Many authors have claimed that the prevalence of a rationalist and positivist philosophy among French physicists was an obstacle in the reception of quantum mechanics in France. Without challenging the basic tenet of this thesis, the present study tends to qualify it. An overview of the epistemological reception of quantum mechanics among the main theoretical physicists of the 30s and 40s shows that these theorists negotiated a reading of quantum mechanics that enabled them to maintain their philosophical outlook. In this perspective, what I call a « crypto-mechanist » interpretation of the measurement process, despite its ambiguity, played an important role, making it possible to reconcile a causal rationalism with a positivist posture.
Many authors have claimed that the prevalence of a rationalist and positivist philosophy among French physicists was an obstacle in the reception of quantum mechanics in France. Without challenging the basic tenet of this thesis, the present study tends to qualify it. An overview of the epistemological reception of quantum mechanics among the main theoretical physicists of the 30s and 40s shows that these theorists negotiated a reading of quantum mechanics that enabled them to maintain their philosophical outlook. In this perspective, what I call a « crypto-mechanist » interpretation of the measurement process, despite its ambiguity, played an important role, making it possible to reconcile a causal rationalism with a positivist posture.
De nombreux auteurs ont soutenu que l’imprégnation chez les physiciens français des philosophies rationalistes et positivistes a constitué un obstacle dans la réception de la mécanique quantique en France. Sans remettre en question cette idée, cette étude tend à la nuancer. En faisant un tour d’horizon de la réception épistémologique de la mécanique quantique chez les principaux théoriciens français de l’entre-deux-guerres, elle vise à montrer que ceux-ci ont, dans leur ensemble, su aménager des postures vis-à-vis de la physique quantique, qui, à de rares exceptions près, s’accordaient bien avec leurs présupposés philosophiques. La plus importante d’entre elles par le nombre de ses adeptes, une interprétation appelée ici « cryptomécaniste », avait notamment, malgré son ambiguïté intrinsèque, la capacité de concilier une forme de rationalisme causaliste et une posture positiviste.
This work presents a historical-epistemological analysis of the foundations of quantum mechanics. From a philosophical point of view, the relationships between quantum mechanics and scientific realism are highlighted, as well as the influence of the neo-positivist philosophy of the first decades of the 20th century. The great significance of measurement in the context of quantum mechanics is underlined, as an essential element in providing a coherent description of reality moving from the microcosm to the macrocosm, as well as the role that the measurement apparatus and the consciousness of the observer assume during the act of measurement, the ontological problem, the problem of the objectification of the wave function and the problem of the definition of discernibility. This is followed by an overview of the most important alternative proposals to the standard interpretation (Copenhagen interpretation), with particular reference to hidden variable theories, and other alternatives to standard quantum mechanics that profoundly modify the vision of reality, such as the Everett’s many-worlds theory, the QBism, the unified holistic approach.
We present a historical-epistemological analysis of the foundations of quantum mechanics, highlighting the relationships between quantum mechanics and scientific realism, as well as the influence of the neo-positivist philosophy of the first decades of the 20th century. The great significance of the measurement process in the context of quantum mechanics is underlined as an essential element in providing a coherent description of reality, moving from micro to macrocosm, as well as the role that the measurement apparatus and the consciousness of the observer assume during the act of measurement, the related ontological problems, the question of the objectification of the wave function, and that of the definition of discernibility. We consider also an overview of the most important alternative proposals to the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics (Copenhagen interpretation), with particular reference to hidden variable theories and other alternatives to standard quantum mechanics philosophical approach, that are modifying the vision of reality, such as the Everett’s many-worlds theory, the QBism and unified holistic approaches, such as the Primordial Dynamic Space.
This chapter, along with the next two chapters, sets the basic context for the readers to go into the topic of this book. Physicists, mathematicians, and philosophers struggle to clarify the foundations of quantum mechanics and debate on the interpretations of quantum mechanics. What is the foundation of quantum mechanics and how to interpret the formalism of quantum mechanics are the core issues of concern in the philosophy of physics. These two questions also involve fundamental issues in the general philosophy of science and even metaphysics and epistemology. This chapter introduces the original thoughts, historical developments, and current status of the interpretation of quantum mechanics, as well as its connection with the philosophy of science and metaphysics; it also analyzes the classifications by Bell, Leifer, and Cabello on the spectrum of interpretations of quantum mechanics, which can be regarded as a sort of “navigation map”. On this basis, the main object of discussion in this book is introduced – the quantum histories interpretation.
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.