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Uncertain for a century: quantum mechanics and the dilemma of interpretation
Author(s) -
Frank Adam
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/nyas.12972
Subject(s) - minority interpretations of quantum mechanics , interpretations of quantum mechanics , dilemma , consciousness , meaning (existential) , interpretation (philosophy) , epistemology , classical physics , theoretical physics , physics , measurement problem , quantum mechanics , quantum , philosophy , quantum dynamics , quantum process , linguistics
Quantum mechanics, the physical theory describing the microworld, is one of science's greatest triumphs. Remarkably, however, after more than 100 years it is still unclear what quantum mechanics means in terms of basic philosophical questions about the nature of reality. While there are many interpretations of the mathematical machinery of quantum physics, there remain no experimental means to distinguish between most of them. In this contribution, I wish to consider the ways in which the enduring lack of an agreed‐upon interpretation of quantum physics influences a number of critical philosophical debates about physics and reality. I briefly review two problems affected by quantum interpretations: the meaning of the term universe and the nature of consciousness.