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A Realist Analysis of Six Controversial Quantum Issues

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Mario Bunge: A Centenary Festschrift

Abstract

This essay provides a philosophically realistic analysis of six phenomena central to our current confusion: quantization, field-particle duality, superposition, entanglement, nonlocality, and measurement. As will be shown, these are logically related: Understanding measurement depends on properly understanding nonlocality, entanglement, and superposition; understanding these three depends on properly understanding field-particle duality and quantization. All six will be resolved, based on a realistic interpretation of standard quantum physics. The analysis is internally consistent as well as consistent with the relevant experimental facts. Thus, at least for these issues, QP concurs with the scientific paradigm as it has been known since Copernicus: nature exists on its own and science’s goal is to understand nature’s operating principles, which are independent of humans.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For further discussion, see Hobson (2013, 2017, pp. 12–13).

  2. 2.

    But taking into consideration possible fundamental limitations such as the Planck time.

  3. 3.

    The remainder of this section is based on Hobson (2013), which should be consulted for references and details.

  4. 4.

    This assumes the slit’s width is smaller than the wavelength, so the light passing through the slit spreads out into a single broad diffraction band without side fringes.

  5. 5.

    See Giustina et al. (2015), Hensen et al. (2015), and Shalm et al. (2015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA

    Art Hobson

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  1. Art Hobson
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Correspondence to Art Hobson .

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  1. School of Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Michael R. Matthews

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Hobson, A. (2019). A Realist Analysis of Six Controversial Quantum Issues. In: Matthews, M.R. (eds) Mario Bunge: A Centenary Festschrift. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16673-1_19

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