Epistemology and Probability, 2010
Bohr, Heisenberg, Schrödinger, and the Nature of Quantum-Theoretical Thinking
Fundamental Theories of Physics Series, Vol. 161

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.

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”.

Offers a joint and mutually illuminating discussion of Bohr, Heisenberg, and Schrödinger, as creators of quantum mechanics (including an interpretation as complementarity), which is unprecedented - at least at this level of comprehensiveness Offers an exploration of the relationships between epistemology and probability and their relationships, especially in the Bayesian context Gives a new treatment of the EPR experiment, and the Bohr-Einstein exchange concerning it Offers a new understanding of the role of mathematics in quantum theory Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras