In classical information theory (represented by Shannon's framework), the study of information transmission typically presupposes a fixed "channel" endowed with absolute attributes. This assumption implicitly holds that the properties of the channel are determinate and observer-independent, remaining unchanged regardless of perspective or the state of the channel itself. However, contemporary physics---particularly the development of quantum mechanics---fundamentally challenges the very notion of "absoluteness." As Carlo Rovelli has emphasized in one of his core arguments, quantum mechanics compels us to abandon the conception of states and properties as "absolute" and "observer-independent." The insistence on such absoluteness is precisely what underlies many of the paradoxes and interpretative difficulties that plague quantum theory. Rovelli extends this general philosophical critique of "absoluteness" consistently into the domain of information theory, thereby provoking a profound re-examination and critique of the classical presupposition of the "absolute channel." From this relational perspective, information should not be conceived as an abstract entity existing independently of physical relations, but rather as an observable measure of relative relations between systems. Accordingly, the reconstruction of classical information theory on the basis of relational ontology---namely, the reconstruction of information theory itself---is not only a demand of theoretical coherence but also a necessary step in responding to the challenge of quantum reality and in building a more universal theory of information.
In classical information theory (represented by Shannon's framework), the study of information transmission typically presupposes a fixed "channel" endowed with absolute attributes. This assumption implicitly holds that the properties of the channel are determinate and observer-independent, remaining unchanged regardless of perspective or the state of the channel itself. However, contemporary physics---particularly the development of quantum mechanics---fundamentally challenges the very notion of "absoluteness." As Carlo Rovelli has emphasized in one of his core arguments, quantum mechanics compels us to abandon the conception of states and properties as "absolute" and "observer-independent." The insistence on such absoluteness is precisely what underlies many of the paradoxes and interpretative difficulties that plague quantum theory. Rovelli extends this general philosophical critique of "absoluteness" consistently into the domain of information theory, thereby provoking a profound re-examination and critique of the classical presupposition of the "absolute channel." From this relational perspective, information should not be conceived as an abstract entity existing independently of physical relations, but rather as an observable measure of relative relations between systems. Accordingly, the reconstruction of classical information theory on the basis of relational ontology---namely, the reconstruction of information theory itself---is not only a demand of theoretical coherence but also a necessary step in responding to the challenge of quantum reality and in building a more universal theory of information.
Rovelli’s relational interpretation of quantum mechanics tells us that the description of a system in the formalism of quantum mechanics is not an absolute but is relative to the observer itself. The interpretation goes further and proposes a set of axioms. In standard non-relational language, one of them states that an observer can only retrieve a finite amount information from a system by means of measurement. Our contribution starts with the observation that quantum mechanics, i.e., quantum field theory (QFT) in dimension 1, radically differs from QFT in higher dimensions. In higher dimensions, boundary data (or initial data) cannot be characterized by finitely many measurements. This calls for a notion of measuring scale, which we provide. At a given measuring scale, the observer has partial information about the system. Our notion of measuring scale generalizes the one implicitly used in Wilsonian QFT. At each measuring scale, there are effective theories, which may be corrected, and if the theory turns out to be renormalizable, the mentioned corrections converge to determine a completely corrected (or renormalized) theory at the given measuring scale. The notion of a measuring scale is the cornerstone of Wilsonian QFT; this notion tells us that we are not describing a system from an absolute perspective. An effective theory at that scale describes the system with respect to the observer, which may retrieve information from the system by means of measurement in a specific way determined by our notion of measuring scale. We claim that a relational interpretation of quantum physics for spacetimes of dimensions greater than 1 is Wilsonian.
Traditional physical ontology relies on the assumption of observer-independence, regarding a physical state as an intrinsic property that exists prior to measurement, with observation acting merely as a passive retrieval of pre-existing facts. This paper challenges this view and articulates a relational paradigm of physics: at fundamental levels, physical states are not absolute inherent attributes, but structural outputs generated through mutual interactions among the system, the environment, and the observational framework. By re-evaluating quantum collapse, quantum decoherence, and relational quantum mechanics, this study demonstrates how the choice of measurement basis and environmental interactions selectively determine pointer states and establish classicuality. Furthermore, the relational character of physical states is corroborated in macroscopic domains, including the dependency of thermodynamic entropy on coarse-graining and the reference-frame relativity of spatiotemporal states in general relativity and the Unruh effect. By reframing physics around interaction boundaries and information exchange, this paper establishes a relational realism that transcends both rigid objective realism and subjective idealism, offering insight into foundational problems in quantum gravity and quantum cosmology without appealing to external observers.
Quantum mechanics reveals that physical quantities and informational states are not absolute but relational, depending on the context of interaction between systems. While classical physics already contained relational elements—most clearly in Galilean relativity and Einstein’s relational spacetime—the quantum domain extends relationality to physical properties and facts themselves. In this paper, I develop an info-computational perspective on relational quantum mechanics (RQM), conceiving observers as informational agents embedded within physical processes. Quantum states are understood as constraints on possible interactions rather than intrinsic attributes of isolated systems. I review key relational, perspectival, and information-theoretic approaches—including QBism, perspectival quantum realism, reference-frame–dependent observables, categorical quantum mechanics, and graph-based formalisms—and argue that they converge on a view of physics grounded in relations and information flow. Relational objectivity emerges through inter-agent translation rules rather than observer independence, providing a unified framework for understanding quantum measurement, inter-observer agreement, and physical ontology.
This article offers a critical analysis of Carlo Rovelli’s conceptual positions in works devoted to interpretations of quantum mechanics and the notion of time. Attention is paid to the relational interpretation developed by the author in “Helgoland: Making Sense of the Quantum Revolution” and to its philosophical foundations, which go back to the ideas of Ernst Mach and Nagarjuna. The article examines key elements of the quantum-mechanical formalism, including the superposition principle, interference effects, and commutation relations, with emphasis on their interpretive consequences. The article also analyzes Rovelli’s critical remarks on alternative approaches, such as Hugh Everett III’s many-worlds interpretation, hidden-variable theories associated with the works of Louis de Broglie and David Bohm, as well as models that propose a physical explanation of wave-function collapse. It is shown that some of the author’s arguments are limited in scope and do not consider contemporary experimental results, in particular studies that cast doubt on the epistemological interpretation of the wave function. Special attention is given to internal contradictions in Rovelli’s relational approach, including the problem of the ontological status of objects and the reconciliation of the principle of relationality with the existence of invariant physical quantities. The interpretation of time given by Rovelli in works such as The Order of Time and A Brief History of Time is also examined. The limitations of his ontological approach to time within loop quantum gravity are emphasized.
Quantum mechanics has transformed our understanding of reality, yet deep philosophical puzzles remain unresolved. Is there a consistent way to describe quantum measurement, the emergence of space and time, and the role of observers within one coherent ontology? This paper introduces Relational Quantum Dynamics (RQD), an interpretation that places relationships and information, not isolated objects, at the foundation of physics. Unlike traditional views, such as the Copenhagen interpretation, Everett's many-worlds theory, or hidden-variable approaches, RQD denies a single observer-independent reality, instead proposing that facts only become definite within specific observational contexts. It explicitly addresses foundational no-go results, including Bell's theorem, the Kochen-Specker theorem, and the Frauchiger-Renner paradox, by replacing absolute facts with relational, context-dependent truths. RQD rests on five interlocking principles: (1) quantum states are contextual and observer-relative, (2) time emerges from quantum interactions rather than existing as an external parameter, (3) space is constructed from patterns of quantum entanglement, (4) observers emerge as systems with highly integrated information, and (5) classical reality appears through quantum decoherence without special wavefunction collapse. Philosophically, RQD aligns with ontic structural realism, proposing that the fundamental ontology of the universe consists entirely of informational relations. It avoids collapsing into relativism or solipsism by ensuring intersubjective agreement through physical interactions. Ultimately, RQD may offer a unified picture in which quantum mechanics, spacetime, and observers are no longer separate domains but aspects of one interconnected informational web.
Quantum mechanics has transformed our understanding of reality, yet deep philosophical puzzles remain unresolved. Is there a consistent way to describe quantum measurement, the emergence of space and time, and the role of observers within one coherent ontology? This paper introduces Relational Quantum Dynamics (RQD), an interpretation that places relationships and information—not isolated objects—at the foundation of physics. Unlike traditional views, such as the Copenhagen interpretation, Everett’s many-worlds theory, or hidden-variable approaches, RQD denies a single observer-independent reality, instead proposing that facts only become definite within specific observational contexts. It explicitly addresses foundational no-go results, including Bell’s theorem, the Kochen–Specker theorem, and the Frauchiger–Renner paradox, by replacing absolute facts with relational, context-dependent truths. RQD rests on five interlocking principles: (1) quantum states are contextual and observer-relative, (2) time emerges from quantum interactions rather than existing as an external parameter, (3) space is constructed from patterns of quantum entanglement, (4) observers emerge as systems with highly integrated information, and (5) classical reality appears through quantum decoherence without special wavefunction collapse. Philosophically, RQD aligns with ontic structural realism, proposing that the fundamental ontology of the universe consists entirely of informational relations. It avoids collapsing into relativism or solipsism by ensuring intersubjective agreement through physical interactions. Ultimately, RQD may offer a unified picture in which quantum mechanics, spacetime, and observers are no longer separate domains but aspects of one interconnected informational web.