Graduate Fundamental reality: Hilbert space

Click For Summary
Sean Carroll's proposal suggests that fundamental reality exists as a vector in Hilbert space, with all other entities like space, fields, and particles being emergent. This perspective challenges traditional views, as Hilbert space itself emerged from the need to understand quantum mechanics. Critics argue that mathematical constructs cannot represent physical reality, emphasizing that observable phenomena should define what is real. The discussion also highlights the distinction between ordinary and fundamental reality, suggesting that while Hilbert space may describe fundamental reality, it remains a conceptual model rather than the reality itself. The ongoing debate reflects the complexities of defining reality in the context of quantum physics and mathematics.
  • #31
PeroK said:
Die Glaube is immer maechtiger als der Zweifel.
And rightly so. Without an implementation to carry out mathematics, it is just a collection of true statements, nothing happening.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
Moderator's note: Thread moved to the QM interpretations forum.
 
  • #33
A. Neumaier said:
And rightly so. Without an implementation to carry out mathematics, it is just a collection of true statements, nothing happening.
I think the quotation was intended as ironic resignation, rather than a celebration of dogma!
 
  • Like
Likes Prishon
  • #34
PeroK said:
I think the quotation was intended as ironic resignation, rather than a celebration of dogma!
Why should nothing happen? Happen in what sense? Can you give an example? Is it like the central dogma of biology?
 
  • Like
Likes Rev. Cheeseman
  • #35
Moderator's note: A number of off topic posts have been deleted. Please keep the thread discussion focused on the specific paper referenced in the OP.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Are fields' reality only a relative one?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
349
Undergrad About quantum interference: space and time
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
Undergrad Why do ##t## and ##-i\hbar\partial_t## not satisfy the definition of a linear map/operator in Hilbert space?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Graduate Extended Wigner’s Friend Scenario and the existence of the reality
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Graduate Hilbert spaces and kets "over" manifolds
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Graduate What happens when an operator maps a vector out of the Hilbert space?
  • · Replies 59 ·
2
Replies
59
Views
5K
Graduate Algorithmic information theory's QM view of reality
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Normalization Constant in Einstein-Hilbert Action
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Undergrad Completeness relations in a tensor product Hilbert space
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Undergrad Questions about QFT and the reality of subatomic particles
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K