35
votes
We know Classical Mechanics is wrong. But can we also say every other theory is wrong except the Theory of Everything?
Asimov's "The Relativity of Wrong" has a lot to say about this.
John, when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical, they were wrong. ...
- 10.7k
33
votes
We know Classical Mechanics is wrong. But can we also say every other theory is wrong except the Theory of Everything?
It is not a coincidence that you ask this here at philosophy SE, and not over at physics: The vast majority of physicists would simply reject your question and readily admit that their theories are ...
- 1,496
26
votes
Has quantum mechanics destroyed the fundaments of logical reasoning?
The idea that quantum mechanics fundamentally challenges the rules of logic was popular for a while, but has fallen out of favor in recent years.
While intuitively it might seem that quantum ...
- 27k
22
votes
Why is the complex number an integral part of physical reality?
The short answer: Your premise is not correct. Quantum Mechanics is not necessarily complex-valued. Here is a primer from Physics.SE if you are solid on the math.
An explanation that is light on math:...
- 756
13
votes
Has quantum mechanics destroyed the fundaments of logical reasoning?
Let me clarify a confusion first. Logic applies to sentences, not to objects, so object's ability to be in two places at once is not a contradiction, unless definition of "object" rules out such a ...
- 42.3k
9
votes
Accepted
How does Quantum Mechanics affect the modern account of free will and determinism?
The OP quote draws a distinction between determinism ("hard determinism"), and causal completeness ("less absolute determinism"). The former means that the current physical state ...
- 42.3k
9
votes
Accepted
Philosophical implications of entangled states (and the 2022 physics nobel prize)
In the high-level summary and explanation I've read/watched… this means or confirms that everything… is probabilistic.
This is wrong. Bell's Theorem and the experiments that won this years Nobel ...
- 803
8
votes
How does Quantum Mechanics affect the modern account of free will and determinism?
First a point of clarification, from what you are describing, you are talking about libertarian freewill, not compatibilist freewill. More on that later.
At the heart of your question is a confusion ...
- 27k
7
votes
Does Quantum Entanglement Disprove the Principle of Locality?
In the relevant sense the answer is "no", the appearance of a "yes" is created by projecting classical intuitions about locality onto quantum objects. This is confusing because the definition of ...
- 42.3k
7
votes
How does Penrose defeat the computational theory of mind?
This is intended as a complement to Conifold's and Jobermark' answers
Penrose's argument can be broken down to two parts:
Based on Lucas's Gödelian argument against mechanism, he argues that the ...
- 27k
7
votes
Does 'the quantum mind' solve the hard problem of consciousness and how popular is it?
Does 'the quantum mind' solve the hard problem of consciousness ?
Short answer:
No it doesn't.
Long answer:
Penrose's quantum mind model is an answer to the question of how can a human mind ...
- 27k
7
votes
Where did Husserl say that in quantum mechanics spatial localisation is no longer a principle of individualisation?
I suspect that Petitot is misremembering and interpolating. Husserl did generally consider (formal) metaphysics to be the doctrine of individuation. For example, in a 1918 letter to Weyl, thanking him ...
- 42.3k
7
votes
Why is the complex number an integral part of physical reality?
In my opinion you are mixing up different points:
Physics does not use complex numbers to count entities. It is sufficient to count mangos by non-negative rational numbers, i.e. 1 mango, 1.5 mangos, ...
- 20.8k
6
votes
Is Conway-Kochen's "free will" theorem about quantum measurements an argument for panpsychism?
It is only an argument in the same sense that the Gödel theorem is an argument for transcendent truth or against AI. Mathematical theorems have no philosophical consequences unless they are conjoined ...
- 42.3k
6
votes
Accepted
How does Penrose defeat the computational theory of mind?
The linked IEP article seems to me to be accurately summarized in the OP:"the argument about quantum processes in the brain falls short if we reject the original Gödelian argument... Penrose goes on ...
- 42.3k
6
votes
Why is the complex number an integral part of physical reality?
Complex numbers are ordered pairs of numbers that have an extended definition of multiplication that is useful for representing circular motion in two-dimensions. (The definition of multiplication ...
- 1,836
6
votes
Accepted
Probabilistic prediction (quantum mechanics) - what is the meaning of such a prediction and how do you falsify it?
In science, nothing is ever exactly 100 percent certain. Quantum mechanics has actual randomness (strictly speaking, the interpetation of this depends on weather you take the Copenhagen-interpreation ...
- 184
5
votes
Has quantum mechanics destroyed the fundaments of logical reasoning?
Logic is an abstract concept which does not necessarily directly tie to reality. We like to argue that there is at least a very solid indirect relationship, in that logic does a good job of ...
- 17.4k
5
votes
Does Einstein's local realism in quantum mechanics imply superdeterminism?
You are right that Bell's inequalities do not rule out "superdeterminism" (Bell's term), as he himself acknowledged:"...if our measurements are not independently variable as we supposed...even if ...
- 42.3k
5
votes
Does Quantum Physics Refute Ayn Rand's Objectivism?
Rand's Objectivisms' central tenets are that reality exists independently of consciousness, that human beings have direct contact with reality through sense perception, that one can attain objective ...
- 7,305
5
votes
What is the most commonsense interpretation of QM for the layman?
This question presumes not only the existence of common sense, but that two individual's common sense about a very peculiar topic might somehow coincide.
As Einstein categorized it, there were four ...
- 17.4k
5
votes
Plato meets Quantum Mechanics
The book "Große Physiker" by Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker deals with this question in the chapter "Platon" pp. 48-72 (which discusses the Timaios dialog), but already the preceding chapter "...
- 3,899
5
votes
Why is the complex number an integral part of physical reality?
Are we answering the right question?
You touch upon an interesting point, but I have the feeling that your question isn't specific enough yet to reach a proper resolutions. Others have argued that '...
- 307
5
votes
Why is the complex number an integral part of physical reality?
You have several fundamental misunderstandings.
Physics does not define reality. Physics defines a model that approximates reality in a testable fashion. Reality can—and, going by experience,...
- 151
5
votes
Arguments against quantum mechanics allowing for free will?
Quantum mechanics only introduces randomness, it is to say unpredictability.
That this randomness can be extended to macroscopic systems like a human brain has yet to be demonstrated, but even if we ...
- 4,935
5
votes
Neutrinos & consciousness: fundamental link between the weak force, neutrino and biological cell?
For neutrinos to serve as the source of consciousness, they would need to exert influence on massive particles like the constituent atoms in protein molecules at a rate sufficient to support the ...
- 7,443
4
votes
How does Quantum Mechanics affect the modern account of free will and determinism?
The way quantum mechanics is commonly discussed makes this a very confusing issue. I will discuss this problem first and then move on to free will. People like to say there are multiple ...
- 7,305
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible