Questions tagged [quantum-physics]

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Does quantum superposition enable the possibility of free will?

I've been thinking about the problem of free will. In a deterministic universe, it seems like everything is just dominoes falling, one after the other. No room for choice. But what about quantum ...
Gush's user avatar
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2 answers
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Why were the founders of quantum mechanics idealists?

Max Planck, Schrodinger, Bohr, and other founders of quantum mechanics have all expressed an idealist or subjective idealist position: in other words, they believed reality is created by or dependent ...
edelex's user avatar
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Quantum Physics and Deep Learning, What are possibilities? [closed]

I would like to ask to you a question that I have been wondering about for a while. What would be if we could record all the quantum behaviors (momentum, rotation, translation, etc) of atomic (or ...
Harun Cetin's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
135 views

Is Schrödinger's cat a problem of how we define identity?

If we consider that a cat is composed of numerous atomic particles, defining particles in superposition presents no issue. A cat is a human construct to represent a grouping of atoms, and notions of ...
Marco Fabbri's user avatar
2 votes
6 answers
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What are the arguments for or against the wavefunction being a subjective vs an objective entity?

This question is related to the measurement problem in Quantum Mechanics. I want arguments in favor or against of these two viewpoints: The wavefunction is the ontological state of existence of ...
Ryder Rude's user avatar
3 votes
7 answers
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What are the ontological implications of that “the universe is not locally real” in quantum mechanics?

Quantum mechanics is said to indicate that the universe is not “locally real”, because a particle is not in a defined state before measurement. But if a particle is not in a defined state, what is it ...
thinkingman's user avatar
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0 answers
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Are quantum epistemology and intuitionistic constructivism compatible?

A somewhat recent article coming out of the University of Toronto and the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Zurich claims "no": Constructivist epistemology posits that all truths are ...
Kristian Berry's user avatar
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7 answers
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How does quantum mechanics affect the probability of macro events?

Events in the world can be described on the macro scale or the micro scale. For events that occur in the macro scale, such as the shape of a particular rock that forms, would the rock have formed in ...
thinkingman's user avatar
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4 answers
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Would a nonlocal interpretation of quantum mechanics be more parsimonious?

Under the traditional interpretation of quantum mechanics, there is no realism and no “definite” reality. However, arguably, there is also no locality, depending on how you understand the term. Of ...
thinkingman's user avatar
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5 answers
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Is time not perceivable without motion or change?

As kind of a chicken or the egg question, does motion come before time? Doesn’t motion allow time to exist and no motion negate time from existing? If everything in the universe were completely frozen ...
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Does quantum mechanics break the principle of local causality?

I keep reading that quantum mechanics, atleast the standard interpretation, is local. However, local seems to imply that there’s no informational transfer faster than the speed of light. But even if ...
thinkingman's user avatar
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Is there a need for a new field of natural-practical philosophy?

Natural philosophy is now generally known as physics. Some ancient universities still call it natural philosophy. But all of science could be included under the term, natural philosophy. There is also ...
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Does quantum mechanics mean that we are far behind in understanding the physical universe?

Until a certain time, physicists were using Newtonian mechanics, and until this time they did not have much difficulty in solving problems with this method. After quantum mechanics was discovered in ...
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Does knowledge of the scientific context aid consideration of philosophical questions?

Some fundamental philosophical questions are posed in the context of quantum physics. Does knowledge of the science aid consideration of these questions? Should the scientific background be explained ...
Meanach's user avatar
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Does the law of large numbers explain why quantum mechanics leads to statistical regularities?

When the question of why chancy effects in quantum mechanics lead to statistical regularities is proposed, it is often answered using the law of large numbers. When you have particles that can be ...
thinkingman's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
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Why are nonlocal deterministic theories considered less plausible than indeterminism?

As John Bell stated, I cannot say that action at a distance is required in physics. But I can say that you cannot get away with no action at a distance. Regardless of whichever interpretation of ...
thinkingman's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
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Does quantum mechanics disprove the causal principle in philosophy?

The causal principle states that everything must have a cause. William Lane Craig argues that even in the cases of subatomic events in QM, there are certain necessary conditions that produce an effect,...
thinkingman's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
157 views

How do we know that the superposition of states in quantum mechanics is a real phenomenon? Does this have philosophical significance? [closed]

As far as I know, we can never directly observe the superposition of states of any particle. How do we then know that it is real in the first place? We have a theory, which isn’t fully defined in the ...
thinkingman's user avatar
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1 answer
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Does Bell’s theorem assume realism? If so, what kind of realism, philosophically?

This is a philosophical question. It deals with the physics that raise this question. I cite the very recent article by Philip Goff in Scientific American which explains its relevance. Bell’s theorem ...
thinkingman's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
123 views

Do acausal quantum events come in between two classical events?

You'll have to forgive my ignorance if the answer to this question has lots of examples of how and when this occurs. My knowledge of determinism is that it is a picture of a chain of events that goes ...
8Mad0Manc8's user avatar
0 votes
4 answers
162 views

Does the existence of a probability distribution in quantum mechanics imply that each measurement has a reason?

The evolution of the wave function which is determined by Schrödinger’s equation, is said to evolve deterministically. The wave function represents the probability distribution of potential ...
thinkingman's user avatar
-5 votes
1 answer
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Argument for God from quantum mechanics [closed]

The argument that my friend proposed is as follows. 1.) Quantum mechanics proposes inherent randomness. This implies a lack of determinism and thus a true probability of every event. 2.) If God exists,...
thinkingman's user avatar
11 votes
15 answers
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Can Mathematics Fully Describe the Universe?

To what extent mathematics can capture all physical phenomena? Drawing an analogy from computer science: finite automata can handle regular expressions (does "(([a-z]))" match "((h))&...
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Does the PSR fail only at the atomic level in quantum mechanics or also for groups of atoms?

It is commonly held, in modern physics, that it is impossible to predict when a particular atom will decay. This is often taken to mean that there is no particular reason why the atom decided to decay ...
thinkingman's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
183 views

Could events in the universe be necessary or inevitable even if not determined?

Let us suppose that inherent randomness (atleast partially) in the universe exists. By this, I mean that certain things especially in the micro world are not predictable even if on the macro scale, ...
thinkingman's user avatar
3 votes
7 answers
633 views

Is quantum mechanics relevant/irrelevant to explain conscious processes?

According to the paper by Koch and Hepp The relation between quantum mechanics and higher brain functions: Lessons from quantum computation and neurobiology from 2007, quantum mechanics and its ...
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The Copenhagen Interpretation: From Quantum Mechanics to Ethics?

I've been pondering an intriguing comparison lately, drawing parallels between the Copenhagen Interpretation in quantum mechanics and a hypothetical "Copenhagen Interpretation of Ethics". As ...
Bryan C's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
118 views

Does quantum immortality mean solipsism?

If when we die another universe is created in which we live, then would the people of that universe be real?( by that i mean conscious beings like myself) or am I misunderstanding QI?
Rayyan khan's user avatar
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4 answers
173 views

If standard quantum mechanics disproves determinism, why are probabilities the way they are?

In quantum mechanics, the probability, say, that a radioactive atom will decay is well defined. By the Born Rule, it says that the probability of obtaining any possible measurement outcome is equal to ...
thinkingman's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
114 views

Books on the philosophy of quantum mechanics

As the title says, I am looking for books on the philosophy of quantum mechanics; more specifically on ontology and or epistemolgy. So far I've found Tim Maudlin's Philosophy of Physics: Quantum ...
PhysPhil's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
33 views

Could a quantum computer simulate any system based on different types of logic?

Quantum computing is based on quantum mechanics (obviously) which has different logical rules than classical/Boolean logic. However, does this mean that a quantum computer could simulate or process ...
vengaq's user avatar
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3 answers
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Looking at quantum physics from the perspective of Indian philosophy?

So the philosopher Anand Vaidya, makes the claim (minute 9:18): " .. There was a big movement in Indian philosophy to really look at quantum physics from the perspective of classical Indian ...
More Anonymous's user avatar
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3 answers
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What if time and quantum corrections were created because the idea of "god" was damaged?

Assuming the idea of "God" exists. In its most perfect form, should physics not be without the various quantum phenomena with a renormalizable gravitational theory? Perhaps the idea of ...
Burak Guner's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
96 views

Are there any sources linking Schopenhauerian metaphysics (will as thing-in-itself) with our contemporary understanding of physics?

I'm especially interested if there are any attempts at reconciling Schopenhauer's metaphysical will with the seeming indeterministic nature of quantum physics. Thank you.
TCL's user avatar
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Isn't the measurement postulate irrelevant to Wigner's friend extended?

So many physicists like Carroll use a variation of Wigner's friend to argue for the many worlds of many worlds. I shall stick to the Frauchiger and Renner version of the Wigner's-friend scenario which ...
More Anonymous's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
294 views

Cause of the outcome of quantum events

Do quantum events have no definite cause , a cause but the cause is unknown, they have no cause, they simultaneously have a cause and do not have a cause , there is a known cause, causes of events at ...
8Mad0Manc8's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
84 views

What were Bertrand Russell's later views on quantum mechanics?

Russell touched on QM a bit in The Analysis of Matter, which was the same year as the Fifth Solvay Conference. I am sure he must have thought very deeply about the implications of the quantum theory, ...
Joshua Rubin's user avatar
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0 answers
68 views

Does the cloning of worlds, like in Many Worlds interpretation, really give the standard interpretation of probabilities?

Copenhagen- Suppose I ask you to bet on the outcome of 100 spin measurements. And you believe in the Copenhagen interpretation for now. The odds given by the Born rule, for each experiment, are 50:50 ...
Ryder Rude's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
211 views

Union of Cosmopsychism and the Many Worlds Interpretation

My question relates to the following essay: Cosmopsychism and the Many Worlds Interpretation: A Monistic Perspective on Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics The essay explores the combination of ...
vonjd's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
515 views

Ontic structural realism: what's the difference between 'structures are all there is' and 'all there is are structures'?

I'm a physics student reading a philosophy essay about ontic structural realism and quantum field theory. In that paper, the author presented ontic structural realism(OSR) and radical ontic structural ...
IGY's user avatar
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-1 votes
2 answers
81 views

The measurement and causality? [closed]

So my question is how do we establish that the measuring device causes the measurement (/collapse of the wave function)? Is it as crude as my experimentalist friend told me so and won the best each ...
More Anonymous's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
137 views

Ballentine on the concept of state (ensemble interpretation of quantum mechanics)

Early in Chapter 2 of Ballentine's Quantum Mechanics, he gives what I will call Statement 1: The empirical content of a probability statement is revealed only in the relative frequencies in a ...
EE18's user avatar
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1 answer
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Are we all in a state of existence and nonexistence?

Why? Because if something exists it needs something that observes it otherwise it doesn't exist or...? If this is true then at some point in this universe we all will very likely vanish (Big Freeze or ...
iJ1nXz's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
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Philosophical implications of entangled states (and the 2022 physics nobel prize)

FYI: For the 2022 Physics Noble Prize announcement, see here. First, I realize the subjective nature of any potential answers or discussions regarding this question. In spite of that, I'm still ...
nate's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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If objective reality does not exist, is the universe different for everyone?

A recent study says that objective reality doesn’t exist and that each persons subjective experience differs. Now I don’t think that the laws of physics work differently for me or anything like that ...
Max's user avatar
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2 answers
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What did Popper think of the "Many Worlds" interpretation of Quantum Mechanics?

The Everettian, aka Many Worlds, interpretation of Quantum Mechanics states that the wave function of the universe never collapses and evolves according to the plain Schrodinger equation. When a ...
Qfwfq's user avatar
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2 answers
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Comprehension and WIgner's friend thought experiment?

I haven't seen this line of argument used. So I'm curious on it's validity and if it already exists in the literature. In the thought experiment Wigner's friend the disparity of descriptions of the ...
More Anonymous's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
94 views

What would the wavefunction represent in an observer-less universe?

Suppose the universe has no observers, and the universe's dynamics is governed by the Schrodinger equation. What does the wavefunction represent now? Is it that parts of the universe keep "...
Ryder Rude's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
129 views

Was Einstein’s dice analogy not exactly how he wanted quantum mechanics to be?

Eindtein famously stated that God doesn't play dice ("Gott würfelt nicht"). But wasn't that example of precisely how he thought quantum mechanics should be, i.e. a determined process ...
Gerald's user avatar
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2 answers
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What is the most probable AI?

then I have a difficult question to ask. Let's imagine that in the distant future of our universe, through the arrangement of atoms that move in empty space, various objects are formed, any object can ...
Zeruel017's user avatar