What's the physics description of "existence" ?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers around the physics description of "existence," specifically questioning whether an object's existence is contingent upon observation. Participants highlight that properties of quantum particles, such as electrons, only manifest through measurement, suggesting that empirical reality is dependent on observational methods. The consensus is that this inquiry straddles the line between physics and philosophy, with definitive statements indicating that physics does not provide a description of existence. David Mermin's work, "Is the Moon there when nobody looks?" is referenced as a critical resource on this topic.

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  • Understanding of quantum mechanics and its principles
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Physicists, philosophers, and anyone interested in the intersection of quantum mechanics and existential philosophy will benefit from this discussion.

Arman777
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Lets suppose we have an object, could be a quark or proton or a chair. Is there some physics description's that we can say, If these conditions satisfy, the particle will exist. This question may seems metaphysical but I am asking in physics perspective.
It seems like to me that things are exist when we observe them or we can feel their intereaction due to other things.
I found this

"This means that we can no longer assume that the properties we measure necessarily reflect or represent the properties of the particles as they really are. These properties are like secondary qualities – they exist only in relation to our measuring devices. This does not mean that quantum particles are not real. What it does mean is that we can ascribe to them only an empirical reality, a reality that depends on our method of questioning.

Without a measuring device to record it, there is a sense in which the recognisable properties of quantum particles such as electrons do not exist" (https://blog.oup.com/2011/02/quantum/)

So I believe that our observations makes things real ?


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This is a philosophical question, not a physical one.
 
Orodruin said:
This is a philosophical question, not a physical one.
Why do you think that way ?
 
Because what it means "to exist" is not a question that physics can or intends to answer. It is purely philosophical and depends what meaning and implication you put into the word. That is not physics, physics is descriptive and empirical in nature.

Edit: To answer the question in your thread title: "There is no such description."
 

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