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Philosophical Studies

Symmetry fundamentalism in quantum mechanics

David Schroeren

Published Apr 2, 2021• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Modern particle physics suggests an intriguing vision of physical reality: we are to imagine the symmetries of the world as fundamental, whereas the material constituents of the world (such as particles and fields) are ontologically derivative of them. This paper develops a novel ontology for non-relativistic quantum mechanics which gives precise metaphysical content to this vision.

DOI
10.1007/s11098-021-01634-z

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Modern particle physics suggests an intriguing vision of physical reality: we are to imagine the symmetries of the world as fundamental, whereas the material constituents of the world (such as particles and fields) are ontologically derivative of them. This paper develops a novel ontology for non-relativistic quantum mechanics which gives precise metaphysical content to this vision.
Nowadays modern physics is a highly formalized discipline. It is almost impossible to build a model of the whole reality because physical research requires too much specialization in local areas. Technical difficulties make harder the metaphysical analysis of the investigation. But physics is a powerful path to the very fundamental ontology. Quantum physics developed in the XX century has discovered new physical phenomena that demand a new revision of the classical ontological sets. Actually quantum physics continues improving its potential. In fact there are some heuristic theories that use quantum physics to operate in some research fields of classical human sciences. Certainly our old fashioned model of reality must be open to the last theories of modern physics. We should prepare for developing the new scientificoriented humanism. In this paper we offer seven metaphysical derivations of quantum physics.
The existence of ontologically different but empirically indistinguishable versions of non-relativistic quantum mechanics is one of the most serious and widely discussed cases of metaphysical underdetermination. I argue that this problem is unlikely to disappear when we turn to the next more fundamental theory, namely relativistic quantum field theory. The problem is merely overshadowed by yet another interpretational controversy, but it persists regardless of the outcome of this latter debate. I further argue that one should not be too optimistic about transferring ontological lessons learned in the context of one physical theory to the context of a more fundamental theory.
Modern scientists describe the universe in terms of two basic partial theories: firstly, the general theory of relativity proposed by Albert Einstein, and secondly, the theory of quantum mechanics. This theory introduces an immense reality and simultaneously creates complex questions for the world of physics. Quantum mechanics is an incompletable knowledge however scientists are finding the basic theories from this theory. They propose complex mathematical expressions from quantum mechanics to prove the basic law of atoms. Quantum mechanics is the entire knowledge of subatomic particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons. Quantum mechanics reveals that what we see is just a part of a deeper reality. Then we can grasp from this theory that the material world is not the completed reality; there are other things beyond human physical senses. The concept of quantum mechanics describes particles that can exist in multiple states. The concept of quantum mechanics is directly proportional to contemporary world technologies. The super specialty of this theory is that scientists cannot be explained universe without quantum mechanics. The uncertainty principle of Heisenberg in quantum mechanics suggests that there are limits to what we can know about a particle state of an atom. Humans cannot yet find out what it looks like and how we can imagine the existence of subatomic particles in an atom. That was an unseen dynamite for humans' perspective observation of the material world.
What is quantum mechanics about? The most natural way to interpret quantum mechanics realistically as a theory about the world might seem to be what is called wave function ontology: the view according to which the wave function mathematically represents in a complete way fundamentally all there is in the world. We argue that: • Strictly speaking, it is not possible to interpret quantum theories as theories about the wave function; • Even if the wave function is supplemented by additional non-ontological structures, there are reasons not to take the resulting theory seriously; • All quantum theories should be regarded as theories in which physical objects are constituted by a primitive ontology. The primitive ontology is mathematically represented in the theory by a mathematical entity in three-dimensional space, or space-time.
Since 1939, when Wigner published his proposal to define particles via symmetries expressed as algebraic groups, we have seen a long stream of attempts to formulate an ontology of matter based on mathematics. It has become apparent that such attempts must fail, and more particularly that we cannot derive an ontology of matter from the Standard Model on the basis of quantum field theory. We briefly recapitulate the reasons for this and demonstrate how the philosophy of physics has become scholasticised through a series of vain attempts to obtain a coherent ontology of matter. Here we propose an alternative approach in the form of an ontology of the science of physics. It draws on a framework developed by Husserl which admits not only real material entities but also the idealities which physicists make use of in their thinking. We specify the upper level of this ontology, which addresses the way in which physicists use mathematics when conducting their enquiries. This ontology provides a new perspective concerning the dilemmas of modern physics, including the measurement problem.
During the past two or three centuries western philosophy and science have confirmed each other in their ontological attitude towards external reality. The particular opinion that physical objects have an existence completely independent of observation was established as the necessary basis for all scientific investigation. The discovery in quantum physics that the phenomena ultimately constituting the stability of the material world cannot be separated from the instruments of observation was necessarily felt disastrous to the scientific world-picture, and many philosophers and scientists, including celebrated physicists, are still trying by all means to save ontology in quantum physics. The motive power behind this activity is the belief that the objectivity of science can be maintained only if the elementary particles of matter can be objectified in the usual way. The present chapter deals with the fundamental conditions in quantum physics which entail a complete breakdown of the conceptual frame of classical mechanics