Quantum interpretations reduced to absurd, in a nutshell

In summary: They aim to find the underlying mechanism that explains everything. Descriptive interpretations, on the other hand, are more interested in giving a complete picture of what is going on in a given experiment.
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Demystifier
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Let us introduce a new rule. You can criticize any QM interpretation you want, but to avoid too much philosophy the argument must be extremely concise. For definiteness, it may contain maximally 2 sentences, 1 equation and 1 reference. The general rule is - less is more.

Here is my take. In the following I criticize various interpretations by reducing them to absurd in just 1 or 2 sentences.

Logical positivism:
The meaning is meaningless.

Quantum logic and consistent histories:
QM is logically consistent, provided that the rules of logic are denied.

Statistical ensemble interpretation:
Individual measurement outcomes exist, but QM has nothing to say about them. Therefore QM is complete.

QBism, relational and other information-type versions of Copenhagenish interpretations:
We do not say that there is no objective reality out there. We say that there are no any problems with this alleged objective reality because it doesn't exist.

Many worlds:
The Universe looks so complex because it is just a point in an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, where all points look alike. http://de.arxiv.org/abs/1210.8447
 
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Demystifier said:
Here is my take. In the following I criticize various interpretations by reducing them to absurd in just 1 or 2 sentences.
Bohmian mechanics: Particles have exact trajectories but it doesn't matter because you cannot observe them. Observable is only what shut-up-and-calculate allows.
 
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A. Neumaier said:
Bohmian mechanics: Particles have exact trajectories but it doesn't matter because you cannot observe them. Observable is only what shut-up-and-calculate allows.
Bohmian mechanics:
The only non-hidden thing is the "hidden variables". :biggrin:
 
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Demystifier said:
The general rule is - less is more.
Post-classical physics:
Just put "Quantum" before each term. Hence, "quantum mechanics" and "quantum mucus, er, foam".
 
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Strictly speaking, there is nothing to criticize on interpretations of quantum mechanics. At the end, interpretations are more or less personal “theories” about oneself and of oneself’s experience of observations. As remarked by John Gribbin:

“I stress, again, that all such interpretations are myths, crutches to help us imagine what is going on at the quantum level and to make testable predictions. They are not, any of them, uniquely ‘the truth’; rather, they are all ‘real’, even where they disagree with one another.”
 
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Lord Jestocost said:
... Interpretations are more or less personal “theories” about oneself and of oneself’s experience ...

- I would say, of oneself’s ambition in the first place! Typically, the ambition to find a certain underlying mechanism to feel/explain oneself emerging from there.
 
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AlexCaledin said:
- I would say, of oneself’s ambition in the first place! Typically, the ambition to find a certain underlying mechanism to feel/explain oneself emerging from there.

Ambition coupled with ability, preparation and hard work propels that underlying mechanism to emerge. Water appears so different after diving into the pool.

--Norm
 

1. What is the concept of "Quantum interpretations reduced to absurd"?

The concept of "Quantum interpretations reduced to absurd" refers to the idea that the various interpretations of quantum mechanics can lead to seemingly absurd or paradoxical conclusions when taken to their logical extremes.

2. What are some examples of absurd conclusions in quantum interpretations?

Some examples of absurd conclusions in quantum interpretations include the concept of wave-particle duality, where particles can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior, and the idea of quantum entanglement, where particles can be connected in such a way that their properties are dependent on each other regardless of distance.

3. How does this concept impact our understanding of quantum mechanics?

This concept challenges our understanding of quantum mechanics and forces us to question our assumptions about the nature of reality. It also highlights the limitations of our current theories and the need for further research and exploration.

4. Are there any practical implications of this concept?

While there are no immediate practical applications, understanding the absurdities of quantum interpretations can lead to new insights and advancements in technology, such as quantum computing and cryptography.

5. How do scientists approach this concept in their research?

Scientists approach this concept by exploring and testing different interpretations of quantum mechanics and examining the implications of each. They also continue to conduct experiments and gather data to further our understanding of the quantum world.

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