Quantum Mechanics: Empirical and Trans-empirical

Hirokazu Nishimura

Eduard Prugovečki

Jagdish Mehra, Helmut Rechenberg

Guolin Wu

Kantian philosophy provided a strong foundation for classical Newtonian mechanics; however, it is difficult to fully account for the features of quantum mechanics. Functionalized and structured a priori knowledge provides only an additional explanation in terms of the hierarchy and role of knowledge; nevertheless, it does not fundamentally alter Kant’s traditional concept, and the transformed a priori knowledge still fails to reveal the state of knowledge in quantum mechanics. Therefore, this chapter is going to construct a new notion of “trans-empirical” that absorbs both the meanings of transcendental and a priori and the meaning of experience to understand quantum mechanics, so that trans-empirical is itself capable of being linked to experience. The trans-empirical refers to something that surpasses experience but also connects it and enables it. This inherent tension between surpassing and connecting experience is what allows objects in quantum mechanics and superstring theory to possess a trans-empirical feature. Different quantum states correspond to distinct quantum realities, and quantum reality is trans-empirical reality, that is, between the possible world and the real world. A single measurement of a quantum system provides only a partial glimpse of its overall reality. It is the whole of the various realities that completely describes the quantum reality. The basic framework of the trans-empirical reality is: Different trans-empirical concepts + perceptual material, perceptual models → different scientific models (rational models) → different scientific realities (trans-empirical realities). In addition, this chapter presents the model of trans-empirical cognition: Pre-experience → pre-understanding → trans-empirical ideas → perceptual knowledge → trans-empirical concepts → rational knowledge → post-experience.

William W. Kennerly

Guolin Wu

Quantum mechanics, which emerged in the 20th century, has achieved remarkable feats, giving rise to the first quantum revolution. Toward the end of the 20th century, the emergence of quantum information theory sparked the second quantum revolution. Unlike the first one, the second quantum revolution directly focuses on the development of quantum artifacts that are governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. This book delves deeply into the core concepts of the two quantum revolutions, including quantum reality, quantum information, quantum entanglement, quantum world, quantum computing, and quantum matter. By analyzing quantum mechanics from the perspectives of phenomenology, hermeneutics, and the trans-empirical concept, it expands the frontiers of understanding. This approach contributes to the formation of a trans-empirical reality and a trans-empirical cognition model.