical implications can you draw…
user1577
9
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2 answers
Is compatibilism still considered a valid approach to free will?
Has the Free Will Theorem of Conway and Kochen been taken seriously by the philosophical community? Is compatibilism still considered a valid approach to free will?
Robert Haraway
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What would a quantum interpretation without ontology be like?
Luboš Motl keeps insisting quantum mechanics invalidates ontology, and has made ontology obsolete, just like phlogiston. What would metaphysics without ontology look like, where words like "existence" and "reality" are banned?
spinning head