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This article presents a novel interpretation of quantum mechanics. It extends the meaning of ``measurement'' to include all property-indicating facts. Intrinsically space is undifferentiated: there are no points on which a world of locally…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2009-10-31 Ulrich Mohrhoff

I propose a new class of interpretations, {\it real world interpretations}, of the quantum theory of closed systems. These interpretations postulate a preferred factorization of Hilbert space and preferred projective measurements on one…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2012-02-24 Adrian Kent

Despite the obvious utility of the concept, it has often been argued that time does not exist. I take the opposite perspective: let's imagine that time does exist, and the universe is described by a quantum state obeying ordinary…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2008-11-25 Sean M. Carroll

The implications of the physical theory of quantum mechanics on the question of realism is much a subject of sustaining interest, while the background questions among physicists on how to think about all the theoretical notion and…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2022-02-23 Otto C. W. Kong

Despite the success of modern physics in formulating mathematical theories that can predict the outcome of quantum-scale experiments, the physical interpretations of these theories remain controversial. In this manuscript, we propose a new…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2013-12-09 Stuart Heinrich

The question "What is real?" can be traced back to the shadows in Plato's cave. Two thousand years later, Rene Descartes lacked knowledge about arguing against an evil deceiver feeding us the illusion of sensation. Descartes'…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2022-12-14 Florian Neukart , Anders Indset , Markus Pflitsch , Michael Perelshtein

Zurek's existential interpretation of quantum mechanics suffers from three classical prejudices, including the belief that space and time are intrinsically and infinitely differentiated. They compel him to relativize the concept of…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2007-05-23 Ulrich Mohrhoff

Quantum theory describes our universe incredibly successfully. To our classically-inclined brains, however, it is a bizarre description that requires a re-imagining of what fundamental reality, or "ontology", could look like. This thesis…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2019-01-08 John-Mark A. Allen

Quantum theory (QT) has been confirmed by numerous experiments, yet we still cannot fully grasp the meaning of the theory. As a consequence, the quantum world appears to us paradoxical. Here we shed new light on QT by having it follow from…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2019-02-12 Alessio Benavoli , Alessandro Facchini , Marco Zaffalon

Conceptual problems in quantum mechanics result from the specific quantum concept of reality and require, for their solution, including the observer's consciousness into quantum theory of measurements. Most naturally this is achieved in the…

General Physics · Physics 2009-11-13 Michael B. Mensky

The linear mathematics of quantum mechanics gives many versions of reality instead of the single version we perceive, with the perceived version chosen at random according to a probability law. Because of these peculiarities, the theory…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2010-12-23 Casey Blood

Measurement outcomes provide data for a physical theory. Unless they are objective they support no objective scientific knowledge. So the outcome of a quantum measurement must be an objective physical fact. But recent arguments purport to…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2021-08-06 Richard Healey

According to scientific realism, science gives us an approximately true description of what the world is like. But what does it mean? In this chapter, we focus on the ontological and metaphysical aspects of this discussion. That is, we are…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2022-01-17 Raoni Wohnrath Arroyo , Jonas R. B. Arenhart

The key observation about quantum reality is that it often appears as if, at some moment, the probability of a quantum event becomes a definite outcome for us. A careful analysis suggests, however, that what we perceive as a definite state…

General Physics · Physics 2025-10-22 Aleksandar Perisic

Ever since its foundations were laid nearly a century ago, quantum theory has provoked questions about the very nature of reality. We address these questions by considering the universe, and the multiverse, fundamentally as complex…

General Physics · Physics 2021-04-13 Alan McKenzie

Is the universe computable? If yes, is it computationally a polynomial place? In standard quantum mechanics, which permits infinite parallelism and the infinitely precise specification of states, a negative answer to both questions is not…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2009-11-13 R. Srikanth

We look into the ontology of quantum theory as distinct from that of the classical theory in the sciences, following a broadly Kantian tradition and distinguishing between the noumenal and phenomenal realities where the former is…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2023-07-25 Avijit Lahiri

The problem of understanding quantum mechanics is in large measure the problem of finding appropriate ways of thinking about the spatial and temporal aspects of the physical world. The standard, substantival, set-theoretic conception of…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2007-05-23 Ulrich Mohrhoff

The article explores challenges presented by revelations in physics and the questions they provoke concerning reality. It sheds light on the disparity between the indefinite nature of quantum reality and our perception of classical reality.…

General Physics · Physics 2024-05-14 Jahan N. Schad

Quantum theory (QT) has been confirmed by numerous experiments, yet we still cannot fully grasp the meaning of the theory. As a consequence, the quantum world appears to us paradoxical. Here we shed new light on QT by being based on two…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2019-05-21 Alessio Benavoli , Alessandro Facchini , Marco Zaffalon