Quantum Reality: Beyond the New Physics

Bernard d’Espagnat

Arkady Plotnitsky

This article offers a new argument concerning the relationships between mathematics and physical reality in quantum theory. While, as dedicated to the centenary of Heisenberg's invention of quantum mechanics, the article contains a historical discussion, it is not historical, but physical and philosophical. Heisenberg's thinking leading him to QM and beyond is only part of the genealogy of this argument, which also differs from that of Heisenberg and builds on the previous work of the present author. Among the contributions in the article are a new conception of the ultimate reality responsible for quantum phenomena; a new understanding, based on this conception, of the role of mathematics in physics in quantum theory; a critique of Heisenberg's and all Platonism in quantum theory and beyond; a new perspective on the role of symmetries in quantum field theory; and a new understanding of the relationships between continuity and discontinuity in quantum physics.

Adrian Kent

Over the past 25 years, I have been involved in some intriguing developments in the foundations of physics, exploring the quantum reality problem, the relationship between quantum theory and gravity and the interplay between consciousness and physical laws. These investigations make it plausible that we will find physics beyond quantum theory, potentially including both new evolution laws and new types of measurement. There is also a significant chance they could have potentially transformative impact on information processing and on the development of and our future with AI.

Salvish Goomanee

The present understanding of the relation betweenreality and information theory is for the time being rather vague. There are many speculations about the fact that the understanding of reality may be beyond ourcapabilities. However the perception of our observed reality in relation to quantum physics and consciousness as per Wheeler’s theories may lead to the exploration of some new branches of quantum physics and consciousness theory. For many physicists, this may be something rather troubling but what if non – computability was actually part of reality? What if there were some processes or some kind of information that cannot be understood through algorithms and needed new understanding. In this essay the relation between information, reality and consciousness will be briefly discussed.

Rob Clifton