Contemporary Research in the Foundations and Philosophy of Quantum Theory: Proceedings of a Conference Held at the University of Western Ontario, London, CanadaC.A. Hooker To mathematicians, mathematics is a happy game, to scientists a mere tool and to philosophers a Platonic mystery - or so the caricature runs. The caricature reflects the alleged 'cultural gap' between the disciplines a gap for which there too often has been, sadly, sound historical evidence. In many minds the lack of communication between philosophy and the exact disciplines is especially prominent. Yet in the past there was no separation - exact knowledge, covering both scientists and mathemati cians, was known as natural philosophy and the business of providing a critical view of the nature of reality and an accurate mathematical de scription of it constituted a single task from the glorious tradition begun by the early Greek philosophers even up until Newton's day (but I am thinking of Descartes and Leibniz I). The lack of communication between these professional groups has been particularly unfortunate, for the past half century has seen the most ex citing developments in mathematical physics since Newton. These devel opments hinged on the introduction of vast new reaches of mathematics into physics (non-Euclidean geometries, covariant formulations, non commutative algebras, functional analysis and so on) and conversely have challenged mathematicians to develop the appropriate mathematical fields. Equally, these developments have posed profound philosophical problems to do with the rejection of traditional conceptions concerning the nature of physical reality and physical theorising. |
Contents
Leon Cohen Joint Probability Distributions in Quantum | 66 |
VAN FRAASSEN Semantic Analysis of Quantum Logic | 80 |
E GERJUOY Is The Principle of Superposition Really Necessary? | 114 |
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Contemporary Research in the Foundations and Philosophy of Quantum Theory ... C.A. Hooker Limited preview - 2012 |
Contemporary Research in the Foundations and Philosophy of Quantum Theory C. A. Hooker No preview available - 1973 |
Common terms and phrases
a₁ a₂ approach axiom b₁ basic Bohm Boolean algebra Borel set canonical classical compatible complete concepts corresponding CPM and CFT defined determined discussion dispersion-free distribution dynamical E. P. Wigner E₁ Einstein electron ensemble equivalence example field equations field theory follows formalism function space fundamental Gudder Hamiltonian Heisenberg's hidden variable theory Hilbert space idempotent interaction interpretation Jauch Kochen and Specker lattice light linear logical space logical structure magnitudes Mathematical Physics mathematical structure maximal MCPM momentum Neumann non-linear observables ontology orthomodular P₁ partial algebra partial Boolean particle PCPM phase space Philosophy photon Physical Review plenum poset possible precise probability measures problem properties propositions quantization quantum logic quantum mechanics quantum statistics quantum theory question relation relativity represented S₁ Section sense sentences space-time statistical operators subsets subspaces superposition symmetry tion true ultrafilter vector wave Wigner