Beyond Complementarity
Abstract
It is argued that Niels Bohr ultimately arrived at positivistic and antirealist-flavored statements because of weaknesses in his initial objective of accounting for measurement in physical terms. Bohr's investigative approach faced a dilemma, the choices being (i) conceptual inconsistency or (ii) taking the classical realm as primitive. In either case, Bohr's `Complementarity' does not adequately explain or account for the emergence of a macroscopic, classical domain from a microscopic domain described by quantum mechanics. A diagnosis of the basic problem is offered, and an alternative way forward is indicated.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1601.07545,
title = {Beyond Complementarity},
author = {R. E. Kastner},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1601.07545},
year = {2016}
}
Comments
Section 4 amended to note that the emphatic nature of Bohr's assertions may be understood as a legitimate response to mechanistic, reductionist thinking prevailing in his time. However, they involve preconceptions subject to question. A contribution to Quantum Structural Studies, a volume edited by J. Jekni\'c-Dugi\'c, G. Jaroszkiewicz, and R. E. Kastner; to be published by WSP