Epistemological Perspective on Quantum Theory

Eugene Paul Wigner

Daniel M. Greenberger, Wolfgang L. Reiter, Anton Zeilinger

Abner Shimony, Helmut Rauch, G. C. Ghirardi +3 more

Han J.F. Geurdes

In the paper we look into the epistemology of quantum theory.The starting point is the previously established mathematical ambiguity.The perspective of our study is the way that Schro ¨dinger described Einstein's idea of physics epistemology.Namely, physical theory is a map with flags.Each flag must, according to Einstein in Schro ¨dinger's representation, correspond to a physical reality and vice versa.With the ambiguity transformed to quantum-like operators we are able to mimic quantum theory.Therefore we have created little flags.The question is raised whether nature itself is ambiguous.The created flags point at ambiguous nature.Or, nature is not ambiguous and the ambiguity can be repaired in mathematics.

Zulena dos S. Silva

This paper will present questions from three perspectives about Quantum Mechanics (QM): physics, epistemological, and metaphysical.The quantum phenomena do not fit with the parameters of classical physics, so a daily intuition on macroscopic world is dispensable when it is the quantum object investigated.This physical domain induces a new thinking, which requires also new concepts to describe such object.The QM is disturbing and stimulates epistemological reflections, as the issues of access about what is known; and metaphysical theme are not to be left behind with regard to QM: What would the quantum object to?What is apprehended when this object is perceived, once considered the disturbing characteristics that constitute its physical description: interference and non-separability?What is its nature?This paper focuses briefly on the analysis of B. d'Espagnat in Veiled Reality, which would represent the physical perspective of QT; for epistemological questions, one will resort to the Kantian conception of knowledge; and with regard to the metaphysical perspective, we will rely on an article by Professor J. B. Arenhart.It is necessary to note that the question that pervades in this paper is about if the experience in QM is built.Thus, we will try to seek clarity on the philosophical issues through QT, regarding the problems about the possibility of knowledge of the quantum object and its nature, and whether experience in this case is built.But furthermore, the QM instigates us to think whether metaphysics proceeds on the investigation of nature when it comes to the QM.And such a question is more than to have as problem as the scope of the description of physical data, but rather whether it makes sense or whether metaphysical research is pertinent to the QM.

J. M. Burgers