English

Aesthetic Motivation in Quantum Physics: Past and Present

History and Philosophy of Physics 2023-03-17 v1 Quantum Physics

Abstract

This essay explores the relations between aesthetics and motivation, primarily in quantum physics, focusing on the notions of play, beauty, and the joy of insight. The motivating role of these notions is examined both historically among the quantum pioneers and contemporarily, based on a series of interviews, among physicists associated with the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2303.09413,
  title  = {Aesthetic Motivation in Quantum Physics: Past and Present},
  author = {Henrik Zinkernagel},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2303.09413},
  year   = {2023}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T09:20:20.048Z