The Philosophy of Quantum Computing

Na Wu

Quantum computation is a new quantum mechanics-based computation,which is considered to have most probability of breaking through the traditional equipments' computing ability.Quantum computation has the feature of counter-intuitive.This makes many of our life no longer common sense knowledge,and meanwhile,something without our general cognitive ability,even something like mentalism may become impelling evidence of that quantum computation exceeds traditional computation.The tremendous development of quantum computation(especially quantum computer)in recent years tells us that philosophy is an advanced stage of the scientific development.Philosophy explains the development and progress of science and promotes the development of science.The limitations of the scientific development may exist,but perhaps at a higher level,philosophy can offer solutions to this limitation.

Masahito Hayashi, Satoshi Ishizaka, Akinori Kawachi +2 more

WU Guo-lin

Following the first and second quantum revolutions, quantum information theory has expanded beyond the field of physics into numerous other interdisciplinary areas. This book provides a comprehensive philosophical exploration of quantum mechanics and quantum information. The author examines key concepts such as quantum reality, quantum entanglement, quantum information, the quantum world, quantum computing, and quantum matter, while also extending quantum mechanical theory to encompass phenomenology, hermeneutics, and trans- empirical philosophy. Drawing on Kant’s transcendental idealism and neo- Kantianism, the author introduces the concept of “trans-empirical”— that which transcends experience without abandoning it and which, in fact, enables it. The book skillfully demonstrates how trans- empirical reality and cognition offer valuable analytical frameworks for contemporary quantum philosophy. This work will appeal to scholars and graduate students in various disciplines, including the philosophy of science and technology, analytical philosophy, the philosophy of language, phenomenology, and hermeneutics.

Douglas Snyder

Issues related to a materialist philosophy are explored as concerns the implied equivalence of computers running software and human observers. One issue explored concerns the measurement process in quantum mechanics. Another issue explored concerns the nature of experience as revealed by the existence of dreams. Some difficulties stemming from a materialist philosophy as regards these issues are pointed out. For example, a gedankenexperiment involving what has been called "negative" observation is discussed that illustrates the difficulty with a materialist assumption in quantum mechanics. Based on an exploration of these difficulties, specifications are outlined briefly that would provide a means to demonstrate the equivalence of of computers running software and human experience given a materialist assumption.

Alfredo Pereira, Roberson Saraiva Polli