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"Space is blue and birds fly through it"

Carlo Rovelli C

Published Dec 7, 2017• 81 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Quantum mechanics is not about 'quantum states': it is about values of physical variables. I give a short fresh presentation and update on the relational perspective on the theory, and a comment on its philosophical implications.

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‘Space is blue and birds fly through it’

Carlo Rovelli C

Quantum mechanics is not about ‘quantum states’: it is about values of physical variables. I give a short fresh presentation and update on the relational perspective on the theory, and a comment on its philosophical implications. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Foundations of quantum mechanics and their impact on contemporary society’.

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Everett’s Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics and Rovelli’s Relational Quantum Mechanics are two eminently interesting and impactful presentations of what the world of quantum mechanics is like. Beginning with a depiction of the theories and their physical implications I conclude with a comparison of their respective picture of reality. I propose here that by letting philosophical deliberations be guided by the very statements from within the theories, one arrives at a structural realist picture of what our world is like.

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The Many Worlds of Dreams: Exploring Connections between Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven and Quantum Multiverse Theories

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This paper examines the intersection of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven and the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, reimagining reality-changing dreams as shifts between preexisting parallel worlds. By framing Le Guin's philosophical debate between Taoism and Utilitarianism in terms of the Copenhagen and many-worlds interpretations, the paper investigates profound questions about identity, human control, and the nature of reality. In addition, this perspective connects Le Guin's narrative to modern quantum theories and thought experiments like quantum suicide and offers fresh insights into the quantum measurement problem and the implications of wavefunction collapse. Ultimately, this paper shows how The Lathe of Heaven bridges science fiction, physics, and philosophy, presenting a compelling framework for understanding humanity's existence and its place in an interconnected multiverse.

•Apr 29, 2025•0 citations
Everett’s Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics and Rovelli’s Relational Quantum Mechanics are two eminently interesting and impactful presentations of what the world of quantum mechanics is like. Beginning with a depiction of the theories and their physical implications I conclude with a comparison of their respective picture of reality. I propose here that by letting philosophical deliberations be guided by the very statements from within the theories, one arrives at a structural realist picture of what our world is like.
ABSTRACT The paper aims to bridge the history of quantum theory with its philosophical implications. The focus is not only on the scientific underpinnings of quantum mechanics (these theories emerged as ‘ad hoc’ responses to experimental anomalies) but also on the philosophical ramifications of its probabilistic nature and indeterminacy, which differ from classical realism. The paper examines Dirac's, Bell's, and modern views, focusing on how quantum mechanics (QM) challenges traditional notions of causality, objectivity, and truth while embracing epistemological and metaphysical perspectives. Debates over collapse theories and hidden variables are discussed, as well as Putnam's philosophical outlook, which includes his trenchant involvement with realism, logic, and the measurement problem. Finally, the paper proposes that QM represents a philosophical revolution that renews our understanding of reality, knowledge, and scientific explanation, rather than simply serving as a physical theory for assessing the prospects of quantum philosophy by connecting it to broader aspects such as relativity, causality, and scientific realism.
This paper examines the intersection of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven and the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, reimagining reality-changing dreams as shifts between preexisting parallel worlds. By framing Le Guin's philosophical debate between Taoism and Utilitarianism in terms of the Copenhagen and many-worlds interpretations, the paper investigates profound questions about identity, human control, and the nature of reality. In addition, this perspective connects Le Guin's narrative to modern quantum theories and thought experiments like quantum suicide and offers fresh insights into the quantum measurement problem and the implications of wavefunction collapse. Ultimately, this paper shows how The Lathe of Heaven bridges science fiction, physics, and philosophy, presenting a compelling framework for understanding humanity's existence and its place in an interconnected multiverse.