dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaThis elusive objective existence
| Authors | Ulrich Mohrhoff |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0401179 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0401179 |
| DOI | 10.1142/S0219749904000183 |
| Journal | International Journal of Quantum Information 2(2), 201-220 (2004) |
Abstract
Zurek's existential interpretation of quantum mechanics suffers from three classical prejudices, including the belief that space and time are intrinsically and infinitely differentiated. They compel him to relativize the concept of objective existence in two ways. The elimination of these prejudices makes it possible to recognize the quantum formalism's ontological implications - the relative and contingent reality of spatiotemporal distinctions and the extrinsic and finite spatiotemporal differentiation of the physical world - which in turn makes it possible to arrive at an unqualified objective existence. Contrary to a widespread misconception, viewing the quantum formalism as being fundamentally a probability algorithm does not imply that quantum mechanics is concerned with states of knowledge rather than states of Nature. On the contrary, it makes possible a complete and strongly objective description of the physical world that requires no reference to observers. What objectively exists, in a sense that requires no qualification, is the trajectories of macroscopic objects, whose fuzziness is empirically irrelevant, the properties and values of whose possession these trajectories provide indelible records, and the fuzzy and temporally undifferentiated states of affairs that obtain between measurements and are described by counterfactual probability assignments.
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"abstract": "Zurek\u0027s existential interpretation of quantum mechanics suffers from three\nclassical prejudices, including the belief that space and time are\nintrinsically and infinitely differentiated. They compel him to relativize the\nconcept of objective existence in two ways. The elimination of these prejudices\nmakes it possible to recognize the quantum formalism\u0027s ontological implications\n- the relative and contingent reality of spatiotemporal distinctions and the\nextrinsic and finite spatiotemporal differentiation of the physical world -\nwhich in turn makes it possible to arrive at an unqualified objective\nexistence. Contrary to a widespread misconception, viewing the quantum\nformalism as being fundamentally a probability algorithm does not imply that\nquantum mechanics is concerned with states of knowledge rather than states of\nNature. On the contrary, it makes possible a complete and strongly objective\ndescription of the physical world that requires no reference to observers. What\nobjectively exists, in a sense that requires no qualification, is the\ntrajectories of macroscopic objects, whose fuzziness is empirically irrelevant,\nthe properties and values of whose possession these trajectories provide\nindelible records, and the fuzzy and temporally undifferentiated states of\naffairs that obtain between measurements and are described by counterfactual\nprobability assignments.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0401179",
"authors": [
"Ulrich Mohrhoff"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1142/S0219749904000183",
"journal_ref": "International Journal of Quantum Information 2(2), 201-220 (2004)",
"title": "This elusive objective existence",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0401179"
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