This study introduces Quantum Ontology, a philosophical framework integrating quantum mechanics, metaphysics, and theology through the concept of a probabilistic God. By examining quantum indeterminacy, wavefunction ontology, and probabilistic causality, the work investigates whether divinity can be interpreted as a lawful structure of possibilities rather than a deterministic governing entity. Originality and AI-use statement: This work is an original research output by Begüm Yıldırım. AI tools, if used, were limited to language refinement, grammar correction, formatting, translation assistance, and clarity improvement. The conceptual framework, research direction, interpretation, models, and conclusions belong to the author. External sources, datasets, or prior works are cited where applicable.
This study introduces Quantum Ontology, a philosophical framework integrating quantum mechanics, metaphysics, and theology through the concept of a probabilistic God. By examining quantum indeterminacy, wavefunction ontology, and probabilistic causality, the work investigates whether divinity can be interpreted as a lawful structure of possibilities rather than a deterministic governing entity. Originality and AI-use statement: This work is an original research output by Begüm Yıldırım. AI tools, if used, were limited to language refinement, grammar correction, formatting, translation assistance, and clarity improvement. The conceptual framework, research direction, interpretation, models, and conclusions belong to the author. External sources, datasets, or prior works are cited where applicable.
This paper introduces a new philosophical and scientific framework called Quantum Ontology, which integrates quantum mechanics and metaphysics to explore the possibility of a probabilistic God. Moving beyond deterministic paradigms, it investigates how quantum indeterminacy, probability amplitudes, and the collapse of wave functions challenge classical understandings of causality, order, and divine omniscience. The central thesis posits that if the foundation of physical reality is probabilistic, then any concept of divinity that aligns with it must also reflect this probabilistic nature. The work synthesizes insights from physics, philosophy, theology, and cosmology to construct an original view of a God who is not the controller of certainties but the ground of all lawful possibilities.The author acknowledges the use of OpenAI’s language model for assistance in drafting certain sections of this work.
This essay explores quantum physics and theology to propose that ontological randomness does not exist, but divine Providence does. Some interpretations of quantum physics that involve mathematical formalism and observational phenomenology are deterministic (de Broglie-Bohm, many-worlds, cosmological, time-symmetric, many-minds), while others are non-deterministic (Copenhagen, stochastic, objective collapse, transactional). Yet, quantum events are merely epistemically indeterminable by us, but actually do have a fundamental cause. Compatibilism best describes the teaching of the Bible. Humans possess free agency, and are determined by their desires and values. Hence, they can be said to have “free will,” because they do what they want. The fundamental cause, as understood by Compatibilism, is God’s Providence, defined as God’s continual involvement with creation through keeping it existing, cooperating with creation in every action, and directing it to fulfill His purposes. The interaction between quantum physics and Providence suggests methodological parallels between science and theology in a quest for synthesis.
Background. The author tries to identify the connection between the phenomena of quantum physics and the philosophical concepts of "fate", "free will" and "time". By examining how the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics challenges classical deterministic views, and bridging the gap between modern physics and age-old philosophical debates, the author seeks to offer a nuanced understanding of these fundamental concepts Methods. The investigation employs a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating scientific theories and discoveries alongside religious and philosophical perspectives. Various viewpoints and schools of thought are considered, spanning both Western scientific frameworks and Eastern philosophical traditions, to provide a comprehensive analysis of the topic. Results. The positions of total determinism and indeterminism are compared, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations. It delves into the parallels between Buddhist philosophy and contemporary quantum theory, suggesting that both share common ground in their understanding of reality. Additionally, the concept of creationism is examined within the context of quantum mechanics. Conclusions. The exploration reveals that the concepts of fate and free will, and their relationship with time, are deeply intertwined with the existence of a hidden quantum reality. This hidden reality, characterized by the inherent uncertainties and probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics, challenges the deterministic worldview upheld by classical physics. The investigation highlights that the interconnectedness of fate and free will with our understanding of time is profoundly influenced by the quantum realm, which introduces complexities such as the "measurement problem." As a result, the deterministic predictability of classical physics is replaced by a framework where probabilities and potentialities govern the behavior of particles. The study concludes that acknowledging the existence of this hidden quantum reality necessitates a re-evaluation of traditional notions of fate, free will, and time, suggesting that these concepts are more fluid and interconnected than previously thought. By bridging the gap between quantum theory and philosophical inquiry, the exploration offers new insights into the nature of reality and human agency, ultimately contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the universe and our place within it.
One of the still unresolved problems in modern physics is the conceptual gap between quantum mechanics and Newtonian classical physics. Quantum mechanics describes probabilistic and indeterminate systems, whereas classical physics describes stable and deterministic systems. This article proposes a preliminary ontological and philosophical framework to interpret the transition from the quantum to the classical state through the Theory of Quantum-Classical Crossover (TQCC). Rather than considering the two regimes as fundamentally distinct, the theory suggests they are stages of a single process: the gradual formation of physical reality from a state whose physical properties are not yet defined. The quantum-classical crossover is therefore not merely mathematical, but ontological. Although decoherence and coarse-graining are well-established mathematical formalisms, the Theory of Quantum-Classical Crossover provides a conceptual bridge between quantum indeterminacy and classical stability. It employs philosophical concepts as visual aids and integrates ideas such as Heisenberg’s potentia, Wheeler’s It from Bit, and Rovelli’s Relational Quantum Mechanics, suggesting that the binary state of matter is not only expected, but necessary. This ontological perspective may provide a conceptual bridge for understanding quantum-to-classical transitions beyond purely mathematical descriptions.
Throughout the 20 th century, quantum mechanics was celebrated as the ultimate proof that modern science is leaving behind deterministic mechanical materialism and admitted that it is dealing with non-material entities; moreover, the notion that our reality takes place through being observed opens up to a subjectivist denial of objective reality.Some quantum scientists themselves claimed that the only way to account for our entire universe is to presuppose a global external observer (i.e., God).The text rejects not only this direct theological solution but also the traditional "realist" stance which secretly relies on a divine dimension (the divine status of natural laws).It proposes a reading of the ontological implications of quantum physics which opens up the way for a consequent materialism, even if, from a traditional reading, this may appear to be an odd materialism without matter.
This book discusses the ontology in the quantum world and argues that it should be interpreted as a historicized ontology. This perspective is advocated by the quantum histories interpretation. Inspired by the nomological interpretation from Bohmian mechanics and the corresponding understanding of the law of nature and logic, the ontology will be useful to solve the difficulties of confusing ontology and perplexing logical inference. Furthermore, this book proposes that the historicized ontology can be generalized to more complicated structures and fit naturally into temporal correlation. Core philosophical issues such as the law of nature, the ontology of events, history, and processes, and the metaphysics of history are coherently discussed, revealing the profound meaning behind the formalism of quantum histories. By providing a new framework for a historicized picture of ontology, it will effectively promote the debates in the philosophy of physics and the fundamental research in quantum mechanics. This book will appeal to scholars and students of the philosophy of science, metaphysics, and quantum theory.