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computerphys
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Just trying to explore the ontological possibilities that Quantum Mechanics have created, I would like to make a list that covers the variety of ways of thinking about reality, using this question as a starting point:
QUESTION: What is there when we do not observe?
1.- We don't know (Feymann, Shut up and calculate), but QM is a good theory of measurement.
2.- We cannot know (Positivism), but QM is a good theory of measurement.
3.- There is nothing (Bohr, Copenhagen interpretation) until we measure.
4.- There is nothing, except our minds and QM is a mind theory.
5.- There is a particle with classical properties (Einstein, Hidden variable theories) and QM is a statistical theory.
6.- There are infinite particles with every possible classical property (Everett, Many-worlds).
7.- There is a particle with quantum properties (Reality of wavefunction) and QM is a theory about reality.
8.- The particle is there and is not there at the same time (this defies logic and meaning?).
9.- The question does not make sense because science cannot give an answer to it. There is not knowledge out of science.
10.- Reality is a misconception. Descartes was wrong when saying we exists just because we think. Nothing exists actually (defies logic?).
11.- Logic is a luxury we cannot afford at quantum levels (obviously defies logic).
Probably I have missed some alternative points of view, or made mistakes when describing some of them. This is the kind of help I am looking for, so thanks in advance for posting any corrections or additional views. I am not trying to debate the interpretations of QM, but just exploring which are the possible answers (more or less valid/popular) to the question proposed. I hope this post is in accordance with guidelines, otherwise I will try to fix it.
Thanks
QUESTION: What is there when we do not observe?
1.- We don't know (Feymann, Shut up and calculate), but QM is a good theory of measurement.
2.- We cannot know (Positivism), but QM is a good theory of measurement.
3.- There is nothing (Bohr, Copenhagen interpretation) until we measure.
4.- There is nothing, except our minds and QM is a mind theory.
5.- There is a particle with classical properties (Einstein, Hidden variable theories) and QM is a statistical theory.
6.- There are infinite particles with every possible classical property (Everett, Many-worlds).
7.- There is a particle with quantum properties (Reality of wavefunction) and QM is a theory about reality.
8.- The particle is there and is not there at the same time (this defies logic and meaning?).
9.- The question does not make sense because science cannot give an answer to it. There is not knowledge out of science.
10.- Reality is a misconception. Descartes was wrong when saying we exists just because we think. Nothing exists actually (defies logic?).
11.- Logic is a luxury we cannot afford at quantum levels (obviously defies logic).
Probably I have missed some alternative points of view, or made mistakes when describing some of them. This is the kind of help I am looking for, so thanks in advance for posting any corrections or additional views. I am not trying to debate the interpretations of QM, but just exploring which are the possible answers (more or less valid/popular) to the question proposed. I hope this post is in accordance with guidelines, otherwise I will try to fix it.
Thanks