Overview

This book offers an exploration of the relationships between epistemology and probability in the work of Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, and Erwin Schro- ¨ dinger, and in quantum mechanics and in modern physics as a whole. It also considers the implications of these relationships and of quantum theory itself for our understanding of the nature of human thinking and knowledge in general, or the ‘‘epistemological lesson of quantum mechanics,’’ as Bohr liked 1 to say. These implications are radical and controversial. While they have been seen as scientifically productive and intellectually liberating to some, Bohr and Heisenberg among them, they have been troublesome to many others, such as Schro¨ dinger and, most prominently, Albert Einstein. Einstein famously refused to believe that God would resort to playing dice or rather to playing with nature in the way quantum mechanics appeared to suggest, which is indeed quite different from playing dice. According to his later (sometime around 1953) remark, a lesser known or commented upon but arguably more important one: ‘‘That the Lord should play [dice], all right; but that He should gamble according to definite rules [i. e. , according to the rules of quantum mechanics, rather than 2 by merely throwing dice], that is beyond me. ’’ Although Einstein’s invocation of God is taken literally sometimes, he was not talking about God but about the way nature works. Bohr’s reply on an earlier occasion to Einstein’s question 1 Cf.

Full Product Details

Author:   Arkady Plotnitsky
Publisher:   Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Imprint:   Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Edition:   2010 ed.
Volume:   161
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 2.20cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.664kg
ISBN:  

9781461424833

ISBN 10:   1461424836
Pages:   402
Publication Date:   25 February 2012
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Introduction—Epistemology and Probability in Quantum Theory: Physics, Mathematics, and Philosophy.- Quantum Phenomena and the Double-Slit Experiment.- Heisenberg’s Revolutions: New Kinematics, New Mathematics, and New Philosophy.- From Geometry to Algebra in Physics, with Heisenberg.- Schrödinger’s Waves: Propagation and Probability.- Bohr’s Como Argument: Complementarity and the Problem of Causality.- From Como to Copenhagen: Renunciations.- Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered both Complete and Local?.- Essential Ambiguity and Essential Influence: Reading Bohr’s Reply to EPR.- Mysteries Without Mysticism, Correlations Without Correlata, Epistemology Without Ontology, and Probability Without Causality.- 11 Conclusion: “The Mere Touch of Cold Philosophy”.

Reviews

From the reviews: Plotnitsky (theory and cultural studies, Purdue Univ.) analyzes the discussions and disagreements among the principals (mentioned in the title), and offers his insightful comments on the questions. ... The discussions on probability and epistemology remind readers of 18th-century debates on the topic in which d,Alembert participated. This book should interest anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the epistemology of quantum mechanics, especially the issues thrashed out in the early phases. ... Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic libraries serving graduate students, researchers, and faculty. (V. V. Raman, Choice, Vol. 47 (10), June, 2010)

From the reviews: Plotnitsky (theory and cultural studies, Purdue Univ.) analyzes the discussions and disagreements among the principals (mentioned in the title), and offers his insightful comments on the questions. ... The discussions on probability and epistemology remind readers of 18th-century debates on the topic in which d'Alembert participated. This book should interest anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the epistemology of quantum mechanics, especially the issues thrashed out in the early phases. ... Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic libraries serving graduate students, researchers, and faculty. (V. V. Raman, Choice, Vol. 47 (10), June, 2010)

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